The Year of the Mediterranean

2005 has been declared 'the Year of the Mediterranean'. This was decided by the 25 EU member states and their 10 partners in the Mediterranean region joined together in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

This year is significant because it was exactly 10 years ago in Barcelona when the Partnership was set up. The main aim is to create a free trade area in the Euro-Mediterranean region by 2010. Another aim is to strengthen democracy and respect for human rights throughout the region.

For many years Malta has championed Mediterranean security. So we propose that some event be held during this most auspicious year to discuss the Mediterranean and the state of health of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

It is true that at the moment much of the focus is on the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of State and of Governments meeting, scheduled for November. But it would be a shame if 2005 were allowed to slip by without an event to commemorate and take stock of the Mediterranean situation.

It could also be an occasion where national priorities for the region begin to be debated and established more clearly. We often hear, for example, that Maltese business and investment can profit from the Euro-Mediterranean free trade area.

Some may already be doing that. But what is the national strategy to help business take advantage? What is the business community thinking and experiencing?

The situation in the Mediterranean is in continuous flux. The Maltese are by now more than familiar with the problem of migration. But other dangers bedevil the region: the situation in the Middle East, migration, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and the slowly deteriorating marine and land environment.

How sure are we that the Partnership is working? This EU policy could become a key instrument to achieve the broader goal of security - as well as our own narrower concern called "peace of mind".

Often the Maltese do not seem to behave as important stakeholders in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. At times one gets the impression that it is treated with aloofness and indifference. We do not doubt the sincerity of the many statements that have been made in the past on the situation in the Mediterranean region and its peoples.

We do not doubt the sincerity of the wishes often expressed that Malta should play a role in promoting Mediterranean stability. We wish and hope that a more organised and systematic approach be taken by all branches of government and that we stop treating Mediterranean politics as a mere 'foreign policy' item.

Malta is now an EU member state and has a lot of policy options and levers to pull. Mediterranean politics comes a close second to EU politics in importance and the public must realise this.

Many people in the EU expect us to take a leading role on Mediterranean issues. Why don't we set the ball rolling in the 'Year of the Mediterranean'?