'Mediterranean Union' - what is Sarkozy up to?

[easygoing]

http://euobserver.com/9/25043

French president Nicolas Sarkozy has reiterated his plan to set up a Mediterranean Union, a loose grouping of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, in 2008 - a move that is likely to raise eyebrows in some parts of Europe.

"I invite all the heads of state and government of countries bordering the Mediterranean to meet in France in June 2008 to lay the foundations of a political, economic and cultural union founded on the principles of strict equality", Mr Sarkozy said during his visit to Morocco on Tuesday (23 October).

Surely he won't try to form this, and then append it somehow - perhaps economically - to the existing EU, with the ultimate aim of getting North Africa into Europe?

Otherwise, it just seems like multilateral overkill to me.

[irishpeoplearewhingers]

it is just an attempt to make France appear important....and it is a dangerous one too...

[wombat]

Don't worry, Germany won't allow it.

[cleareyed2]

it is just an attempt to make France appear important....and it is a dangerous one too...

seconded

[Champa]

Is Sarkozy Putins long lost brother?. He sure is a slimey creature.

[Aristotle II]

This is all part of Sarko's plan to shed French reliance on Germany with which it is the centre and focus of the EU. The Mediterranean Union, in which France would be the dominant and driving force, would give France a new platform to gain revelence on the international diplomatic scene and make it a new "power". The MU would more than likely end up merging with the EU, giving France more clout as all the Maghareb countries would be beholden to France for their membership.

In response to Wombat: Germany can do nothing to stop it.

In response to irishpeoplearewhingers and cleareyed2: it will make France important!

Champa: I agree that it shares similarities with Putin's policy of dominating neighbours and the EU with Russia's energy resources.

Vivre l'Union Méditerranian!

[Catalpa]

France wishes to re establish political influence in its former colonies of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

If he can dangle economic goodies in front of those countries ruling elites through the mechanism of a political/economic link to the EU then that's the way Sarkozy will proceed.

[Destiny's Soldier]

Sarkozy is a strange fellow. And somewhat goofy too.

I don't know enough about him to give a proper analysis. But the fact he normalised a putative military attack on Iran by the US so soon after coming to power means he is not his own man. That kind of language from a European leader recently elected is not normal.

A Mediterranean Union sounds like prelude to a back door mechanism to expand the European Union.
If there is freedom of movement from Arab countries into France, they'll be freedom of movement for them to get into Ireland. How African economic migrant workers can find themselves in Ireland legally is a mystery to me. (Nothing against Africans whatsoever, just that if they are not EU citizens how can the get into the country legally? )

Is the same process going to happen for Turks , Morrocans or Israelis wishing to enter Ireland? Via this Med Union Perhaps?

[Aristotle II]

Sarkozy is a strange fellow. And somewhat goofy too.

I don't know enough about him to give a proper analysis. But the fact he normalised a putative military attack on Iran by the US so soon after coming to power means he is not his own man. That kind of language from a European leader recently elected is not normal.

A Mediterranean Union sounds like prelude to a back door mechanism to expand the European Union.
If there is freedom of movement from Arab countries into France, they'll be freedom of movement for them to get into Ireland. How African economic migrant workers can find themselves in Ireland legally is a mystery to me. (Nothing against Africans whatsoever, just that if they are not EU citizens how can the get into the country legally? )

Is the same process going to happen for Turks , Morrocans or Israelis wishing to enter Ireland? Via this Med Union Perhaps?

I feel that you are missing the point and significance of the Sakozy's actions.
Sakozy is attempting to re-establish France on the world stage.
All these seemingly foolish, irrelevant or minor deeds and words like floating the idea of an attack on Iran (as suggested by him and his foreign minister Bernard Kouchner) and the concept of forming a MU. All these things propell him and France into the international conciousness, thereby associating/bringing him and France to the forefront of International decision making.

[farnaby]

A Mediterranean Union sounds like prelude to a back door mechanism to expand the European Union. If there is freedom of movement from Arab countries into France, they'll be freedom of movement for them to get into Ireland. How African economic migrant workers can find themselves in Ireland legally is a mystery to me. (Nothing against Africans whatsoever, just that if they are not EU citizens how can the get into the country legally? )

Is the same process going to happen for Turks , Morrocans or Israelis wishing to enter Ireland? Via this Med Union Perhaps?

Sounds like the opposite to me - an attempt to placate Turkey and others with some kind of union that's nowhere near actual EU membership. Look at the 'topical issues' mentioned in the article:

counter-terrorism, immigration, energy, trade, water and sustainable development

and think of France/EU interests - get the non-EU states to do the heavy lifting in counter-terrorism, stemming illegal immigration and providing energy sources for European consumption. No doubt sustainable development is at the end of that list for a reason. And/or could we have a form of NAFTA, with the Mediterranean acting as a rather large Rio Grande?