Union of the Mediterranean

Union of the Mediterranean

In the last European Council, EU leaders gave the green light to a compromise, struck by French President Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to create a “Union of the Mediterranean”, an initiative aimed at upgrading the EU’s relations with its neighbours from North Africa and the Middle East.

So before analyzing this proposed “Union” it is worth looking at what the EU is trying to upgrade. Relations between the EU and its southern neighbours are based on the so called Euro-Mediterrean Partnership or as it is better know as the “Barcelona Process”. The latter represented a wide framework of political, economic and social relations between the Member States of the European Union and Partners of the Southern Mediterranean.

Since Malta and Cyprus became members of the EU, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership is made up of 35 members, 25 EU Member States and 10 Mediterranean Partners (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey). Libya has observer status since 1999.

The Barcelona Declaration established three main objectives of the Partnership:

1. The definition of a common area of peace and stability through the reinforcement of political and security dialogue (Political and Security Chapter).
2. The construction of a zone of shared prosperity through an economic and financial partnership and the gradual establishment of a free-trade area (Economic and Financial Chapter).
3. The rapprochement between peoples through a social, cultural and human partnership aimed at encouraging understanding between cultures and exchanges between civil societies (Social, Cultural and Human Chapter).

It is evident that these three main ambitious objectives have not been fulfilled. There may be several reasons for this one of which is that due to the historical developments that have occurred in Central and Eastern Europe in the nineties the EU has concentrated more on its neighbours from this area. What is a fact is the the Mediterranean is not an area of peace and stability with the unsolved problems in the Middle East. The free-trade area foreseen by the Barcelona Declaration has also not been achieved.

So the revisit of the relationship between the EU member states and its partners of the Southern Medeterrean is in itself something positive. At least it has put Euro Mediterrean relationship once again on the agenda of the EU.

So what is the focus of the new Union of the Mediterranean? Its focuses on the five areas namely:

Improving energy supply;
Fighting pollutions in the Mediterranean;
Strengthening the surveillance of maritime traffic and “civil security cooperation”
Setting up a Mediterranean exchange programme for students, and
Creating a scientific community between Europe and its southern neighbours.

It should also be stated that Sarkozy had originally envisioned the proposed Union as involving only the EU’s Mediterranean countries and its neighbours but not the EU as a whole. However, this proposal attracted strong criticism, especially from Germany, which feared the plan could split the EU into two, with the proposed union becoming a rival to the EU itself. Consequently, the French President was forced to agree to allow all the EU member states to participate in this initiative. He also agreed to change the original title of “Mediterranean Union” to “Union of the Mediterranean” to counter fears that this new union would rival the whole EU project. Of more substance is the fact that Germany prevailed in holding its position that no additional funds will be allocated to this new project. This is contrary to the Franco-Italian proposal that financing to this new body be multiplied from what is being allocated to the Barcelona Process.

As regards the Union’s management structure, there will be two directors coordinating cooperation between the EU and the partner countries. One director is to come from the EU member stares and the other from a non-European Mediterranean country. Each will be appointed for two years, supported by a 20-strong secretariat. As regards the location Barcelona and Marseille are being mentioned as favorites. It is very unfortunate that Malta is not being mentioned in spite of its geographical location as a bridge between mainland Europe and non-European Mediterranean countries or to be more practical the Arab world.

Michael Emerson of the prestigious Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) criticized the way the Union was presented politically. However he considers the new project as “an opportunity to rationalize and revitalize the EU’s present set of policies towards the Mediterranean, which is stuck in a condition of laborious lethargy”.

The proposed Union has less ambitious objectives the original Barcelona declaration but they are also more achievable. While they are less “glamorous” they are more down to earth and can have a more direct effect on the citizens of the Mediterranean countries. A clear example is the surveillance of maritime traffic.

What is worrying is the absence of the Maltese Government from the discussion about this Union of the Mediterranean. If there is an area that one expects Malta to take a leading role in EU discussion is definitely the Mediterranean. I wish that the Maltese Government and particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will put my mind and those of the vast majority of Maltese people that the Mediterranean is still a priority not only by saying so but by their actions.