The Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean

On 13 July 2008, President Nicholas Sarkozy of France hosted the Paris summit, at which the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean was launched.

Speaking in the European Parliament the following week, Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner spoke of the summit as “a great moment placing the Mediterranean at the heart of the debate” and stressed the excellent involvement of all summit participants, reflecting the need to “tackle common challenges together”. The commissioner talked about the importance of the commitments taken during the summit, which would contribute to peace, environmental conservation, energy security and employment, among other aspects.

French foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who also spoke before the foreign affairs committee at the European Parliament, said that the Union would build on the strong base the EU has already, thanks to the Barcelona process. He also talked about the importance of bringing in new ways of funding the multinational projects that will take place, and stressed the hope that is felt in relation to the region, as demonstrated by the solidarity and cooperation of the North and South sides of the Mediterranean Sea in the Union project.

The Union for the Mediterranean, an extension of the already existing but commonly regarded unsatisfactory Barcelona process, has focused renewed attention on the region. Plans include a co-presidency, high level meeting every two years, a secretariat to work on project administration, a permanent committee in Brussels, and large high profile projects that can easily be explained to European and Mediterranean citizens.

Human rights organisations have appealed to the heads of state and government who attended the launch not to be led purely by economic interests, but to take human rights violations committed by those in the Union into account. The three organisations claim the emphasis on economic projects “seriously misunderstands the aspirations of the people of the region who yearn for development as much as they yearn for the enjoyment of the fundamental freedoms they are denied.”

Links:
Joint Declaration of the Paris Summit for the Mediterranean: http://www.ue2008.fr/webdav/site/PFUE/shared/import/0713_declaration_de_paris/Joint_declaration_of_the_Paris_summit_for_the_Mediterranean-EN.pdf
Call on heads of states of the EU: http://www.euromedrights.net/pages/511/news/focus/57222

Information provided by Rebecca Steel, TRIALOG