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German Chancellor Angela Merkel has lent support to French President Nicolas Sarkozy's desire to create a Mediterranean Union, receiving in exchange his assurance that it would be a project for all 27 member states.
Sarkozy first 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).
According to the French proposal, the Mediterranean Union's focus should be on crime and terrorism, sustainable development, illegal immigration and energy security.
The initiative received backing from Italy, Spain and Greece, but drew heavy criticism from Germany, which is keen to ensure that the initiative does not compete with the EU or the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (under the 'Barcelona Process').
The 'Barcelona Process' is broader in scope but has failed so far to fulfill high expectations due to a lack of willingness from the EU's southern neighbours to co-operate with one another.
LinksDossier: The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)
Speaking after the official opening of the IT fair 'Cebit' in Hanover, Sarkozy and Merkel agreed that the Union's dealings with non-EU countries along the Mediterranean coast need a new basis, with Merkel describing the EU's activities in the region as a "central element" of the EU foreign policy.
Sarkozy originally intended to officially launch the initiative at a summit involving just the 10 potential member countries in Paris on 13 July, with the other EU members not participating until a day later. Following the German-French agreement, all the EU member states will now be present at the creation of the new project.
France takes over the EU presidency on 1 July 2008.
The French proposal to create a Mediterranean Union has faced heavy opposition from Germany and reportedly even caused the postponement of a bilateral meeting between Merkel and Sarkozy, which was scheduled for 3 March.
Sarkozy has particularly highlighted the issue of energy supply as one main pillar of the new union, with France recently concluding deals with Libya and Algeria on transfering nuclear energy technology for civilian use. In return, France would be granted access to the countries' gas supplies (see EurActiv 16/07/07, EurActiv 26/07/07).
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made it 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 13/12/07).
Following the German-French agreement, Merkel said that she would recommend that the Slovenian Presidency to initiate the first official talks on the subject at the upcoming European Council on 13-14 March.
France in recent weeks had already indicated that it was 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 would rather be a "Union for the Mediterranean" (EurActiv 29/02/08), seeking to assuage fears that it would become a separate entity alongside the EU.
Turkey has also criticised the French plans, viewing the initiative as a means to bury Turkey's EU membership ambitions.
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