Barcelona, Malta and the Euro-Arab dialogue

Foreign affairs is not a topic which stirs emotions in the local political debate, now that the issue of European Union membership forms part of the national consensus. This does not, however, mean that our relationship with the outside world does not influence the local scene; indeed our economic vision, and the way we project our country abroad, are intricately linked.

Take, for instance, the newly set-up Union for the Mediterranean, gradually emerging from the Barcelona process. This novel French proposal, intended to give a new thrust to the faltering, and perhaps lethargic, Euro-Mediterranean process, is aimed towards specific multi-faceted projects in the Mediterranean region: A distinctly pragmatic approach, in a valiant attempt towards transcending the thorny political issues which have pulled down any attempt of the Euro-Mediterranean process to soar and reach its ambitious ideas of political, economic and social cooperation set out in the 1995 Barcelona process.

Malta - through its foreign ministers of different administrations - has put its Euro-Mediterranean vocation at the heart of its foreign policy. Indeed Malta was present at creation both at the launching of the Barcelona process and even before. It was therefore a natural consequence of our foreign policy for us to support - from the very beginning - President Nicolas Sarkozy's move to put the Euro-Med process on a more operational and pragmatic gear - a sort of emerging Mediterranean Development Corporation which, through its myriad projects would stress on practical cooperation.

This would possibly lead to economic interdependence - smoothing over the long-standing conflicts of old; not that pragmatism can bury the political disputes engrained in Mediterranean politics, but at least one could create visible signs of cooperation between north and south which would lead to recognising one's similarities rather than differences. One of the projects related to the promotion of the concept of a Euro-Med University would create programmes for exchange of professors, lecturers and students strengthening the people-to-people approach - the key to success in projects of this kind.

Will this idea prosper and succeed? Most political pundits expected a tougher ride for Mr Sarkozy in the launching of the union last July. The recent meeting at Marseille succeeded in securing an observer status for the League of Arab States - a position warmly supported by Malta.

But the real litmus test of success will come with the realisation of the promised projects, and their allocation in different areas of the region.

The assignment of the seat of the secretariat to Barcelona constituted a compromise move to allay fears that the French-sponsored Union for the Mediterranean would bury the Barcelona link of the Euro-Med process. Malta, which had expressed an interest in hosting the seat, was prepared to view the wider picture and settle for this compromise. But it rightly insisted on two things: An active presence in the Barcelona secretariat through the appointment of a Maltese deputy secretary-general, and, perhaps more important, the setting up in Malta of a liaison office for Euro-Arab dialogue jointly sponsored by the European Commission and the League of Arab states. Both demands were ultimately accepted after a long but rewarding negotiation process.

It now depends on us to cultivate the Euro-Arab dialogue through this office - the first of this kind - the setting-up of which comes so close after the launching of this dialogue earlier this year in February. The joint letter signed by Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner and Arab League secretary-general Amre Mousa makes specific reference to the Malta meeting and expressly states that the choice of Malta to host this new liaison office is no accident.

The dialogue between Europe and the Arab world stems, from political necessity. It is in the interest of the European continent to maintain a steady dialogue on a permanent basis and not in a haphazard way. The Arab League looks at Europe as a moderating influence in the Mediterranean region.

Malta can wisely act as an honest broker in this dialogue which can guarantee peace and serenity in a region which has its fair share of troubles and tension.

Dr Borg is Minister of Foreign Affairs.