After a four month diplomatic struggle, ministers overcome tensions and differences on the structure of the MedUnion and mainly boke the deadlock on two sticking points: the seat of the newly formed Union and access of the Arab League as an observer to all meetings.
Forceful Spanish intervention
In recent weeks, Spain has mounted a strong diplomatic campaign to ensure that the city which gave its name to the forerunner of the newly formed MedUnion, the so-called Barcelona Process, would be chosen to host the new institution.
Efforts included interventions by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero, who met with Commission President José Manuel Barroso, and EU External Relations Commisisoner Benita Ferrero Waldner, at talks in Madrid.
Originally, there had been three candidates for the headquarters' location: Barcelona, Tunis and La Valletta. While Tunisia had since withdrawn its bid, Malta upheld its captial's candidacy but did not receive sufficient backing. The only open support came from Italy and Cyprus. "It's a pity that the seat seems to be going to a provincial town (Barcelona) instead of coming to Malta," a senior Maltese diplomat told the Times of Malta.
Sarkozy had first favoured Tunis, but had to give in because of Tunisia's unsatisfactory human rights record and reservations by the Arab League on the prospects of Israel, which is also member of the Union for the Mediterranean could have unimpeded access to an Arab capital.
Bureaucratic monster?
According to diplomatic sources, ministers agreed that in return for Tunisia's retraction in favour of a European city, the post of secretary-general should be given to an Arab country. The secretary general, who still has to be appointed, will be assisted by five to six deputy secretaries from Greece, Italy, Malta, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and potentially Turkey.
Diplomats from some member countries questioned whether such a "blown-up" bureaucracy would allow for efficient decision-making.
France and Egypt, which will chair the MedUnion for the first two-and-a-half years in conjunction with the respective EU presidency from 2009 onwards, will decide on the leading post and the allocation of deputies until the end of the year, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said after the meeting, representing the EU Presidency.
Israeli-Arab 'rapprochement'
The agreement struck yesterday also foresees the involvement of the Arab league, granting it observer status but not voting rights, a condition sought by Israel. "The Israelis finally accepted the presence of the Arab League," said Kouchner. In return, "Israel will be accepted as deputy secretary-general of an international organisation for the first time in history," he pointed out.
Ambitious agenda
Ministers also outlined the future MedUnion work programme, focusing on sustainable development, maritime safety and energy projects. The most ambitious goal is to establish a Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area by 2010, based on a roadmap to be agreed next year. For the time being, little progress has been made, mainly due to a lack of political commitment.
Much will depend on whether the new initiative will be able to generate additional private funding, European Policy Centre analyst Rosa Balfour told EurActiv. Given the unstable and volatile security conditions in the Middle East, Balfour doubted that companies would want to invest.
For the time being, funding for the MedUnion stems largely from the Community budget earmarked for the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the Barcelona Process.
