Est. 2min 15-05-2008 (updated: 28-05-2012 ) istanbul_isp_Erik_de_Graaf.jpg Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram The Party of European Socialists (PES) has presented proposals designed to influence the Commission’s preparations for an EU-Mediterranean summit to be held in Paris on July 13 under the French EU Presidency. MEPs from the PES told EURACTIV that the proposal, unveiled yesterday (14 May), came in response to French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s ‘Union of the Mediterranean’, backed by EU leaders at a summit in March – albeit in a watered-down version. Pasqualina Napoletano, vice chairwoman of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, called Sarkozy’s proposals “voluntarist” and “not very clear”. She also cautioned against “national hegemony” and attempts to “reinvent the Mediterranean”, adding that Sarkozy had probably not heard about the ‘Barcelona process’ when he first launched his proposals. However, Napoletano adopted a more positive note regarding the development of Mediterranean relations by building on existing experience, a process which began with the 1995 Barcelona Declaration. The document she presented highlights the need to overcome “hysterical fears” over immigration, in her words. Instead, she said Europe should concentrate on long-term strategies for projects, fostering employment in its southern partner countries and reducing the social gap between north and south. She also stressed the need to help civil society and democratic political forces in the Southern Mediterranean. The Socialists are also keen to keep the EU membership perspective for Turkey and would not like to have it substituted by a Mediterranean partnership. Napoletano said the PES in fact has very close political relations with the ruling AKP, the party of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan. The PES is also demanding that the European Parliament be consulted over the establishment of permanent bodies for Euro-Mediterranean co-operation. It also insists that a dignified place for the parliamentary dimension be found, building on the existing Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary assembly, or APEM. PositionsIn a non-paper, the European Commission proposes a co-presidency (renewable every two-years) and bi-annual summits. On the EU side, the presidency would coincide with the term of the permanent President of the Council, in the event that the Lisbon Treaty is enforced. The Commission also proposes setting up a permanent Secretariat, leaving it open to the member countries to decide if this would only deal with project management or also prepare the summits and the ministerial meetings. The location of the Secretariat (in the EU or in the partner countries) is also left open in the Commission proposal. The Mediterranean partners would elect their co-president by consensus. This procedure is without doubt intended to prevent controversial heads of state – present and future – from taking the top job. PES member Carnero Gonzalez Carlos, who is also APEM co-ordinator, called for the 13 July summit in Paris to be more than "just fireworks". He added that only the European Parliament is capable of formulating positions critical of the new French President at the moment. BackgroundSarkozy 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 16/07/07). The initiative received the backing of Italy, Spain and Greece but drew heavy criticism from Germany, which is keen to ensure that the new union does not compete with the EU or the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (under the 'Barcelona Process'). Nevetheless in March 2008, German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave her support to Sarkozy's project, receiving in exchange his assurances that it would be a project for all 27 member states. The final project, called the 'Union for the Mediterranean', was backed by EU leaders at a summit in March – albeit in a watered-down version (EURACTIV 05/03/08). The 'Barcelona Process' is broader in scope but has so far failed to fulfill high expectations due to a lack of willingness from the EU's southern neighbours to co-operate with one another. Further ReadingEU official documents European Commission:Euro-Mediterranean Partnership/Barcelona Process Press articles AFP:French foreign minister upbeat after Mediterranean Union talks
