Brussels, 14/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - It is important to identify failings in the EuroMed process in order to get the ball rolling, and this includes deciding who is responsible for what, commented Tunisia's former trade and foreign minister and erstwhile Tunisian ambassador to Brussels, Tahar Sioud, in a document published online by Medafrique.info. He calls for a review of the process, adding that the Palestinian issue currently preventing the process from functioning will have to be dealt with.
There are clear responsibilities for countries on the southern shores of the Mediterranean, argues Sioud, explaining that political will is not as visible as it ought to be and gives the overall impression of moving backwards. He said this is only an impression because there in reality there is genuine political will to hitch up to the European wagon as can be seen by the requests for “advanced status” in relations with the EU and the desire to make progress and responsibly link up with Europe which is, after all, North Africa's main partner and an influential player in the Mediterranean. Sioud said it was equally clear that other constraints, disagreements between southern Mediterranean countries, decisions made by individual countries to further their own interests and so on, did not facilitate the process of arranging a meeting of minds but, as with the EU itself, a gradual and at times roundabout route would be needed to reach the goal.
As for Europe's responsibilities, they are clearer - as befits its role and capacity to weigh on developments. Sioud said the EU was motivated by lack of political will, problems in solving the Middle-Eastern conundrum and difficulties encountered in introducing EU diplomacy. He said the Palestinian issue weighed down on the EuroMed process as a whole and it was difficult to pretend it did not exist. It was an obstacle that nevertheless demonstrated a desire to set up long-lasting relations of trust, law and justice (for the Palestinians). It would send the wrong signal if no action were taken in this domain and would put the lie to all the EU's fine speeches about rights in the region and the claim to want to build a Mediterranean region of democracy and law. Sioud said a solution would have to be found if the EU is to avoid coming across as hectoring others inconsistently and without credibility.
Sioud said the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) was not very helpful in its current state. He said technical, financial and economic issues did not have to be transferred across to the UfM, which was political rather than technical. He commented that the current set-up was not working and would not achieve much. (F.B./transl.fl)