Mediterranean

Reports of the ObservatoriesLeave a comment

The Western Mediterranean Forum – the 5+5 Dialogue

The Western Mediterranean Forum, commonly referred to as the 5+5 Dialogue, comprises Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and Tunisia.
As a trans-mediterranean initiative, the goal of the 5+5 Dialogue is to ensure closer cooperation among the five EU Member States and the five Arab Maghreb countries through political dialogue and cooperation and by encouraging more effective resource management as a means of strengthening interdependence and regional development.

Reports of the ObservatoriesLeave a comment

The Western Mediterranean Forum – the 5+5 Dialogue

The Western Mediterranean Forum, commonly referred to as the 5+5 Dialogue, comprises Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and Tunisia.
As a trans-mediterranean initiative, the goal of the 5+5 Dialogue is to ensure closer cooperation among the five EU Member States and the five Arab Maghreb countries through political dialogue and cooperation and by encouraging more effective resource management as a means of strengthening interdependence and regional development.

Reports of the Observatories

EURODEFENSE OBSERVATORY ON THE MEDITERRANEAN. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

The situation in the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood has become more complex and dangerous, when on October 7, 2023, massive terrorist attacks by Hamas deep into Israel’s territory caused over 1,400 deaths (including babies and children), wounded more than 5,000 people and took 239 hostages. Israel’s response has been very harsh, cutting the supply of water, electricity, and fuel in Gaza, heavily bombarding many parts of the Strip, and starting a ground operation with the intention of destroying Hamas’ capabilities. The “collateral damage” is huge: so far more than 8,000 Gazans have been killed (including many children), and more than 21,000 have been wounded. The Israeli Army has compelled hundreds of thousands of residents in the northern part of Gaza to move south, to facilitate military operations. UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations warn that the situation in the heavy populated territory is catastrophic and could result in many more deaths if there is no restoration of fuel and electricity, and an increase of humanitarian aid soon. So far, all international calls for a ceasefire have been ignored.
This new phase of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has interrupted the process of normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, within the so-called “Abraham Accords”. There is a risk that the armed confrontation spreads to other countries in the region, including Lebanon and Iran. The role and influence of the EU is very limited, as it is too divided on the matter.

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EURODEFENSE WEBINAR

It is only natural that our attention should now be focused on the war in Ukraine and all its consequences. But this should not make us forget other areas of tension, real or potential, fraught with threats to our European space.

The development of the Mediterranean basin is a major and permanent source of concern in this respect. The very real energy crisis and competition for oil and natural gas resources; the food crisis that is likely to spread; the political situation in countries undergoing rapid demographic change where aspirations for change and revolt are combined; the exacerbation of the resulting regional antagonisms; are just a few examples that make ancient Mare Nostrum a zone of turmoil and great uncertainty.

This is why the network of EuroDéfense associations created a few years ago an Observatory on the Mediterranean basin led today by Manuel de la Cámara, Ambassador of Spain, and connoisseur of this area and its problems.

On November 24, 2022 from 17:00 to 18:30 (CET), a  webinar has taken place moderated by Jean FOURNET, President-in-office, EURODEFENSE network, with Ambassador Manuel de la Cámara as main speaker, who has presented the report of the observatory

Slides and comments can be read through the links below

THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN. A TROUBLED NEIGHBOURHOOD

TEXT Manuel de la Cámara Méditerranée 24 11 2022

 

 

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Publications Reports of the Observatories

Observatory of the Mediterranean Basin: Report to the Lisbon President’s Council

Since the last EURODEFENSE President’s Council, the situation in the Mediterranean Basin has not improved neither politically nor economically. The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the difficulties that the people in the region are facing. The EU continues to pay great attention to the region, but its political influence remains limited, even though it continues to allocate substantial resources to cooperation with its southern neighbors.

Publications Reports of the Observatories

Turkey and the EU: A difficult but critical relationship

On April 7, 2021, the European Union and Turkey held a meeting in Ankara at the highest level. The Turkish side was headed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the EU by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel and the President of the Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen. At the end of the meeting at the Presidential Palace, the leaders moved to a living room where Erdoğan and Michel sat in two chairs flanked by the Turkish and EU flags, while Von der Leyen was left standing. After some hesitation, she sat on a side sofa, just like the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavusoglu, who took seat on a sofa on the opposite side. According to the chief of Protocol of Mr. Michel, Dominique Marro, it was thanks to Michel’s intervention that Von der Leyen was not seated on a side chair during the luncheon and was not excluded from the official photo of the meeting.

Publications Reports of the Observatories

Mediterranean Observatory – An overview of the present situation in the Mediterranean region

The Euromediterranean Conference held in Barcelona on 27/28 November 1995 adopted the so-called “Barcelona Declaration”. It was approved by the then 17 EU Member States (MS) and its 10 Mediterranean partners, including Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The Declaration was a landmark in the EU’s policy vis-á.-vis its Southern neighbors, encompassing wide economic, cultural, political and human cooperation.

Reports of the Observatories National publications Publications

The European Union pact on migration and asylum

On 23 September 2020, the European Commission proposed a so-called “New Pact on Migration and Asylum” -document COM (2020) 609 final-. In August 2020, EURODEFENSE-ESPAÑA presented to the Commission a paper on The New Pact, responding to the opportunity offered for interested parties to contribute to this debate. This paper was later distributed within the EURODEFENSE network.

Publications Media/Opinion pieces

Immigration en Méditerranée : IRINI succède à SOPHIA

Décidée par l’Union européenne le 18 mai 2015, l’opération SOPHIA faisait partie d’un ensemble de mesures visant à répondre à une immigration massive transitant par la Méditerranée, à la fois en détectant l’arrivée des migrants et en s’attaquant aux causes de cette immigration que sont la pauvreté, les conflits et les persécutions. Au printemps 2019, suite au refus de l’Italie de recevoir les migrants sauvés en mer, l’opération se limitera à une surveillance aérienne et satellitaire de la zone, jusqu’à son arrêt définitif le 31 mars 2020. A cette même date, le Conseil européen décide toutefois de lancer une nouvelle opération, baptisée IRINI.