Pitching Mediterranean improvements

France has outlined specific activities in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. Foremost among them are the following: De-pollution of the sea — cleaning the water and coastal areas, focusing on the “water and waste sector” — eliminating the sources of pollution. Then civil protection — cooperating on the prevention of natural and man-made disasters, and preparing response.

There are also ambitions to set up a Euro-Mediterranean University, based in Slovenia, promoting academic mobility and joint degrees.

Alternative energy is on the agenda. This would explore the feasibility of a “Mediterranean Solar Plan” to develop solar power as an energy source. It would support research into sources other than oil and gas.

Sea and land “highways” are on the priority list. This would improve connections between ports and support the creation of coastal motorways. One possibly is a trans-Maghreb motorway linking countries on the sea’s southern shores.

The plan is to meet the costs of projects such as these at communal, national and regional levels, and through private investment.

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