Towards a Cooperative Security in the Mediterranean

Abstract

The gea-political boundaries of the Mediterranean vary according to two traditional points of view: one, is limited and only takes into consideration the waterside countries which have inherited the same cultural roats; the other is broad and considers it as single area between Gibraltar and the Gulf, including the Middle East. With regard to the precise meaning of the concept of security in the Mediterranean, social, cultural and economic factors are emphasised and two main influences identified: one related to lhe Israeli-Arab peace process and another which favours the existance of cultural ties between lhe Latin countries and those of the Magrebe (expressed in formula 5+5 if Malta is lncluded). Next, the differences between American sensitivity, which emphasises lhe political-strategic nature of security, and European sensitivity, which concentrates more on the problem of social unrest and migratory fluxes, are highlighted. Lastly, broad co-operatian, under the auspices of NATO, is proposed within a PfM (Partnership for lhe Mediterranean) framework.