Mediterranean and Middle East - [11/12/2008]

Lessons can be drawn from 5+5 for the rest of the Mediterranean

Eduard Soler, the Coordinator of the Mediterranean Programme at the CIDOB Foundation, took part in a work session of the association Horizons Méditerranéens that was aimed at analysing the cooperation within the framework 5+5 (which brings together Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Malta) by evaluating which of its successful aspects could be reproduced in the Euro-Mediterranean framework. This meeting, which took place at the Military School of Paris on 6-7 November, featured the participation of a small group of experts from European and Maghrebi countries.

After listening to addresses by representatives of the different ministries that cooperate in the framework 5+5 (Defence, Interior, Immigration and Tourism), the discussion group concluded that cooperation in 5+5 had effectively succeeded in involving countries of the south that are often absent in other frameworks. Thus, the participants agreed that the ingredients of the framework's success were: flexibility, small groups, specific subjects and technicians, reduced costs and the involvement of all members in the framework's political and budgetary initiatives. In spite of the fact that this method cannot be applied to each and every one of the work areas of Euro-Mediterranean relations, the group members did agree that this corporation dynamic could be exported for use in certain specific areas.

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