Introduction

The Mediterranean Union is a proposed community of European Union (EU) member states and countries bordering the Mediterranean.

13 years after the launching of the Barcelona Process (1995), the EU seeks to create a platform whereby countries south of the Mediterranean would integrate into the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP).

Besides improving the political dialogue currently ongoing with its Mediterranean partners, the EU believes that the Mediterranean Union (MU) will also initiate a number of regional projects that will benefit peoples on both sides of the Mediterranean.

The MU is set to be officially launched at a meeting in Paris, France of the Heads of Mediterranean State and Government on July 14, 2008. Attending will be representatives of 44 countries, the United Nations, the Arab League, the Arab Maghreb Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the World Bank.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will take the chair as president of the summit representing countries north of the Mediterranean. President Hosni Mubarak will co-chair the meeting representing countries south of the Mediterranean. The two leaders will deliver keynote speeches.

Discussions will focus on economic development, food sufficiency, water and energy (First Session), environment protection, defense against disasters, and maritime security (Second Session), education, research and movement of individuals (Third Session) and political dialogue (Fourth Session).