Network or labyrinth? The challenges of co-ordinating western security dialogues with the Mediterranean

Abstract:

During the cold war, the Mediterranean was of limited interest to western security organisations, but as a consequence of the rising importance of Mediterranean security issues the WEU, NATO and the OSCE all initiated security dialogues with Mediterranean countries. Each of these organisations has its own particular approach to Mediterranean security with its own structures; there is little co-ordination between them. Participation in the dialogues is limited and they lack the comprehensive and multilateral character of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, which appears to be the most suitable framework to realise the objective of creating a Mediterranean area of peace and stability. Aligning the programmes of activity of the other Mediterranean initiatives so that they complement those of the EMP would therefore seem be the most efficient and effective way of putting the available means to good use