Brussels, 16/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - France and Egypt, the co-presidents of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), have expressed their wish that their mandate is not renewed when it comes to an end. This expiry date is actually not known and the takeover should logically take place during a summit. Nonetheless, the postponement of two (aborted) meetings of heads of state in June and November means that it is still not known when these mandates come to an end. The Middle East context and the visible disaffection of non-EU southern Mediterranean countries with the UfM, makes it unlikely that a summit will be held in the immediate future, especially because the situation is subject to massive changes on a daily basis in the majority of partner countries. Unless special procedures are decided upon in this perspective, Spain could be, temporarily, prepared to take over from France because it considers that this post should be covered by joint European diplomatic relations as laid down by the Lisbon Treaty, a position that is currently rejected by France.
Nonetheless, it has been observed that Ashton, faced with a restructuring plan based on three scenarios (a UfM that is totally autonomous from the institutions, an organisation that is totally integrated or a mixed formula, such as the one currently accepted by consensus due to the lack of opposition), has still failed to give a response. No one, outside her Cabinet, is aware of how she regards the Mediterranean policy (according to sources at different “levels” of the hierarchy and institutions). According to reliable sources, management of this dossier is yet another issue of contention piling up in front of the high representative's door whose “apprenticeship” will be long or even too long, given the urgency of the situation. The meeting on Tuesday in Brussels of senior officials in charge of Euro-Mediterranean dialogue did not shed any more light on the high representative's intentions.
According to our sources, discussions did not bring any additional clarification on the future of the UfM, which is now without a secretary-general (the Italian vice president is in charge of overseeing this temporary period, which is in danger of being extended as long as none of the southern Mediterranean countries appear to be attracted by the idea of presenting a successor to the Jordanian Massa'deh and as long as no one appears prepared to ensure the co-presidency from the southern Mediterranean countries. Turkey might be seen as confusing its image as a candidate country and future member of the EU if it put itself forward).
The joint structure has a budget of €6 million and its secretariat general is based in Barcelona. It is supposed to examine a range of priority projects but the absence of any political trajectory, the unlikely release of funds and French disengagement, which has been perceptible since the cancellation of the summit, provide limited visibility to its teams.
The Brussels meeting on Tuesday ultimately focused on the Israeli question and Arab countries lambasted the EU for the benefits conferred on Israel at the recent session (February) of the EU-Israel Association Council, which provided assurances of an “upgrading” in the EU's relations with this country. The EU has made this upgrading conditional on the country making progress in the peace process. (F.B./transl.fl)