The launch of the Union for the Mediterranean (MU) tops the agenda of Nicolas Sarkozy’s EU Presidency but it will take more than political goodwill to turn it into a success. The extraordinary summit, on 13 July in Paris, which heads of state from the EU and the south of the Mediterranean are expected the attend will be one of the highlights but also a key challenge for the French Presidency. France’s leader will have to convince sceptics on both sides of the Mediterranean that his “grand idea” can actually make a difference to the region without undermining existing frameworks of cooperation.

PARIS SUMMIT

Sarkozy, who has invested a great deal of energy in his Mediterranean initiative which he floated for the first time during his election campaign in early 2007, wants to turn ‘his’ Paris summit into a landmark event. The objective is to formally launch the MU, agree on its governance and adopt a common political declaration. Leaders would also present a list of concrete projects appealing to citizens from both sides of the sea to be implemented in the coming years. Intense diplomatic efforts will be needed until the last minute to achieve this ambitious agenda and some sensitive issues could be sorted even later. “We do not need to finalise all the details by the summit,” commented a French source.

The organisation of the summit is already giving a headache to French diplomats, who have been stepping up their efforts in order to turn the event into a success both in terms of substance and attendance. Although the closest allies of France in the Mediterranean, including the leaders from Morocco or Tunisia and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (who is likely to chair the MU), are expected in Paris, many partners countries are still negotiating their presence in the French capital. Libyan leader Muammar Kadhafi has declined the invitation and Abdelaziz Bouteflika from Algeria is keeping his options open, while most of the Arab governments are reluctant to attend a summit alongside Israel. On the European side, the French hope to receive 26 EU leaders in Paris but some member states remote from the Mediterranean could also be tempted to skip the meeting.

GOVERNANCE

The governance of the MU is another tricky issue that could overshadow the summit if EU leaders fail to find a consensus during the June European Council. Sarkozy, who has already watered down his original project at the request of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is challenged by the European Commission, which wants to make sure that the MU will not undermine the existing structures of the Euromed Partnership, launched in 1995. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the commissioner for external relations, has challenged two French proposals presented as key added value by Sarkozy: the setting up of a Secretariat and the co-presidency of the MU.

While Paris sees the new Secretariat as a centrepiece of the MU, the new body, to be made up of seconded officials from both sides of the Mediterranean, would be asked “to gather project initiatives” but would not have any political influence, according to the communication presented by the commissioner, on 20 May. It would make proposals to a new Brussels-based Joint Permanent Committee where member states, Mediterranean countries and the Commission would have the final word. This new body would keep the upper hand over the Secretariat and would make sure there is no overlap with the existing Euromed structures “that should be reinforced where possible,” stresses the Commission.

The second key innovation proposed by France, the establishment of a co-presidency, is hailed by the Commission as a way to “rebalance” the Euromed Partnership, which has often been criticised in the south for being too EU driven. However, contrary to the original French plan, the Commission stresses that the co-presidency on the European side should be held by the EU as a whole rather than by an individual member state. The co-presidency from the Mediterranean side will be chosen for a period of two years.

FUNDING

On the top of that, the Commission, with the support of the majority of member states, has made it clear that the MU would have to raise its own funds since a very limited amount from the EU budget will be at its disposal. Only a maximum of 10% of the European Neighbourhood Policy budget (the regional envelope) will be made available under certain conditions to support the MU project.

“Fundraising will be key to the success or the failure of the MU,” said a Commission source, who believes that an influx of fresh money could give a decisive boost to projects initiated within the Barcelona framework. In the field of environment, the Euromed Partnership supports already many pilot projects and offers technical assistance in the region but does not have enough budget to implement solutions to solve a problem such as the de-pollution of the sea. The Commission has identified 44 spots that could be de-polluted by 2020 for a cost of €2.1 billion but this figure exceeds by far the capacity of the Euromed budget. The MU could turn these projects into reality if it manages to raise funds from the private sector, EU member states and other governments such as those from the Gulf region. The strengthening of civil protection mechanisms, the building of transport infrastructures or the launch of a Mediterranean solar plan could also be endorsed by the summit in Paris.

France has put a brave face on the requests put forward by the Commission but will try hard to defend its idea of governance and prove that the MU is opening a new chapter.” The MU changes totally the way Barcelona works,” said Henri Gaino, Sarkozy’s advisor. However, Paris’ room for manoeuvre is limited since it cannot afford a clash with its partners at the beginning of its Presidency. “They cannot afford to fail,” said a Commission source.

“The French cannot afford to fail,” said a Commission source