Tunis, 11/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - A meeting of the heads of state of the 23 countries concerned by the project of a Mediterranean Union launched by President Sarkozy should be held by June 2008, said Serge Degallaix, France's Ambassador to Tunis. In comments taken up by the Tunisian press, he pointed out that the consultation on Mr Sarkozy's proposal are expected to come to an end very shortly. The French diplomat takes the view that the creation of a Mediterranean Union comes from a political vision similar to that behind the pacified Europe after the Second World War. He said that, in substance, his country is seeking to create concrete solidarity between member nations by taking the priorities of each of the countries into account.
The above announcement was made during a “Euro-Mediterranean seminar on the development of Euro-Arab dialogue in the Mediterranean Area”, attended by the Arab League. The ambassador, who was cited by the press, also pointed out that his country foresees the setting up of institutions and especially an executive secretariat. According to Mr Degallaix, the Mediterranean Union will have a charter and be based on 4 pillars, namely: the environment and sustainable development, economic and social development, dialogue of cultures and security in all fields including concerted immigration management. The ambassador specified, moreover, that the Mediterranean Union is not an alternative to European Neighbourhood Policy or to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership process but “comes within a logic of integration and the overcoming of obstacles”. (fb)