The French project of the Union for the Mediterranean was launched by <b>French President Nicolas Sarkozy</b> since his presidential campaign. French President then presented it in broad outline, on the occasion of a visit to Tangiers (Morocco), <b>Oct 23, 2007</b>. <br /> <br /> In Lisbon, <a href="http://www.consilium.europa.eu/cms3_fo/showPage.asp?id=487&amp;lang=en"> Alain Le Roy</a>, ambassador in charge of implementing the project, detailed for the first time the contents of this French initiative to all the countries concerned. The Union for the Mediterranean would be a forum for annual or bi-annual exchange between countries bordering the Mediterranean, but not a new institution. It would be a "union project" based on specific programs, such as <b>a water agency responsible for combating pollution of the Mediterranean</b>, or a development agency for small and medium enterprises. Each initiative is only supported by those countries that wish it. 2011-08-09T17:54:27Z tag:www.emwis.net,2011-08-09:/initiatives/mediterranean-union/about-mediterranean-union http://www.emwis.net/misc_/SEMIDE/Site.gif Euro-Mediterranean Information System on know-how in the Water sector