Brussels, 16/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - After close examination of the conditions in which a second UfM (Union for the Mediterranean) summit may be held, the Franco-Egyptian UfM co-presidency has decided to postpone the summit originally scheduled for 21 November, in Barcelona. The truth of the matter is that deferral is in fact cancellation, the second after that in June this year for the same reason - the inevitable stalling in the Middle East peace process. The three countries write in a press release on 15 November that they would like the summit to be held in Barcelona in coming months. To this end, they call for Israeli-Palestinian talks to be resumed as swiftly as possible on the basis of international law, agreements signed between the parties and other terms of reference of the peace process. This is not their own agenda, however, or even that of the southern rim countries, once again illustrating that the link between peace in the Middle East and dialogue between the EU and its southern neighbours seems impossible to break. This has also been the case for several sector-specific ministerial conferences that have been postponed or have not ended with the publication of joint conclusions (as was recently the case with trade ministers) because it has been impossible to reach a political wording acceptable to all. A large number of the projects envisaged, especially on civil protection, may not escape the logic born of a conflict that has been ongoing since 1948.
It took four days, however, for the two co-presidencies and Spain, the host country, to find the words to explain why the summit had been cancelled. “Seeing that the current deadlock in the Middle East peace process made it impossible to have satisfactory participation at the summit to be held in Barcelona on 21 November, the co-presidency and Spain have decided to postpone it”, they said. This hesitation is reportedly due to final attempts made to reach a formula that would allow the three countries to save face, and also, in particular, to save the face of Miguel Angel Moratinos who is personally committed to ensuring the success of the summit even though he no longer holds the post of foreign minister (accused among other things of making EuroMed dialogue too “Middle East-ish”).
The three countries obviously did not wish to give the idea that their efforts had amounted to nothing. Their work had often been conducted on the sidelines of common European diplomacy, sometimes even by-passing it. The three countries add in their press release that, pending this second summit, Egypt, France and Spain call on the UfM institutions to continue their work. They welcome the fact that projects had been taken forward, corresponding to the priorities set by the heads of state and government at their Paris summit on 13 July 2008. They note the significant step taken by the operational setting in place of the permanent secretariat established in Barcelona as well as the adoption of its budget and its programme of work, which will allow the UfM to continue to work at a more sustained rate in favour of ever-closer cooperation between the two sides of the Mediterranean.
The three countries allude to the agreement reached on 12 November between the senior officials of 43 countries at the head of the secretariat general, an agreement that, with cuts of more than half, fixed the first budget (2011) of this common entity based in Barcelona. Fixing a budget of €6.2 million (compared with the initial €14.5 million) does not bring a definitive answer to the question of operating means as only the European Commission has announced its contribution (€3 million) although this will only be used as “co-funding”. No other party has officially announced what it will contribute to the joint fund, except Spain whose gracious offer of premises is likely to complete financial payment. France has made a promise. Germany intimates, but no more, that it will also contribute but some member states (such as the Baltic states) clearly indicate that they will abstain. The statutes provide only for “voluntary” contributions. Above all, it should be noted that no southern rim country has to date given any indication either one way or the other.
The senior officials also finalised the working programme and the internal rules of procedure for the secretariat general in order to ensure it works smoothly and to allow it to begin to kick off projects. Its mandate was formally restricted to this, scaling down initial ambitions. There is one concern about the low number of candidates when recruiting experts - could this be due to the level of remuneration or a lack of faith in the Euro-Mediterranean project? Both reasons have been evoked.
On the strength of a budget that is now acquired in theory, and a working charter, the secretariat general is still far from being up and running and will only be able to come out of the rut once current, political and institutional issues have been settled. Various commentators underline that the largest task remains that of defining the very nature of the body. The difficulty of holding a summit postpones to some unknown date the handing over of co-presidency. France and Egypt do not have replacements. Hence the idea that is taking shape of going back to the drawing board on the process to better define the approach. Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, is now focusing attention on this and initiatives are impatiently awaited. Her intention is to speak at the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 November but the subject will no longer be one of the priorities for this year's end. (F.B./transl.jl)