Its now one year since the launch of the Mediterranean Union and the organisation is still searching for its identity.

As a result the Forum for Young Mediterranean Leaders came together in the Spanish city of Seville to discuss new strategies for Euro-Mediterranean partnership. The forum’s president is Hakim El Karoui: “Its the second such forum formed around a single, simple idea that there is a new generation of politicians, both north and south of the Mediterranean, who want to bring about change, its not a talking shop but a group that wants change through its actions.” Others want the Gulf states involved, like political analyst Gilles Kepel: “ The Mediterranean in today’s global world needs to project itself it has three main branches the European Union, southern and eastern countries and the Gulf States, they complement one another and form a reliable framework.” The United Nations is on board, but what role do they play? UN strategist Jean-Christophe Bas:

“ The alliance has set in place a series of projects to send young Americans and Europeans out into the Arab and Muslim worlds in order to get to know the culture and put an end to any mutual misunderstanding and ignorance.”

The organisers of the forum are looking to create a Mediterranean Union not only politically but also economically and socially, all these ideas, for the moment, are based more on hope than reality. Much more work is required before the project reaches its goal.More about: European Union, Mediterranean Union

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