Merkel Slams Sarko's Med Union Scheme

The German Chancellor warns Sarkozy his proposal for a Mediterranean union of European, North African, and Middle Eastern nations would hurt the EU
German chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that French plans for a Mediterranean Union risk splitting the EU. Speaking at a conference in Berlin on Wednesday (5 December), Ms Merkel indicated that if French president Nicolas Sarkozy pushed ahead with his proposals for a union of countries from Europe, the Middle East and North Africa the "core" of the European Union would be threatened.

The chancellor said that "cooperation between some member states has to be also open to the rest and it has to be approved by all member states." It cannot be that some countries establish a Mediterranean Union and fund this with money from EU coffers, said the German leader. "This could release explosive forces in the union I would not like," she said, according to news agency DPA.

Mr Sarkozy floated the idea for such a union during his presidential campaign earlier this year. Since becoming president in May, he has elaborated on the proposal saying in October that "in the Mediterranean will be decided whether or not civilisations and religions will wage the most terrible of wars...whether or not the North and the South will clash".

Under the plans, the group would tie southern Europe with Northern Africa as well as Israel and its Arab neighbours and tackle topical issues such as counter-terrorism, immigration, energy, trade, water and sustainable development. Just seven EU states -- Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain -- are envisioned to take part.
Mr Sarkozy's Mediterranean Union idea -- he suggested on Wednesday that France and Algeria be the main axis of the Union -- has also raised eyebrows in Brussels. The European Commission fears it will undermine the 12-year-old Barcelona process, aimed at promoting dialogue between the EU and ten countries on the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean.

There are also fears that it is a ruse to enmesh Turkey – which would be a member – into the process and detract from its current EU negotiations, with Mr Sarkozy being strongly opposed to Ankara's EU membership bid.

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9th Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers Meeting

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership met on 5-6 November 2007 in Lisbon, under the Presidency of the Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado. The meeting provided an opportunity to assess the progress made during 2007 and to agree on priorities for next year.

In a 21-page document, Ministers reaffirm their commitment to pursue their efforts to realise the objectives set out 12 years ago: to establish a common area of peace and stability, to create an area of shared prosperity and to develop a partnership in social, cultural and human affairs. They welcome the fact that, despite the prevailing tension in the Middle East, the Euro-Med partners have succeeded to maintain a constructive dialogue covering many key issues, and stress the importance of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

In the conclusions of their meeting, the Foreign Ministers refer to issues covered by the Political and Security Partnership, including political and security dialogue and enhancing partnership-building measures. In the context of Sustainable Socio-Economic Development and Reform, they reached conclusions on a range of issues, including progress towards establishing a Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area, stimulating economic cooperation and investment, enhancing cooperation in the fields of health, energy and transport, statistical cooperation, environment, climate change and sustainable development, the information society, developing a more systematic approach to cooperation in the field of employment, and human development.

In the framework of Education and Socio Cultural Exchanges, Ministers reached agreement on issues relating to a Euro-Mediterranean area of higher education and scientific research, civil society, the role of women in society, enhancing the Anna Lindh Foundation, media activities and youth.

Peugeot to Transfer Its Call Center From France to Tunisia

Tunisia's reputation as a hub for call centers was reinforced at the news that Peugeot, the French car maker, will shift its European call centre based in Lyon, France, to Tunisia and Portugal.

Peugeot's Tunisian call center which will be operational in Spring 2008 will handle calls from France, which will constitute about 40% of the total number of calls, whereas Portuguese operators will make up the remaining incoming calls (60%) from European countries.

The company's French call center which is managed by 'Teleperformance' registered a decreasing number of calls over the years. Another reason that has justified Peugeot's decision to transfer it call centre to Tunisia is the less expensive labor costs and the fact that 'Teleperformance' is already successfully managing several other call centers in Tunisia. The company's workforce in the country has increased from 100 employees in 2001, to several thousands in 2007. The remarkable development of call centers in Tunisia was made possible not only by the existence of a qualified, less expensive labor- force in Tunisia, but also by a modern, competitive, telecommunication system.