The Union For the Mediterranean (UFM)

Résumé du document

The Union for the Mediterranean (UFM) is the new framework for Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. It is the result of a long evolution since the 1995 Barcelona process, which is the basis upon which was launched the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP), now integrated in the UFM. The latter was endorsed at the Paris Summit of Heads of State and Government (July 2008) but took a more concrete form with the Marseilles Foreign ministers conference.

The launching of this new policy was the occasion to raise many questions about the European Union and its unity, as well as its capacity to manage effectively its neighborhood policies. Indeed, France was the pioneer of the idea of a UFM; President Sarkozy wanted to show that the european neighborhood policy which was directed towards eastern Europe had to be balanced thanks to a deepening of the EU's relations with the Mediterranean countries.

Extraits

[...] The inter-state character of the UFM acts as recognition of the legitimacy of the non-EU members, and strengthens their roles. This is a great factor of empowerment for both sides of the Mediterranean and a better strategy for finding convergence easily. Politically speaking, one may wonder why it is that the UFM is focusing on issues that are greatly developmental instead of being purely political. Indeed, if the UFM's fundamental objective is to create and maintain security and prosperity in the Mediterranean region, why is it not expressly stated in the main UFM goals? [...]

[...] The Union For the Mediterranean (UFM) Tuesday, May 4th . Representatives from about sixty local and regional authorities of the Mediterranean region have demanded a better association to the UFM policies. In a joint declaration, the representatives have called for a reinforcement of the euro-Mediterranean partnership. They have also expressed their fear of being left out as secondary in the European Neighborhood Policy, and would like to participate actively in the diverse projects of the UFM (Agence Maghreb Arabe Presse).[1] This event is not a particularly important or appeal one, but it gives an idea of what is at stake in the UFM. [...]

[...] It is still too early to assess the actual added value of UFM compared to the disappointing results of the EMP, but what is for sure is that the policy-makers have acknowledged the limitations of EMP and seem to strive for a better partnership with the coastal Mediterranean countries. The UFM is theoretically full of advantages for both sides of the Sea, it seems to address the main issues which the Southern States need to deal with nowadays, however some criticism can already be made about the functioning of the UFM. The first and most obvious one is of institutional character; the UFM is overcrowded because the EU does not speak of one voice. The UFM should be seen as a test of unity for the EU. [...]

[...] Available at: http://www.emuni.si/Files//Denis/Conferences/EMUNI_ReS/2009/Proceedi ng/AlAkhawayn/El%20Jarid.pdf Euractiv, The Union for the Mediterranean has to get Serious April 2010. Available at: http://www.euractiv.com/en/east- mediterranean/union-med-has-get-serious-analysis-473553 Euractiv, Making sense of Sarkozy's Union for the Mediterranean, March 2008. Available at: http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/making- sense-sarkozy-union-mediterranean/article-171082 European Parliament, Breathing new life into the Union for the Mediterranean April 2010. Available at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/030-73511- 116-04-18-903-20100426IPR73472-26-04-2010-2010-false/default_en.htm European commission, The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/euromed/index_en.htm France Diplomatie, Union pour la Méditerranée: Un partenariat Renforcé et des projets communs, Ministère des Affaires Etrangères et Européennes. [...]

[...] For this reason, the limits of the UFM's financial relations be they with the EU or with other funding entities must be carefully stated so as to preserve the UFM's essential autonomy and to assure all the necessary EU support in managing UFM funds.”(Alliboni & Ammor, 2009). Bibliography ALIBONI, Roberto & AMMOR Fouad, Under the shadow of 'Barcelona': From the EMP to the Union for the Mediterranean, EUROMESCO: January 2009. Available at: http://www.euromesco.net/images/paper77eng.pdf EL JARID, Nada, The UFM: a new framework for the UMP?, The Euro- Mediterranean Student Research Multi-Conference, 1st EMUNI Research Souk: 2009. [...]