The headquarters will now be housed in the Palace of Pedralbes

Deutsche Welle | Nov 4, 2008

The Spanish port city of Barcelona will become the headquarters for the Mediterranean Union, it was announced on Tuesday.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and his Egyptian counterpart, Ahmed Aboul Gheit announced the location of the new union’s main office on Tuesday, Nov. 4, in Marseille.

Agreement on what had been a bone of contention among the 43 members of the union was reached during the two-day meeting of foreign ministers and other representatives from European Union members and Mediterranean states.

The meeting was held in the French city of Marseille because France currently holds the six-month rotating EU presidency.

Royal accommodations

Malta and the Tunisian capital, Tunis, had also been in the running to host the group’s secretariat, which will bring status and jobs to the city. Tunis, the early favorite, might have proved too controversial because of the country’s dubious human rights record.

The headquarters will now be housed in the 17th-century Palace of Pedralbes, on the grounds of which stands a fountain created by the legendary Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi.

Arab League won’t get a vote

Kouchner said the foreign ministers had also agreed to allow the Arab League to participate at all future meetings of the group, but without any voting rights.

“The role of the Arab League was a particularly hard nut to crack,” the French foreign minister told journalists.

Egypt’s Gheit, however, called the decision to allow the Arab League to sit in on meetings “a historic moment.”

Israel had lobbied against a more influential role for the Arab League, and reminded delegates to the meeting that not all of its members were situated on the Mediterranean.

France, Egypt to act as co-presidents

France and Egypt are to hold the union’s co-presidency for two years, even though the Czech Republic will assume the EU presidency on Jan. 1.

“We need stability,” Kouchner said.

It was also decided that the Union for the Mediterranean’s general secretary is to come from a southern country, and that he or she would have five deputies, including one Palestinian and one Israeli.

The post was not filled, but Kouchner suggested that a Tunisian could be named.

Estonia: Mediterranean Union Sets Example for European Union Co-operation with Eastern Neighbours

ISRIA | Nov 5, 2008

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in the meeting of the Mediterranean Union foreign ministers that took place on Tuesday, 4 November in Marseille, France. The foreign policy leaders talked about the future of Mediterranean Union co-operation.

To advance the Middle East peace process and accelerate co-operation in the region, the ministers approved the greater involvement of the League of Arab States in Mediterranean Union co-operation. “The Arab League plays a vital role in advancing the Middle East peace process, and including the League in Mediterranean Union co-operation will strengthen partnership and help with ensuring stability,” said Foreign Minister Urmas Paet.

According to the Estonian foreign minister, co-operation with states on the southern and eastern banks of the Mediterranean sets a good example for European Union co-operation with its neighbours to the east. “Positive developments in the co-operation between the European Union and its Mediterranean partners creates a good situation for implementing a similar model with the European Union’s eastern partners, especially Ukraine and Georgia, for their more rapid integration into European Union co-operation structures,” said Foreign Minister Paet.

The foreign ministers agreed to establish the Mediterranean Union Secretariat in Barcelona. The European Union’s partnership with the countries on the southern bank of the Mediterranean, which was established in Barcelona in 1995, was the foundation for the creation of the Mediterranean Union in the summer of this year.

The ministers also discussed the implementation of Mediterranean Union projects. At the Paris summit on 13 June 2008, it was agreed to initiate co-operation projects for reducing pollution in the Mediterranean Sea, developing sea traffic and land transport, using solar energy, protecting citizens in the case of a natural disaster, promoting higher education, and supporting small businesses.

The Mediterranean Union includes all European Union member states and countries along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

Foreign Minister Paet also met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan in Marseille yesterday. At the meeting, they discussed the status of Turkey’s accession negotiations with the European Union.