Union für den Mittelmeerraum

Vorlage:Future The Mediterranean Union (French: Union méditerranéenne) is a proposed community of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It was suggested by French President Nicolas Sarkozy as an alternative to Turkish membership of the European Union, which would instead form the backbone of the new union. However it is seen as necessary whether Turkey joins the EU or not.

Prospective members

Possible membership of the Mediterranean Union (blue) with the rest of the European Union (dark grey).

The Union would contain a mix of EU member states and those countries on the Mediterranean rim. Seven EU countries have been connected to the project (below). Slovenia has also been mentioned in some cases. The membership to the south would include Turkey and probably those countries participating in the Barcelona process and European Neighbourhood Policy. It would build on these in forming a "bridge" between Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Possible members and actors;

EU Members Zypern Republik Zypern Frankreich Frankreich Griechenland Griechenland Italien Italien Malta Malta Portugal Portugal Spanien Spanien

North Africa Algerien Algerien Agypten Ägypten Libyen Libyen Marokko Marokko Tunesien Tunesien

Middle East Israel Israel Jordanien Jordanien Libanon Libanon Syrien Syrien

Other Turkei Türkei Palastina Autonomiegebiete Palästina Europa Europa Datei:Flag of AMU.svg Arab Maghreb Union African Union Arab League

There are a number of western Balkan countries in the Adriatic who could theoretically participate in the Union, although it does not appear to be the intention of the project to include them or Monaco. Likewise the British bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia on the island of Cyprus are unlikely to spur the involvement of the UK.

Institutions and aims

French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who proposed the Union

Members would form a regular council under a rotating presidency (similar to the current EU model) dealing with energy, security, counter-terrorism, immigration and trade. A Mediterranean Investment Bank, modeled on its European counterpart, would help develop eastern and southern economies. 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. In contrast, Barcelona included all EU members; by including only Mediterranean states it is hoped that it would have a clearer direction, as northern European States are less interested in Mediterranean affairs.

Progress and reactions

The proposal was originally made as part of Sarkozy's election campaign. Following his victory the idea was reiterated, with plans were being drawn up. Despite the potential division it could cause with the Muslim world, president Sarkozy sees the iniative 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.

Sarkozy's proposal has been supported by Spain and Italy while Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave a cautious response to the initiative and emphasized that it should not compete with the EU or the Barcelona process. On the other side of the sea; Morocco, Tunisia and Israel supported the proposal, while Turkey rejected the proposal as an alternative to EU membership. The Libyan government was concerned by the proposal and sent its foreign minister Abdel Rahman Shalgham to both Tunisia and Algeria to discuss the matter with their presedents prior to the arrival of Sarkozy to the region. The same source mentioned that accourding to well-informed sources that Libya said that it thinks that it is a mistake on the part of France to publicize this project before listening to what the countries of North Africa have to say about it, while calling attention to the fact that Qaddafi refuses that France should impose its hegemony over the countries of the Arab Maghreb Union under the name of Mediterranean cooperation.

See also

Foreign relations of the European Union Morocco and the European Union Israel and the European Union Enlargement of the European Union Accession of Turkey to the European Union

European Neighbourhood Policy Barcelona Conference Euro-Mediterranian Parliamentary Assembly Agadir Agreement Euro-Mediterranean free trade area

US-MEFTA Economic integration Intergovernmentalism Supranationalism Continental union

References

Commons: l'union méditerranéenne – Album mit Bildern, Videos und Audiodateien