Dynamics of Formulation: National and Supra-National Interests and the Process of Formulating a Common Foreign Policy for the EU: The Case of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

This research aims at exploring and analyzing the EU's decision to expand its role in the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) via the creation of two missions, EUPOL COPPS and EUBAM Rafah. It aims at answering the two main questions of why and how the EU reached its decision to create and deploy the above-mentioned missions. The research elaborates the main factors that influence the EU's role in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It analyzes the dynamics that govern the process of formulating a common European foreign policy towards that conflict and set the contours of the EU's role in the Middle East Peace Process. It discusses the roles of the different actors involved in this policy formulation process. Finally, and as its conclusion, this research aims at shedding light on the EU's capability and willingness to be a major player on the international political arena.