To what extent does the European Union Promote Democracy Effectively in the Occupied Palestinian Territories?

Abstract

The EU has always been strong supporter of the democracy in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Palestinian state-building through its financial involvement in the peace process. Since decades the EU has been deployed various instruments; particularly economic tools to advance the creation of a democratic Palestinian state. Although the EU's policy towards promoting democracy in the occupied Palestinian territories had to some extent positive impacts on Palestinian institutions and on the civil society organisations, the EU assistance in promoting and advancing democracy reveals serious shortcomings and inconsistencies. This paper intends to assess the EU role in promoting democracy in the occupied Palestinian territories. The paper primarily elucidate the EU's policy in promoting and supporting democracy in the occupied Palestinian territories, and then the paper examines the democracy in the occupied Palestinian territories in order to assess to what extent the EU has been succeeded in promoting democracy effectively in the occupied Palestinian territories.