France presented the Mediterranean Union project: The creation of a water agency to face pollution of the Mediterranean

France has detailed its Mediterranean Union project to all the member countries of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, at a conference in Lisbon. A meeting of foreign ministers of the 37 countries participating in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership was held on Tuesday, November 6 in Lisbon, just days after the first conference EU-Africa-Middle East on energy, 1 November, at Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt). The French project of the Mediterranean Union was launched by French President Nicolas Sarkozy since his presidential campaign. French President then presented it in broad outline, on the occasion of a visit to Morocco, Oct 23 (Read Euractiv 25/10). In Lisbon, Alain Le Roy, ambassador in charge of implementing the project, detailed for the first time the contents of this French initiative to all the countries concerned. The Mediterranean Union would be a forum for annual or bi-annual exchange between countries bordering the Mediterranean, but not a new institution, said Alain Leroy. It would be a "union project" based on specific programs, such as a water agency responsible for combating pollution of the Mediterranean, or a development agency for small and medium enterprises. Each initiative is only supported by those countries that wish it.

The Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly has also supported the Mediterranean Union Initiative during its last meeting held in Malta on November 24th.