Moroccan political leader warns against another (Berlin) wall between the two banks of the mediterranean
Morocco-European Union, Politics, 11/4/2003

A Moroccan political leader has warned against the erection of what he called another Berlin Wall separating the two banks of the Mediterranean, if Europe continues to ignore countries of the south.

"The new European horizon that opened after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the eastward openness should not be at the expense of the Euro-Mediterranean" region, said, here Saturday, Mahjoubi Ahardane, Secretary General of the party "National Mouvement Populaire" (MNP).

Ahardane who was addressing a symposium in Tunis on "the Euro-Mediterranean space in the face of the European enlargement," warned "the risk is there, that of another wall separating the two banks of the Mediterranean, the risk of letting the gap in the south extend and worsen, in a zone already exposed (.) to tensions, confrontations and to all sorts of extremism incubated by under-development, marginalization and exclusion."

Ahardane lashed out at what he described as the "formidable mobilization of this very Europe towards its central and eastern countries since the collapse of the Communist Bloc," compared to the poor mobilization for their southern neighbours.

He said the numerous financing and exceptional facilities granted to these countries show what "we must call the differential of treatment between countries of Central and eastern Europe and South Mediterranean countries."

In terms of inhabitants, he explained, Brussels grants an average of half a Euro per inhabitant for the south and 100 times more for every inhabitant of East European countries.

"Whether we like or not, the EU's enlargement will affect the real promotion of the Euro-Mediterranean space," he said noting that relations between the two banks of the Mediterranean are "rather modest, and even disappointing."

While calling for more dialogue, Ahardane insisted on the importance of the cultural dimension that should be taken into account in these relations, citing in this regard the strong presence in Europe of immigrants from Maghreb countries.

Echoing him, a Moroccan MP, member of the "Popular Movement" Party also noted that the Euro-Mediterranean partnership has not yet met, in a satisfactory manner, expectations of the North African countries.

Said Ameskane explained at the symposium that "peace difficulties in the Middle east have considerably compromised opportunities offered by the Barcelona Process" noting that the process of negotiations and ratification of the association agreements (with the EU) has been much slower than expected.

"So far, there has been no dialogue frank and serious enough on the imperatives and challenges of a common policy in the Mediterranean," said Ameskane underlining that South-South trade and exchanges remain too weak while EU investments in the region have not progressed at all.

Noting the lack of a "genuine strategic prospect," Ameskane said Europe seemed to be interested in the Mediterranean only for security reasons (Middle East conflict, migratory flow) and conceived its economic policy only to open markets in countries south of the Mediterranean.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco-EU informal working group on 'advanced status' to meet early next year   (10/28/2003)
  EU reiterates call for immediate release of Moroccan POWs   (10/25/2003)
  EU greets Morocco's 'positive reaction' to 'Enlarged Europe' initiative   (10/25/2003)

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