The analysis provided by Erzsébet Rózsa and Viktor Marsai in this paper starts from the main observation that the EU’s south is expanding while the multi-institutionalised partnerships between the EU and its neighbouring regions maintains the same geographical definitions.

Base don the theory of the Regional Security Complex, the two authors present the concept of a Maghreb-Sahel (MAS) regional security complex, a region which, in their view, gains relevance due to the four key challenges it poses: human smuggling and irregular migration flows, regional conflicts and the presence Jihadist groups. How can the EU implement the existing frameworks and/or develop a more effective and adaptive strategy towards its southern neighbourhood fitting the new realities on the ground better? This paper argues that, in the current context, the EU should re-adjust its terminology and re-define the borders of the regions with which it aims to cooperate.

Picture source/caption: Long boats make are seen from a helicopter at Lake Chad near the Chad capital N’Djamena. REUTERS/ Zohra Bensemra