For a long time, the Mediterranean region has attracted the expansionist whims of the European powers, especially in the 19th century, with the construction of colonial empires that have now been dismantled. Modern Europe struggles to find a coherent policy that would open onto to that part of the world (free trade of goods –excepting agriculture and textile– but not of persons) to maintain its influence, which has been markedly overtaken by United States policies to resolve persistent conflicts (the peace process in the Middle East, in the Balkans, Cyprus and Western Sahara). For the European Union there is still much to be done (the Barcelona process is under way), from an immigration and visa policy to enlargement to the South, where Turkey could be used as a model: France, through its history and diplomacy, has a major role to play in this Mediterranean outlook, in which the EU must co-operate fully with the U.S.

Rémy Leveau is a Scientific Adviser within Ifri (Maghreb, Arabic countries).

This content is published in French  - La France, l'Europe et la Méditerranée : un espace à construire