PARIS 13 Jul 2008 France hosts summit of leaders of Mediterranean countries with plan for European Union-type bloc

The leaders of the 20 countries bordering the Mediterranean have been invited to the Jul 13 summit to talk about forming a European Union-like bloc. French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced the summit, one of the first official events of France's EU presidency, at a joint news conference in Rome with then Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Sarkozy is opposed to Turkey joining the European Union, and some describe his Mediterranean Union plans as an alternative to Ankara becoming part of the bloc.

The bloc "would have a mission to reunite Europe and Africa around the countries along the Mediterranean rim and to set up a partnership on an equal footing between the countries" north and south of the sea, according to leaders' statement. Immigration and environment would be central to the new entity's focus, the Spanish prime minister said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed concern that a Mediterranean union could pose a threat to the 27-state European Union, but is expected to join with Sarkozy in drafting the proposal for the bloc. Merkel is also opposed to Turkey joining the European Union.

Sarkozy opposes Turkey's membership in the European Union, arguing that the predominantly Muslim country whose territory mostly lies in Asia does not belong to Europe.

Syria's strained relations with France could complicate the summit plan. In January Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said his country will cut diplomatic ties with France over the political crisis in Lebanon. The announcement comes three days after French President Nicolas Sarkozy suspended contacts with Syria over accusations that Damascus was obstructing a political settlement in Lebanon. Lebanon's Western-backed government and the pro-Syrian opposition have been locked in a dispute over who will succeed pro-Syrian President Emil Lahoud who stepped down when his term expired on Nov 23.

One of several issues in the negotiations will be how the new body would relate politically and economically to the European Union and whether it will replace the present Euro-Mediterranean Association. This latter guarantees free access to European markets and exemption from customs duties. Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey have signed or are negotiating the Association agreement, and their leaders will be among the invitees at the July summit. Jan/08

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Euro-Mediterranean Association
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/euromed/med_ass_agreemnts.htm

Sarkozy Gets Italy, Spain on Board for "Mediterranean Union" (DWW 2 Jan 2008)
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3016610,00.html