While the gradual establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean free trade area foreseen by the year 2010 is becoming real, leading tourism-generating countries in the individual Mediterranean sub-regions are engaged in favouring a global framework agreement to boost the potential for regional cooperation and create an area of shared prosperity. The government of Malta for instance believes that with this respect the need for a transnational cooperation agreement is crucial since “the competition is no longer between Malta and Tunisia, between Tunisia and Greece and between Greece and Turkey but rather between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean”. Moreover, a Euro-Mediterranean partnership could encourage European tourism, which during the 90s decreased by 10 percent. Many countries involved in the realization of this project agreed to and undersigned the Hammamet Declaration, the final act of the first conference which brought together Parliamentarians and Local Authorities to discuss the future progress of sustainable tourism. Spain has been engaged for quite a time now, in profiling tourist-consumers’ behavior in the year 2020, trying to forward an offer that could possibly satisfy their needs, while the government of Turkey reacted promptly and pointedly due to the growing interest for ecotourism. In accordance with the requirements/guidelines set out in the Hammamet Declaration, Tunisia and Spain are fine example of strategic policy which identifies tourism as the core element to pursue growth and development. The aforementioned document (signed also by Italy) saw participants involved in underscoring the increasingly important role which national, regional and local governments have in mapping the future of sustainable tourism. In addition, a recent international seminar on ecotourism (Italian representatives did not take part) held in Tunis set the basis for an agreement, established among Mediterranean countries, on respect for cultural diversity, the key to sustainable human development. Unfortunately, Italy hasn’t yet taken any position on the matter and considering the reactions of the international community after the Hammamet’s meeting, it would be advisable for our country’s own benefit to start thinking strategically and innovatively in order to promote and apply sustainable tourism ideas, in response to European cooperative requirements. Marocco and Libia, together with Spain and Tunisia, were among those countries that welcomed new initiatives with this respect carrying out development action plans;
Malta stressed the need to pursue a common Mediterranean tourism strategy, suggesting a name for the region. On the other hand, the lack of initiative on the part of Italy is rather disappointing, especially if considering that a while ago the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Senator Alfredo Mantica, focused on the urgent need to promote a strategic Mediterranean system inviting Italy to narrow the gap existing between Institutions and corporations. The Senator believes that the future development of the Euro-Mediterranean zone can represent a challenge “to overcome the current shift toward Eastern European countries”.
Worth mentioning at this point for its relevance with this respect is the Barcelona process (which also saw Italy’s involvement, at least formally) that marked the starting point of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, a wide framework of political, economic and social relations between the Member States of the European Union and Partners of the Southern Mediterranean. The Barcelona Process is a unique and ambitious initiative, which laid the foundations of a new regional relationship and which represents a turning point in Euro-Mediterranean relations. The MEDA program is the principal financial instrument of the European Union for the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. The program offers technical and financial support measures to accompany the reform of economic and social structures in the Mediterranean partners sustaining co-operation programs, projects and other supporting activities. Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Marocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia were among the countries to agree to a cooperation policy on tourism policy and to commit to the establishment of a free trade area by the year 2010. Quoting a slogan of the 80s, “tourism could become the means to create citizens of the Mediterranean and the Mediterranean for its citizens”. It is crucial to enhance and strengthen the concept of Europe’s identity within the zone especially after the latest EU enlargement, as stressed by the ambassador Sergio Romano who believes that the rapprochement between people with clear cultural differences through an economic, social, cultural and human partnership is decisive for the future development of the Mediterranean. Therefore, the definition of a common area and the creation of a region of shared prosperity through an economic and financial partnership could encourage understanding between cultures and exchanges between civil societies. In a context of sustainable cooperation and partnership, the proposal put forward by Malta to find a name to identify all countries member of the Euro-Mediterranean sub-region does not sound so bizarre. One of the most urgent issues that members of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership will have to face is changing the status of our sea’s international waters, currently ruled by anarchy. Despite various attempts and many proposals, countries within this zone have limited if no control at all on extra territorial waters, no matter if it is a case of environmental safety, of protecting fish resources or oil tanker washing. Cultural interaction and exchanges between diversified societies are first significant steps toward common interests, shared economic values and development. Italy can effectively be part of the Euro-Mediterranean cooperating process, adding value with its long-established diplomatic and academic tradition. However, it should be up to politics to pave the way.
by Giuseppe Loy-Puddu,
Responsible for the political aspects related to tourism of the Master in Economics of Tourism at Università Bocconi