The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM): A critical approach

• Author: Antonio Blanc Altemir ? Eimys Ortiz Hernández
• Position: Dr. Antonio Blanc Altemir. Full Professor (Catedrático) of International Law and International Relations. Chair Jean Monnet 'Law and External Relations of the European Union'. Director of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence: UdL. University of Lleida <blanc@dpub.udl.cat>. Miss Eimys Ortiz Hernández. PhD candidate sponsored by the Pre-doctoral ...
• Pages: 47-64

Paix et Securité Internationales

ISSN 2341-0868, Num. 2, janvier-décembre 2014, pp. 47-64

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.25267/Paix_secur_ int.2014.i2.03 47

THE UNION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN (UfM):

A CRITICAL APPROACH

ANTONIO BLANC ALTEMIR

EIMYS ORTIZ HERNÁNDEZ1

I. ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION OF THE UNION FOR THE MEDITARRANEAN

– II. THE FINAL DECLARATION OF THE PARIS SUMMIT: THE CONTENT OF

THE UfM – III.- THE ASSESSMENT OF THE UfM AFTER THE FIVE YEARS

OF ITS ESTABLISHMENT (2008-2013) – IV. CONCLUSION.

ABSTRACT: The seventh anniversary of the establishment of the Union for the Mediterranean

enables to have a greater perspective to examine its development. Therefore, this work provides

some ref‌l ections on the path followed by the Union for the Mediterranean, which has generally

been described by the doctrine as negative. The initial project promoted by the then candidate for

the French Republic presidency, Nicolas Sarkozy, coped with unfavourable circumstances since

its creation, which have determined its progress. This paper analyses in a critical approach the

development of the UfM, as well as the reasons for its stagnation, while proposing measures to

overcome it, and achieve their full effect in the medium term.

KEYWORDS: Union for the Mediterranean; Euromediterranean Policy; Mediterranean countries;

Mediterranean subregional approach.

L’UNION POUR LA MÉDITERRANÉE (UPM): UNE APPROCHE CRITIQUE

RÉSUMÉ: Sept ans après la création de l’Union pour la Méditerranée, et avec le recul suff‌i sant

pour étudier sa mise en œuvre, le travail ici présenté prétend apporter plusieurs réf‌l exions en relation

avec la trajectoire suivie par l’UpM, généralement considérée comme négative par la doctrine. Le

projet initial, proposé par Nicolas Sarkozy, se heurta, dès les premiers moments à des circonstances

défavorables qui ont inf‌l uencé sa trajectoire postérieure. Le travail analyse de manière constructive

le développement de l’UpM, ainsi que les raisons de sa stagnation, tout en proposant des mesures

pour la surmonter et atteindre une eff‌i cacité maximum à moyen terme.

MOT CLÉS: Union pour la Méditerranée, Politique euro-méditerranéenne ; Pays méditerranéens,

analyse sous-régionale méditerranéenne ; aspect sous-régional méditerranéen.

LA UNIÓN POR EL MEDITERRÁNEO (UPM): UNA APROXIMACIÓN CRÍTICA

RESUMEN: Transcurridos siete años desde la creación de la Unión por el Mediterráneo, y con

1 Dr. Antonio Blanc Altemir. Full Professor (Catedrático) of International Law and International

Relations. Chair Jean Monnet “Law and External Relations of the European Union”. Director of the

Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence: UdL. University of Lleida . Miss Eimys

Ortiz Hernández. PhD candidate sponsored by the Pre-doctoral Formation Programme DEUI,

Basque Government. University of Lleida . This work falls into the scope of

the Research Project of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness “UE-Mediterráneo: impacto

de la Primavera Árabe en las relaciones euromediterráneas y en los intereses de España en la región”

(DER2012-38401-C02-02), whose Leading Researcher is Antonio Blanc Altemir.

THE UNION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN (UFM): A CRITICAL APPROACH

Paix et Securité Internationales

ISSN 2341-0868, Num. 2, janvier-décembre 2014, pp. 47-64

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la perspectiva suf‌i ciente para analizar su desarrollo, el presente trabajo pretende aportar unas

ref‌l exiones sobre la trayectoria seguida por la UpM, que en general ha sido calif‌i cada de negativa

por parte de la doctrina. El proyecto inicial promovido por el entonces candidato a la presidencia

de la República francesa, Nicolás Sarkozy, afrontó desde sus inicios circunstancias desfavorables

que han determinado su trayectoria. El presente artículo analiza de forma crítica el desarrollo de

la UpM, así como las razones de su estancamiento proponiendo al mismo tiempo medidas para

superarlo y lograr su plena efectividad a medio plazo.

PALABRAS CLAVE: Unión por el Mediterráneo; Política euromediterránea; Países mediterráneos;

Vertiente subregional mediterránea.

I. ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION OF THE UNION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN

In February 2007 Nicolas Sarkozy, at the time candidate for the French

presidency, introduced for the f‌i rst time in the city of Toulon (France) a project

called “Mediterranean Union” which had to be modif‌i ed and adjusted due to the

complex political reality and the European diplomacy.2

This initial proposal was welcomed by Spain at the time of its launch because,

on one hand, it recognised the leading role of the Mediterranean for the EU, and on

the other, meant the “return” to the Mare Nostrum with respect to the European

interests. Nevertheless, the “sarkozynian” scheme set forward a number of elements

provoking uncertainty: not only the lack of def‌i nition of its content, but also the

fact that the project unveiled a pronounced interest of France to regain its status at

a regional level. Thus, the project would renew the visibility of France which had

diminished during the foregoing years, in particular in the Maghreb as stated by

the Avicenne report.3 Furthermore, taking into account the well-known position

of Sarkozy concerning the Turkish candidature to the EU, the idea emerged as an

alternative to the accession of Turkey. That possibility however was to be strongly

rejected as it was displayed for the f‌i rst time.

Despite the fact that Spain, as booster of the Barcelona Process, appreciated

2 The presidential candidate Sarkozy explained in his speech that the organization of the endeavour

would be f‌l exible and adaptable like the Council of Europe, which is why there would be a regular

meeting of the Heads of State and Government: “The Mediterranean Council” would hold enough

powers to run the four political pillars of the project: leg al migration, environment, co-development

and cooperation regarding the f‌i ght against corruption, organized crime and ter rorism. About the

initial proposal the “Mediterranean Union” launched by Nicolas Sarkozy, during his presidential

candidacy, see FLORENSA, S., “Del Proceso de Barcelona clásico a la Unión por el Mediterráneo:

la consolidación del partenariado euromediterráneo”, in BENEYTO, J.M. (Dir.), La apuesta por el

Mediterráneo: un reto para el siglo XXI. Biblioteca Nueva: Instituto Universitario de Estudios Europeos de

la Universidad de San Pablo, Madrid, 2010, p. 59.

3 Cfr. KHADER, B., “Unión Mediterránea: ¿bonitas palabras o buena idea?”. Política Exterior, nº 122,

Marzo/Abril 2008, pp. 65-80.