A new life to the Euromed process

Ten years after Barcelona, the European Union launched the European Neighborhood Policy. What is the added value of this initiative? In what ways is it different from the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership? Rutger Wissels, the European Commission's coordinator for the EU's Neighborhood Policy, answers these questions.  

Will the European Neighborhood Policy dilute the Barcelona process concerning Mediterranean countries?
On the contrary, the objective is to revitalize the Barcelona process by using a much more individualized tool. With the enlargement of the European Union, we realized the risk of giving more importance to the East than to Mediterranean countries. This is why we are dealing with both neighbors equally. That equilibrium is one of the success factors of the European Neighborhood Policy, as it allows the European Union to get full support from our Mediterranean partners for the work we are achieving in the East, and vice versa.

How does the European Neighborhood Policy fill in some of the gaps of the Euromed process?
The Barcelona process was like a convoy sailing at the speed of its slowest member. A good implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy would help those wishing to progress faster than others to do so in the domain of politics, economics or security cooperation. For instance, the European Union could share its experience with its partners to eliminate non-tariff barriers viewed as the main obstacle to free trade. There will also be a better cooperation in the field of energy, transport, control of frontiers, cultural and human exchange, etc.

Aren't we heading towards cooperation at several different speeds?
It is undeniable that some countries will be able to go faster than others, and I consider that an advantage rather than an inconvenience. The experience of the European Union members is the proof. The competition that takes place between neighboring countries is healthy. It works as a catalyst. And one of its first signs is the European Neighborhood Policy.

Given that the process of Barcelona was based on a shared understanding that made the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a priority, aren't we facing the risk of favoring economic rapprochement to the detriment of peace, which seems to be what Israel desires?
Not at all. We are trying to maintain balance in our relations. Basically, we consider that there are two main baskets. One contains our priorities, such as regional pacification, democracy, etc. The other includes the priorities of our partners, in particular in economy. It is not possible for us to let one basket empty while the other is filled in. We would never put ourselves in a position to swap the abolition of death penalty, for instance, for an import quota of olive oil. The configuration is not that simple. We think in a more global way, since our objective is to preserve a certain degree of equilibrium.

Sibylle Rizk
Journalist
(Excerpts from Cahiers Euromed, 2005)