Mediterranean Programme - [06/15/2007]

The difficulty of consolidating Human Security in the Mediterranean

Eduard Soler, Coordinator of the Mediterranean Programme of the CIDOB Foundation, presented a paper at the international conferences at the Middle East Technical University of Ankara (Turkey), an event that is now in its sixth year. This year’s conference was dedicated to the subject of the Middle East.

In his address, Soler opened with the statement: "Traditionally, cooperation in the area of security has taken place within the framework of a classic security approach. It has proved difficult to consolidate the notion of human security − which prioritises the security of citizens over and above that of the state or the regime − in discourses on security in the Mediterranean".

Speaking in Ankara, Soler argued that the Mediterranean is still far from being a secure community, though it does possess certain characteristics of a security complex. Basing his address on an article that he wrote himself, and which was published in issue 76 of the magazine Afers internacionals, Soler stressed the point that the principles of human security and the instruments deriving from same should be reinforced in the various regional cooperation initiatives in the area.

Following an analysis of results within the framework of the Barcelona Process, the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and other cooperation initiatives in the field of security, different action proposals were presented. These included points such as the need to include a reform of the security sector in ENP Action Plans, as well as the importance of increasing cooperation to tackle humanitarian crises, creating mutual aid mechanisms in the area of civil protection, setting up ESDP missions in areas such as demining or supporting the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon, in addition to other actions aimed at guaranteeing the security of the Lebanese population.

Soler's address was followed by a question and answer session in which various subjects were discussed, including the impact of the proposal by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to set up a Mediterranean Union, and the asymmetry that exists when it comes to defining a security agenda between EU countries and their Mediterranean partners.

These conferences serve as a meeting point for academics working in the field of International Relations from Turkey and other countries. Among those present this year were Juan Cole from the University of Michigan, Raymond Hinnebush from the University of St. Andrews and Eyal Zisser from TelAvivUniversity.

>> Afers Internacionals, issue no. 76

>> Read Eduard Soler's complete address (pdf 65kB)

>> Go to complete programme of activity  (pdf 148kB)

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