Barcelona 95: at the break of a new world

The Barcelona initiative signed in 1995 does not solely stipulate on a free trade zone, it is rather a “philosophy of the partnership”. However, tensions among Mediterranean countries hamper the execution of this partnership. So, what could each partner do to reach this new world of shared prosperity? 

In Barcelona, European countries were working on a global bridge-building project. Europe was seeking stabilization on its southern and eastern Mediterranean borders and the economic free-trade zone was not a target by itself. The expansion of the European market impelled Mediterranean countries to execute several reforms and to open up to the European concept of liberalism, in an endeavor to be as much as possible conform to its norms and rules. Thus, the European approach did not consist of a simple “opening up of the markets” like the example of the exulting free-trade zone that the United States of America is used to. The free-trade concept in Europe was motivated by the partnership philosophy. The free circulation of goods expected to come into effect in 2010 is supposed to go in conjunction with the development of the South and the introduction of internal economic reforms in those countries. For these purposes, association agreements have been signed and a significant budget has been assigned in the framework of the MEDA program.

Who should do what?

Ten years later, the same hope continues to prevail. The Mediterranean, symbol of warmth and conviviality, faces difficulties implementing its project of union due to numerous disparities among the countries on its borders. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict was aggravated and came to a dead end with a new intifada. Regional tensions emerging from the war in Iraq and the debate around turkey entering the European Union are both complicating the situation. Last but not least, the fight against terrorism made the task of unity even harder.

However, now more than anytime in the past, we feel the importance of a European role in the Mediterranean. The Europe we need in this zone is politically active, giving the chance for peaceful resolution of conflicts. The European partner should also do his own share of the work in aiming at putting an end to the crisis in the region and achieving regional stability. When we have other projects in the region, such as the “Great Middle-East”, it is essential to found our neighborhood on cooperation and development rather than stick to the “imperium mundi” concept.

The partner of the South should work more seriously on the democratization of his society and on the respect of freedoms. In the Mediterranean, democratization should be a common denominator to all countries. The imbalance in the level of democracy among the Mediterranean countries jeopardizes stability in the whole region. More than any other geopolitical entity in the world, the Mediterranean, molded by civilization and various cultures should give an example of “living together”.
 

Joseph Maila
Political analyst, director of the Peace Research Centre in Paris
(Excerpts from Cahiers Euromed, 2005)