France accused of taking wrong track on Med union plan

French plans for a union for the Mediterranean have been criticised by a Paris-based expert speaking at the European parliament.
 
Referring to any future union, Catherine Wihtol de Wenden told a seminar on Tuesday that there was consensus on some of the issues the body should address, such as the environment, but on others there was a “policy vacuum”.

Under the proposals, outlined by French president Nicolas Sarkozy, Mediterranean countries would form a body loosely similar to the EU, with co-presidencies and a summit every two years.
 
But the event, organised by the Green group in parliament, heard that the plans are on the “wrong track”.
 
De Wenden, research director at the national centre for scientific research (CNRS-CERI) said, “When it comes to issues this union should comprise, like immigration and the environment, it is a case of ‘hands off’ and let's avoid talking about it.
 
“This is one of the reasons why France has found itself rather isolated in pushing for a union for the Mediterranean.
 
“In a way, this is only natural because many countries are more concerned with what is happening on their doorsteps and in their own region. This lack of solidarity has undermined French efforts to push for this union.”

The news comes on the day France takes over the rotating presidency of the EU. Paris has earmarked immigration as one of its policies over the next six months.

De Wenden’s comments were echoed by another speaker at the conference, Rutger Wissels, a senior official with the European commission, who said, “The proposal is an interesting initiative but questions have been raised as to whether it should include EU countries.
 
“I believe France was on the wrong track in thinking it could push ahead with this plan without the full involvement and participation of EU member states.”
 
The conference was also told that eastern European countries, such as Poland, are now pressing for an equivalent union for states in their region.

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