Brussels, 27/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - At the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 27 February, ministers decided to reorganise the chairing arrangements for the Northern co-presidency of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), which is jointly chaired by a representative of the countries of the Southern Mediterranean. From 1 March, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton will take over the Northern presidency for meetings of foreign ministers. The Commission will take over the co-presidency for other ministerial meetings that solely concern matters that fall within the areas of exclusive EU responsibility. For other ministerial meetings the Commission will also take over the co-presidency working in full cooperation with the member state which holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, “except where ministerial meetings solely concern matters falling within actions and responsibilities of the member states”, when the chair will be held by the rotating presidency. These arrangements will be reviewed “at the appropriate time” and no later than 1 March 2013.
From the outset, the UfM has been described as an unidentified institutional object. It now, however, forms an integral part of the common foreign policy and has moved out of the inter-governmental field of action where France would have liked to have kept it (supported in this by the United Kingdom, though rather for reasons more linked to its traditional reticence on common European affairs). As it has proved impossible to find independent financial resources, France, which currently holds the Northern presidency, has had to accept institutionalisation of the UfM. Ashton, however, leaves interested states - those bordering on the Mediterranean, the current Presidency of the EU Council and those looking to enhance sectoral cooperation) sufficient room for manoeuvre so that they will be able to play a visible role. The Commission also retains the opportunity to play a role in allocation of funding. The decision is one that leaves all protagonists with a smile on their faces and one that should see new life breathed into the UfM, but in line with “Brussels” standards. (CG/FB/transl.rt)