I hope this time would be really a Win-Win situation. For years relations between Europe and the MENA region were always some form of exploitation; the French wanted even to make Algeria an integral part of their country. May be this is a new start. I think such projects will contribute more to the development of the region and more importantly will strengthen economic ties between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean. All I wish is that Europe will learn from its past and will do some pressure on existing regimes in North Africa; continuing the current policy of supporting them will not help stabilize the region for the long term. A new form of colonialism will not be beneficial to any one and can be disastrous.
The deal needs to be done with the local population in mind. Development means better life, population conscience and consequently better stability and security. Compared to the Middle East, North Africa is for sure more stable and even economically more competitive (e.g. Tunisia is the most competitive country in Africa, even better than Italy and Portugal). I think both parties can put again the Mediterranean in the map as a powerful economic region in a world dominated more and more by Asia and the Americas.
Slashdot Mirror
I hope this time would be really a Win-Win situation. For years relations between Europe and the MENA region were always some form of exploitation; the French wanted even to make Algeria an integral part of their country. May be this is a new start. I think such projects will contribute more to the development of the region and more importantly will strengthen economic ties between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean. All I wish is that Europe will learn from its past and will do some pressure on existing regimes in North Africa; continuing the current policy of supporting them will not help stabilize the region for the long term. A new form of colonialism will not be beneficial to any one and can be disastrous. The deal needs to be done with the local population in mind. Development means better life, population conscience and consequently better stability and security. Compared to the Middle East, North Africa is for sure more stable and even economically more competitive (e.g. Tunisia is the most competitive country in Africa, even better than Italy and Portugal). I think both parties can put again the Mediterranean in the map as a powerful economic region in a world dominated more and more by Asia and the Americas.