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.
