Union for the Mediterranean
The Union for the Mediterranean (French:
Union pour la
Méditerranée; Arabic:
الاتحاد من أجل المتوسط ) is a
community of European Union member states and non-EU
countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea established on
13 July 2008 in Paris by French President
Nicolas Sarkozy.
History
The proposal was originally
made as part of Sarkozy's election campaign.
Following his victory the idea was reiterated, with
plans being drawn up. Despite the potential division
it could cause with the Muslim world, President
Sarkozy sees the initiative as a way of promoting
peace between Israel and its Arab neighbours. It is
hoped that an institutional core will be established
by the end of the French presidency of the European
Union in 2008. On 23 October 2007 Sarkozy
invited all Mediterranean leaders to a summit in
France to take place in June 2008 where they would "lay
the foundations of a political, economic and
cultural union founded on the principles of strict
equality." At the end of February of that year
France's minister for European affairs,
Jean-Pierre Jouyet, stated that "there is no
Mediterranean Union" but rather a "Union for the
Mediterranean" which would only be "completing and
enriching" to existing EU structures and policy in
the region. Following a meeting with German
Chancellor Angela Merkel it was agreed that
the project would include all EU member states, not
just those bordering the Mediterranean, and built
upon the existing Barcelona process. The MU was
launched on the 13 July-14 July 2008.
Members
The Union consists of all the EU
states and those countries on the Mediterranean rim
or those which are participating in the Euromediterranean Partnership. The idea
is to form a connection between Europe, North Africa
and the Middle East.
Albania
Algeria
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Egypt
Jordany
Israel
Lybia (observer)
Lebanon
Marocco
Mauritania
Monaco
Montenegro
Morocco
Palestinian territories
Syria
Tunisia
Turkey
European Union (27 Nations)
Aims
Sarkozy called on the Mediterranean
people to "do the same thing, with the same goal and
the same method" as the European Union, though he
stated it would not be based on the EU model. Under
the original plans, members would form a regular
council under a rotating presidency dealing with
energy, security, counter-terrorism, immigration and
trade. French nuclear expertise would be exchanged
for North African gas reserves. The Mediterranean
and European Unions would work together and share
some institutions, including a common judicial area
to fight corruption, terrorism, organised crime and
people smuggling.
Presidency
Presidency is
entrusted to Prime Ministers of two member States.
For the first two years southern nations can elect a
president; the option ends in 2010.
For 2008 the
two presidents are the French Prime Minister
Nicolas Sarkozy and
the Egyptian Prime Minister Hosni Mubarak.
Flag
The flag chosen to
represent the Union for the Mediterranean is composed of two
horizontal lines: the upper one is white, symbolizing the sky, the
lower is blue, symbolizing the sea.
Events
Tangier, 23rd
October 2007
Sarkozy launches the Union for the Mediterranean
Brussels, 13th March 2008
Proposal for a Union for the Mediterranean
Casablanca, 4-5 July 2008
Meeting "Process of Barcelona: Union for the Mediterranean"
Naples, 7th July 2008
International meeting
"The Mezzogiorno of Italy between Globalization and the New
Geo-Politic of Mediterranean"
Paris, 13th July 2008
The Union for the Mediterranean is born
Documents
1_Italian comment August 2007 (IT)
2_French comment August 2007 (FR)
3_Press Release from the Elisée 20th May 2008 (FR)
4_Communication from the European Commission 20th May 2008 (EN)
5_Communication from the European Commission 20th May 2008 (FR)
6_Comment by prof. Bichara Khader (FM member) 6th March 2008 (FR)
7_Debate 1 organized by the Euromed Forum of Cultures 7th January
2008 (FR)
8_Debate 2 organized by the Euromed Forum of Cultures 7th January
2008 (FR)
9_Civil society questionnaire by Euromed Forum of Cultures 7th
January 2008 (FR)
10_Speech by Michele Capasso at the Euromesco meeting 26th June 2008
(IT) |