The Union for the Mediterranean: A Genuine Breakthrough or More of the Same?

Dimitar Bechev , Kalypso Nicolaidis (1)

1 University of Oxford

The new French scheme for a Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), officially inaugurated on 13 July, has stirred up a great deal of controversy inside the EU. Even in its watered-down form, the initiative promises to relaunch the stalled relations between the two sides of the Mediterranean in the context of the Barcelona Process. Though vulnerable to all manner of external shocks linked to the multiple inter- and intra-state conflicts around the Mediterranean, the Sarkozy plan is a welcome move to a greater degree of “co-ownership” through the institution of a joint presidency. Of great importance in the interest of overcoming at least some of the problems that have bedeviled the Barcelona Process is further “decentring” of Euro-Med politics away from Brussels and more comprehensive trade opening by the EU.

Mots clés: Union for the Mediterranean; European Union; Barcelona Process; Euro-Med politics

Domaines: Science politique

Dimitar Bechev, Kalypso Nicolaidis. The Union for the Mediterranean: A Genuine Breakthrough or More of the Same?. Italian Journal of International Affairs, 43 (3), 2008, The International Spectator. ⟨hal-01548386⟩