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Merkel Says Mediterranean Union Off to a Good Start

Paris: EU Council President Sarkozy welcomes Chancellor Merkel
© BPA; by Kugler

To lend new impetus to its Mediterranean policy, the European Union (EU) called a new partnership of Mediterranean countries into being on Sunday. The members of the new Union for the Mediterranean want to improve infrastructures and foster economic growth in the region. Speaking at a special summit in Paris, Chancellor Angela Merkel said cooperation at this level will serve all involved.

The Middle East and North Africa are strategically important to the EU. The EU member states thus want to step up cooperation efforts in the region and enter into what Merkel called "a partnership of equals."

Closer cooperation is in everyone’s interest. The lack of economic perspective in North Africa has sparked a flood of young immigrants into Europe. This is just one of the reasons why the EU wants to help foster economic growth in southern Mediterranean countries. "Help towards self-help", as the Chancellor put it. But whether or not this can be achieved will partly be driven by the globalisation process, she said.

Union of Initiatives

Summit: Merkel greets Lebanese President Suleiman.
© BPA; by Kugler

Building on its existing Mediterranean strategy (the Barcelona Process), the EU wants to made Mediterranean policy a key component of its foreign policy. As German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier explained, the idea is to move away from less structured conference-based cooperation and instead create a Union of Initiatives.

Under the leadership of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak, a structure has been created which "forces us to produce results", said Merkel. Sarkozy spoke of the "inseparable Mediterranean and European dream".

The first official plans were agreed right from the outset: along with a range of land and waterways initiatives, a solar energy plan was adopted to allow use of solar energy in southern Mediterranean countries. The EU also aims to better integrate the Mediterranean region into its disaster management mechanisms.

The Union for the Mediterranean involves all 27 EU Member States. It is not limited to those that border on the Mediterranean. The work of and the official bodies belonging to the new institution will be closely linked to the European Union. The foreign ministers of all 43 member countries will meet annually, and the heads of state and government once every two years. As with the existing Barcelona Process, 16 billion euros have been made available for the period 2007 to 2013 to fund projects on both sides of the Mediterranean. Chancellor Merkel believes the budget is safe, saying that much of the money remains untouched due to a lack of suitable projects.

Peace and stability: The key to economic growth

The new Mediterranean Union rests on its members’ hopes for peace and stability in the Middle East. As their neighbours, the Mediterranean states have long played a role in efforts to achieve peace between Israel and Palestine.

The Paris summit produced numerous signs that this hope is justified. Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestine President Mahmud Abbas used the occasion to hold separate talks. And given that many of Israel’s long-term enemies were in attendance, Olmert described the conference as unique. He said "we have never been this close to a peace deal".

There were also signs that Syria could be ready to recognise Lebanon’s independence in the near future. Entering into diplomatic relations with neighbours would be an important step towards peace in the region, said Merkel, adding that now announcements had been made, "we want to put words into action". While at the conference, Angela Merkel met with Lebanese President Michel Suleimann and had a brief exchange with Syria’s President Baschar al Assad.

Merkel to visit Algeria

The region is in transition and there are signs that the newly founded Mediterranean Union could have a positive impact. In the coming week, Chancellor Merkel will visit Algeria, one of the new Union’s southern Mediterranean members. Merkel’s visit to Algeria will allow her to hold government-level talks and promote economic relations between the two countries. The Chancellor will be accompanied by a delegation from German industry.

Source: REGIERUNGonline

July 15, 2008

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