The European Union has announced its vision for an association of the EU and other states bordering the Mediterranean. But it falls short of what sponsor France originally wanted. The European Commission laid out its views in Strasbourg on Tuesday, May 20. The project is open to all EU member states as well as countries from North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans and includes the Palestinian authorities. This is an initiative to reinforce, to reinvigorate our relationship," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said at a press conference. "The more we can develop the region in the South, the less illegal migration there will be...The more prosperity we can give, the less terrorism, the less criminality will be there." Potential tasks for the new union will be to open new sea traffic routes, clean up Mediterranean waters, improve maritime security and exploit solar power in Northern Africa to help meet Europe's energy needs.
The European Commission laid out its views in Strasbourg on Tuesday, May 20.
The project is open to all EU member states as well as countries from North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans and includes the Palestinian authorities.
This is an initiative to reinforce, to reinvigorate our relationship," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said at a press conference. "The more we can develop the region in the South, the less illegal migration there will be...The more prosperity we can give, the less terrorism, the less criminality will be there."
Potential tasks for the new union will be to open new sea traffic routes, clean up Mediterranean waters, improve maritime security and exploit solar power in Northern Africa to help meet Europe's energy needs.
