The New Europe,

The promising Horizons of Comprehensive Development

 

By

Mohsen Zahran

Professor of Planning, University of Alexandria

 

The birth of New Europe, Challenging the Superpower,

A Historic Achievement of a Miracle

 

On the first of May 2004, all the world watched with awe, and applauded with admiration, the multitudes of Europeans heralding the celebrations, throughout the old continent, the expansion of the European Union to include ten new members, mostly former members of the Eastern block. The east European new members have joined the fifteen members of the west to form the new global economic power, the largest single market in the world, whose total gross domestic product(GDP) exceeds $10 trillion, higher than that of the United States, hitherto the only unrivaled superpower! This historic event terminates for good centuries of hatred, animosity, rivalry and conflicts that percipitated  two World Wars, tens of millions of human fatalities, destruction, devastation and despair. A new era of political, economic and cultural integration, cooperation and unity is now inaugurated, promising common progress, prosperity and advancements for all members to nurture, share and safeguard.

            The admission of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Greek Cyprus and Malta creates a twenty-five-member European Union, called by the media, the New Europe, with nearly 450 million people, pivoted centrally between Russia, the Asian giants and tigers to the East, and the United States and the NAFTA to the West. This historic breakthrough to achieve European unity culminated centuries of earlier ideas and attempts, beginning from Charlemagne in the eighth century, to Louis the Fourteenth in the eighteenth  century to ideas expressed by Voltaire, Napoleon Bonaparte in the nineteenth century, to Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill in the Twentieth century. The present union was borne in 1949, with the establishment of the European Council, and  the subsequent creation of the common market among France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg in 1957. The union was expanded in 1973 to include the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark , with whom Greece joined in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986, and finally in 1995 Austria, Sweden and Finland created the fifteen member Union with 375 million people, until the new 25 member gigantic reality of this year! The New Europe will include 480 million by the 2007 with the admission of Bulgaria and Romania, thus constituting more than 500 minority communities speaking 21 languages, multiple cultures, ethnic groups and a wide variety of living standards, economic levels, inclinations, aspirations, attitudes,as well as hetrogenous social and cultural values! The common aspirations for a better tomorrow have overcome the problems and discords of yesteryears!

 

The New Europe: A meaningful experiment

            The solid foundations upon which the New Union of the Old Continent have been structured are intelligently fashioned to rise above old sensitivities, residual conflicts, incongruent cultures, archaic nationalism and narrow ethnicism. Meanwhile,  due emphasis was focused upon: safeguarding the fruits of peace, strengthening the economic rewards of cooperation, highlighting the gains of economic  growth, serving the needs and interests of the various communities, promoting stability and security and fulfillment of aspirations of individuals and the communities everywhere. The gains are maximized and the losses are minimized in the new formidable regional, integrated framework that is strongly built on the basic pillars of democracy, liberty, equality, justice, free market, sanctity of human rights, interaction, transparency, partnership, dialogue and measured balances. In the Arab region, as well as in other regions, there is a meaningful  lesson to be learned, a beacon to be followed, and a pioneering path to be traced from this successful, meaningful experiment of union in the New Europe with its gradual phasing, flexibility, sharing of governance, tolerence cooperation, integration, variety within unity, variances and variations!

            It is also significant to note that the New union is not based on race, creed, religion, origin, language or culture,geography, history or economic deprivation, as are most of regional alliances or organizations which bemoan infighting, conflicts underdevelopment and failures! Examples or regional disappointments are embodied in the Arab league, the Islamic Conference, the African Union (formerly OAU), COMESA, NAFTA (North America), Organization of Latin American countries, ESCWA, ECLA, ECA, ASEAN (ASIA). Even the UN system itself is maximal in form and organs, yet minimal in substance and achievement record!                                                                                                                Neverthless, the challenges are abound! The atmosphere of euphoria and celebration did not overshadow or minimize, what problems and disagreement that are infecting and challenging the members of the New Europe!

            Among the issues of discord and areas of conflict are agreeing on the constitution, monetary issues, subsidies, unemployment , migration of workers (Poland 20% unemployment), security , terrorism, discrepancies in economic growth percentages, illegal immigrations, agricultural policies, trade, environmental protection, equality of representation, etc. Meanwhile, the European commission forecasts 10-15% increase of the New Europe population by 2050 (Egyptian population will more than double!). However, some countries total population will decrease dramatically: Italy 30%, Scandinavia by 50%! Studies are underway to reduce the work week to 30 hours, incentives for family size increase, maintenance of economic growth levels and creating a strong linkage of social and economic developments.

