Brussels, 10/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - Three days before the first anniversary of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the European Commission has announced an additional contribution of €72 million, for 2009-2010, to the areas identified as priorities by the Euro-Mediterranean heads of state and government in Paris on 13 July 2008. Work will focus on the de-pollution of the Mediterranean Sea (€22 million), maritime and land highways (€7.5 million), alternative energies (€5 million), where the priority will be on putting in place a Mediterranean Solar Plan, higher education and research (€1 million for the Euro-Mediterranean University in Portoroz, Slovenia) and supporting investment in businesses. Part of the funds will be dedicated to support the running of the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat. With this contribution, the total community budget dedicated since July 2008 to the priorities identified by the Union for the Mediterranean amounts to €90 million, the Commission says.
The Commission admits that activities had been suspended, and key decisions had not been taken, with the “political vacuum” that resulted from the crisis in Gaza, but it believes that “it is important that we realise the urgency to start working and to deliver to our citizens the potential benefits of such a Union” between the EU and the countries of the Mediterranean rim. The Commission, External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner says, has spared no effort in its support of the UfM. “We have also worked hard … with a substantial financial contribution”. This large donation will no doubt have an impact on discussions that are taking place on the role that the Commission might play within the future UfM secretariat. Some see it being a kind of special adviser, only giving its opinion when there is European funding. Others argue for more active involvement for a European Commission which, under the “action plans” or, in the case of Algeria, “roadmap” linked to association agreements, works with the Mediterranean countries in bringing about reform and modernising their economies and infrastructures, and, therefore, monitors the consistency of European initiatives in the region. (F.B./transl.rt)