Turkey: Euro-Mediterranean Foundation

Turkish Daily News ^ | 07-12-03 | Prof. Dr. Faruk Sen

[pkpjamestown]

Finally we see the first steps of the Euro-Mediterranean Foundation founded by the president of the European Commission Romano Prodi. Commencing its activities on July 1, 2004, the Foundation has been an outcome of an interesting idea belonging to Mr. Prodi.

The statute of the foundation and its focus points were prepared by a committee. This committee consisted of 18 people, who were all prominent figures from various fields. Mrs. Mubarak, the wife of the president of Egypt, will receive all the documents about the foundation from Mr. Prodi on October 13, 2003, in the name of all Mediterranean nations.

The foundation, whose preparatory works will be finished with the meetings of September 8-9, 2003, has five major targets: First of all, dialogue with Islam; Especially experiences from the European version of Islam, Euro-Islam, will be benefited from communication with Islamic countries. Secondly, the issue of rising illegal immigration will be dealt with. Thirdly, accelerating the cooperation between SMEs within the region, and provide the development of entrepreneurship also in the Mediterranean region will be sought. Fourthly, increasing scientific cooperation between the Mediterranean and European Universities is aimed. And finally, the foundation will seek to develop the cooperation of Euro-Mediterranean co-operation in the field of defence policy.

Moreover, issues will be covered ranging from environment to media. The foundation will commence with a budget of 250 million euros. Thus, Prodi will be able to add his name in the history of the Mediterranean Countries before leaving his post next year. Prodi as a president of the Commission has been the subject of many critics, though, he is an intelligent Italian who knows how to reach his goals.

The Euro-Mediterranean foundation will be a big plus also for the Turks living in Europe. With the number approaching 4-million, the Turks in Europe will be one of the issues the foundation will deal with. The foundation will leave its mark in many issues ranging from Euro-Islam to immigration. Turkey has the chance to lead a dominant role in the works of the foundation. The EU, very certainly, wants also Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and the Magrib countries to take part in this project.

Another development related to the Prodi Commission was about an article written by a significant Turkish journalist Yalcin Dogan. While it is expected that Simitis will become the next president of the EU Commission, another Greek name, Georges Papaendreu's is now pronounced as a candidate for the post of general secretary of NATO. This means, the EU member states will have to follow domestic policies from now on also from Greece, besides Spain and Portugal, for understanding the developments within the EU.

This development should not surprise Turkey. The fact that Greece supported the stance of France and Germany during the Iraq war did not create any reaction from the U.S. The U.S. did not refrain from awarding Georgos Papandreu. On the other hand, we are observing with the recent development how U.S. policy towards Turkey has changed.

[Phatheon]

Simitis has denied the Commission link. He is trying to get re-elected in Greece next year and has that on his mind only.

Papandreou is the darling of the EU and the U.S alike. Well educated (Harvard), well spoken, and most importantly, he doesn't think with his nuts in an area of the world where it is common. He would make a good NATO Sec.General, but I would hate to loose him (even for a few years only) from the domestic scene.

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[pkpjamestown]

I thought that both the US and NATO are alergic to the the name "Papandreou".
Then again, as the Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, "everything changes".