Chancellor Angela Merkel German
Indeed, the mere fact of wanting to replace the inoperative, but not obsolete process of Barcelona by the spirit of Paris, caused misgivings both in Brussels and in some Mediterranean capitals. The original proposal from Sarkozy, who sought to set aside non-Mediterranean Union new EU countries, drew the ire of Chancellor Angela Merkel German, who was on the verge of veto the French initiative, recalling that Germany was committed to fund with the Euro-Mediterranean partnership project. Finally, Sarkozy was forced to accept the presence of the 27 in the structure of the Union. To dispel any doubts about fatherhood and the legality of the process, the Commission of the European Union agreed to employ the euphemism Barcelona process Mediterranean Union. Thus, Spain retained its initial prominence, while France is He pointed out the goal of the initiative. The priority objectives of the new Mediterranean Union have little to do with the comprehensive agenda adopted in 1995 in Barcelona. French diplomacy focused on cooperation in security, the de-pollution of the Mediterranean, monitoring of maritime traffic, cooperation in the energy sector (Paris proposes a barter: oil and Saharan natural gas in exchange for French nuclear power stations), the creation of an Erasmus programme for students from Mediterranean countries, as well as the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean scientific community.
While Sarkozy’s initiative has, at least apparently, the blessing of the Bush administration, politicians in Ankara not concealing his discomfort to a project that would slow down the integration of Turkey into the European Union. Sarkozy, one of main opponents of accession by Ankara to the so-called Christian club of Brussels, insinuates that Turkey It could (or should) become the leader of the Group of so-called non-EU countries to take advantage of the new Association. A totally unacceptable proposal for Turkish politicians bent on achieving the status of full member of the Union for his country. The Sarkozy project is equally likely to become a big hit that in a dismal failure of French diplomacy.
