Supervisors info:
Χρυσοχόου Δημήτρης, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Πολιτικής Επιστήμης και Δημόσιας Διοίκησης, ΕΚΠΑ.
Summary:
This paper addresses the issue of the “Union for the Mediterranean” and the “Blue growth”
strategy. Since ancient times the Mediterranean sea has continuously been a region of great
interest. Before we analyze the “Union for the Mediterranean” it is important to look back
upon previous efforts for a stable Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
The first chapter presents the “Barcelona Process (1995) ” in great detail, which was the first
attempt to promote political stability and establish a partnership between Europe and the
Mediterranean, and was based on three main areas: Politics, economy and social culture.
It is also important to examine the institutional framework as well as the funding of the
“Barcelona Process (1995)” in order to understand why it didn't fulfill its goals as expected,
driving the Euro-Mediterranean' partnership to a dead end. Fortunately, the “Union for the
Mediterranean” came to restore this fragile relationship between the 2 regions.
The second chapter thoroughly presents the “Mediterranean Union” , a 2007 precampaign
initiative by, the French to be president, Nicola Sarkozy. Greece supported the initiative and
despite the opposition of numerous countries, the most prestigious amongst them being
Germany, it became a reality, uniting 42 European and Mediterranean countries. The broad
range of programs upon which the “Union for the Mediterranean” was based are also
projected in this chapter, along with the degree that the Union achieved the desirable regional
corporation. Youth employment and development, women empowerment, sustainable
development and infrastructure constituted the main priorities for the Union.
The third chapter focuses on the “Blue growth” , the greatest outcome of the “Mediterranean
Union’ ” initiative. The term “Blue growth” has existed since 1994 but it became widely
known and used after a United Nations conference regarding sustainable development in 2012.
The “Blue Growth” strategy aims at the utilization and the protection of the oceans and the
seas of the Euro-Mediterranean territory in order to achieve the much needed sustainable
development. The main fields that the strategy focuses on are tourism, fishing, aquaculture
and maritime transport.
Finally, the paper concludes with an evaluation of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and the
importance of further elaboration of the “Union for the Mediterranean”.
Keywords:
Barcelona Process, Union for the Mediterranean, Blue Growth, Blue Economy
