a time when the Arab revolutions spreading like wildfire in the Maghreb the Mashreq, supporters of the failed Union for the Mediterranean (UFM) feel to grow wings. And fully intend to ride this wave of revolution back in the saddle for a project officially launched in 2008, but was already one of the candidate's campaign promises Sarkozy in 2007.Un project focusing on the development of this Union économiqueL'objectif: "promote economic integration and democratic reforms in sixteen countries neighbors south of the EU, North Africa and the Middle East, "which is the relay of the Barcelona process which proved to be a semi-failure. Indeed, the countries involved had failed to overcome the political infighting in the area - including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a condition sine qua non for the construction of a zone of peace and economic prosperity. On this same obstacle has stumbled UfM quickly, until the definitive suspension of the meetings after Operation Lead Cast in the Gaza Strip. As the Secretary, The Jordanian Ahmad Massa'deh, he resigned in January just a year after taking office, stating that the conditions under which he accepted his mission had changed. The UFM
consists of six core initiatives: the pollution of the Mediterranean, the establishment of maritime and land highways, a joint civil protection program on natural disasters or manmade, a Mediterranean Solar Plan , a Euro-Mediterranean, and finally the Mediterranean Business Development Initiative industry.Coordinated new political chapter
For Nicolas Sarkozy, these axes are mainly oriented economic to be supplemented by a deepening of the political dimension that is why he called on Sunday for the overhaul of the UFM. This political component is according to Henri Guaino, Head of the Interministerial Mission for the UFM, focus on the themes of human rights, democracy and freedom. In his view, the current upheavals in one part of the Arab world make this possible. Lastly, he advocated a strengthening of co-development, "to prevent these revolutions not go wrong." In his speech Sunday 27, President Sarkozy has also revealed other concerns for the overhaul: migration and terrorism. Add to this the desire to have "new tools to promote education and training of youth."
France, which had been initiated by the Union for the Mediterranean, is primarily concerned: at least that's the opinion of Mr. Guaino which states that "Algeria , Morocco, Tunisia's almost a problem of internal politics. The new Foreign Minister Alain Juppe in turn wants to seize the initiative he described as prescient.
But some take a more critical assessment of the UFM is the case of Thomas Institute Note that more internal problems that can not be solved by greater politicization. Starting with a disagreement within the EU on its priorities between Northern Europe and Eastern looks to the East, and Latin Europe turned more towards the south of the Mediterranean. This deadlock has also expressed at the inception of the UFM with a conflict between A. Merkel and N. Sarkozy, then more seriously with pledges unfulfilled. The Union for the Mediterranean was therefore dormant for several months without governance and proper resources.
Building a political aspect is not unanimously approved, as is perceived as too ambitious in the light of past experience and resources available. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Institut T. More offer more pragmatic solutions. The figure of six priorities set at the start could be reduced, the shares managed a more local level, with simple patterns (type 5 +5).
his part that the EIB is the first public financial actor in the Mediterranean (1.6 billion euros per year) has established the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership. This instrument provides funding for major public investments, and support industrial development of countries of the South Shore.
It is therefore necessary to take stock of the Union for the Mediterranean before considering its reactivation, otherwise it could prove to be a distraction for the failures of the French and European diplomacy, says Dorothée Schmid, researcher at IFRI. The next plenary of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean to be held in Rome on March 3 and 4 will be an opportunity to make these clarifications.
Sources:
Mr Henri Guaino on France Inter about the Union for the Mediterranean
Mr Henry Guaino on RTL
Speech by Mr Nicolas Sarkozy on February 27 at the site redesign
Thomas More Institute
Official Site of the UFM
The action of the EIB in the Mediterranean: the example of Morocco - All Europe
Interview of the Vice-President of the EIB, P. de Fontaine Vive - All Europe
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