Germany and France reach agreement on Mediterranean Union  

Speaking after the official opening of the IT fair Cebit in Hanover, both leaders agreed that the Union’s dealing with non-EU countries along the Mediterranean needs a new basis, with Merkel calling it “a central element” of the EU foreign policy. 

Sarkozy had floated the idea of a Mediterranean Union during his election campaign in 2007, suggesting that five North African countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania and Libya) and five EU member states (France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Malta) should pool together (EurActiv 16/07/2007). 

The Union’s focus should be crime and terrorism, sustainable development, illegal immigration and energy security. Sarkozy originally intended to officially announce the initiative with a summit of the 10 countries in Paris on 13 July, one day before the EU summit in Brussels. France takes over the EU presidency on 1 July. 

The initiative received backing from Italy, Spain and Greece, but drew heavy criticism from Germany, which was cautious that the initiative should not compete with the EU or the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (‘Barcelona Process’). 

Merkel has made clear from the beginning that Germany wished to play its part in this project: “The Mediterranean region is a mission for all of us in Europe”, she said when addressing the German Bundestag last December, adding that “Europe can only succeed jointly” (EurActiv 13/12/2007)

Moreover, the French-German disagreements reportedly caused the postponement of a bilateral meeting between Merkel and Sarkozy, which was scheduled for 3 March. 

France recently has indicated that it is aware of the irritations in Germany and other member states caused by the wording ‘Mediterranean Union’, with EU affairs secretary Jean-Pierre Jouyet saying that it will rather be a “Union for the Mediterranean” (EurActiv 29/02/2008). 

Turkey also criticised the French plans, viewing this initiative as a means to burry Turkey’s EU membership ambitions. 

The Mediterranean Union would continue the Barcelona-Process, which has not fulfilled the high ambitions. 

Merkel said that she would recommend the Slovenian Presidency to initiate first talks on the subject at the upcoming European Council on 13-14 March.