Publication

Much of the EU's foreign policy is in practice conducted through its bilateral contractual relations with third parties. Contractual ties are characterized by the delivery of specific benefits governed by mutual obligations, which can thus potentially transform the incentive structure underpinning conflicts within or between non-member states. The aim of this paper is to compare the manner in which the EU's bilateral relations have affected two key conflict areas in its neighborhood: the dispute between the Turkish state and the Kurds, and the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The comparison provides insight into the potential benefits and effective limits of the EU as a third party actor in conflict settlement and resolution.