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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The proposal was originally made as part of Sarkozy's election campaign.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.

 bandiera Albania
 bandiera Algeria
 bandiera Bosnia and Herzegovina
 bandiere Croatia
 bandiera Egypt
 bandiera Jordany
 bandiera Israel
 bandiera Lybia (observer)
 bandiera Lebanon
 bandiera Marocco
 bandiera Mauritania
 bandiera Monaco
 bandiera Montenegro
 Flag of Morocco Morocco
 bandiera Palestinian territories
 bandiera Syria
 bandiera Tunisia
 bandiera Turkey
 bandiera 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)

 

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