Summit approves 'Union for the Mediterranean'[fr][de] 

The main focus of the new union will be on the following areas: 

• Improving energy supply; 
• fighting pollution in the Mediterranean; 
• strengthening the surveillance of maritime traffic and "civil security cooperation";  
• setting up a Mediterranean Erasmus exchange programme for students, and; 
• creating a scientific community between Europe and its southern neighbours. 

Sarkozy had originally envisioned the new Union as an exclusive club, involving only the EU's Mediterranean countries and its neighbours but not the EU as a whole. 

But this proposal attracted strong criticism, particularly from Germany, which feared the plan could split the EU down the middle, with the new union becoming  a rival to the EU itself. 

In the end, Sarkozy was forced to back down and agree to allow all 27 EU member states to participate in this initiative (EurActiv 05/03/08).

He also agreed to change the original title of "Mediterranean Union" to "Union of the Mediterranean" to counter fears that the new body would become a rival to the bloc. 

Germany also prevailed by holding to its position that no new EU money beyond the funds allocated for the Barcelona Process should be given to the new union, countering Franco-Italian demands that the financing for the new body be multiplied.

Sarkozy announced his intention to seek additional funding from the private sector, hoping for up to 14 billion euro. 

Another element of the compromise relates to the Union's management structure, which will consist of two directors coordinating cooperation between the EU and the partner countries. One director is to come from the EU member states and the other from a non-European Mediterranean country. 

Both will be appointed for two years, supported by a 20-strong secretariat, to be located in a yet-to-be-determined southern EU city. Barcelona and Marseille have been mentioned as potential candidates, claimed Sarkozy, who denied having endorsed the French city. 

The agreement also foresees bi-annual summit meetings between the EU and its partner countries. Seen as a partial victory for Paris, the southern EU nations will hold the first presidencies. 

French President Nicolas Sarkozy lauded the agreement, saying that "Europe does not turn its back towards the Mediterranean Union anymore". 

He dismissed criticism that he had planned the union as an exclusively French project, saying that "I never had the idea of excluding any EU states […] I never regarded it as a rival to the EU". However, he admitted that "a compromise had to be found with the EU countries not in the region, and I perfectly understand that they wanted to feel involved". Sarkozy particularly thanked Merkel for her support of the union: "It made me happy to see how she defended the Union for the Mediterranean […] That was really the German-French axis." 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel explained why she finally agreed to create the new union by acknowledging that the Barcelona Process "was slowing down and needed to be revitalised," adding that "it needs to be politically more significant and better supported by the member states". Despite giving her approval to the union, she has not yet decided whether she will attend its official inauguration summit, set to take place in Paris on 13 July with all the members present. 

Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament, said: "It is important that a Mediterranean Union, whatever form it takes, should strengthen and further the Barcelona Process. There can be no question of establishing a Union which is in competition with the Barcelona Process or which even has its own institutional structure." He added that "all the member states and all the institutions of the European Union must be involved in this process, naturally this includes the European Parliament". 

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, whose country currently holds the EU Presidency: "It is now a question of doing what is needed so that this project can see the light of day". Asked about the future of the Barcelona Process, he said: "It is not a question of burying it, to start from scratch. It's just about bringing it up to date." "Times have changed, we have to adapt," he added. 

Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer voiced his concern that smaller member states were being bypassed, stating: "What matters to us is that it's not some special grill party for a few member states." 

Michael Emerson from the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) considers the new project as "an opportunity to rationalise and revitalise the EU's present set of policies towards the Mediterranean, which is stuck in a condition of laborious lethargy".