 

National Strategies and Circles of Regional Cooperation and Interaction

            In light of the  global economic situation, the New Europe common market, the largest single market ever, boasts a total Gross Domestic Product  (GDP)of $10.124 trillion, as compared to the US $10.112 trillion, Japan $4.141 trillion, China 1.159 trillions. Egyptian national strategies must necessarily interact and actively focus on consolidating and open new avenues of cooperation and free trade with these powers in the short, medium and long terms. President Mubarak has emphasized this strategic necessity to increase agricultural and industrial exports, open free trade markets and conduct economic partnership agreement with various parties in all regional circles regardless of geography or history !

            There is no alternative to face the challenges and shouldering the responsibilities of increasing economic growth, reduce unemployment ad curtail the high population increase which overwhelms economic progress! Fortunately, the European Commission has recently informed Egypt of the ratification of the partnership agreement with Egypt which opens its market to Egyptian exports as of June 1, 2004( at present, Egyptian Exports to Europe constitute 46% and imports 48% of the total national trade). Free trade negotiations are underway with the U.S., following the first regional agreement that has been signed with Jordan.

            In fact, Egyptians foreign policy was based on active interaction with overlapping regional circles: the Arab, the Islamic, the African, the Euro-Mediterranean, the Asian, the U.S. and Russian . It is of paramount importance to recognize these circles according to priorities and interests. For instance, the Arab circle involves political, security, religious, economic, cultural, social dimensions,……as the Euro-Mediterranean involves a different order of priorities: political, economic, security, technology, cultural, etc.The knitting and weaving of interrelationships and linkage of these circles to national priorities and interests are of  crucial and cardinal national strategic importance.

 

The Importance of Comprehensive, Integral Development

Between the North and South Med Regions

            The expansions and consideration of the New Europe opens broad vistas for the conception and implementation of an indispensable strategy of a comprehensive  integral development of the countries constituting the Euro-Mediterranean circle, which calls for a high priority in the structuring of national and regional strategies. As the first Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina throughout  the nineties, I recall my tireless contacts and efforts to enlist the financial and in-kind contributions of the Euro-Mediterranean countries and members of the Friends of the BA associations, especially in Europe, to help in the support of construction, furnishing, staff training, book collections and facility maintenance and operation activities. I emphasized the integral relationship between the countries of the North Mediterranean and those at the south, with the Mediterranean Sea, the cradle of ancient civilizations, acting as a unifier, an integrator, a magnet and a common geographical, political, economic and cultural resource. All have concured  with me and emphatically  recognized that the Southern borders of Europe are practically not in Greece, Italy, France or Spain, but in North African countries. The peace, security, stability and economic prosperity of Europe is interdependent upon the security and prosperity of the South Mediterranean countries. The generous contributions received (nearly $30 million)was in direct recognition of this fact. Furthermore, the UNDP Resident representative in Cairo has pointed out his conviction that the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina will not only become the window of Egypt on Europe but the window of Africa toward Europe, a  bridge between the North and the South, promoting dialogue, understanding, tolerance cooperation, linkage and interaction at all levels. The Mediterranean has always facilitated this integral relationship since ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations, during the middle ages with the silk road trade until Mohamed Aly dynasty in recent history.

            The European Union also recognizes too well this fact, and in its adoption of the partnership agreement is underlining the pivotal and strategic role of  Egypt in Safeguarding the stability, peace, security and prosperity in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, given the acts and threats of terrorism and instability that have shaken the region and the world during the last decade.

 

Benchmarks on the Road to Comprehensive  Cooperation and Development

            Since the Seventies, Mediterranean countries representatives met in various forums and conferences to discuss issues of common concern, with the support of the European Union. In Barcelona, the Declaration and Protocol to prevent the pollution of the Mediterranean was proclaimed. Many meetings were held for Med-cities, Med-Urbs, Med-lib, etc., to promote greater cooperation, twining, development, training, exchange of experience and institutional support whether in Barcelona, Tunis, Rabat, Limasol, Athens, Naples, Alexandria or Marseilles. Twinning among Mediterranean Ports was also declared on  numerous occasions. Linkage of Mediterranean ports and cities has already taken place  with coastal expressways, by rail, sea and air. Egypt has already built the international coastal highway from Rafah to Salloum, to continue westward passing through Libya, Tunis, Algeria and Morocco. Spanish and Moroccan teams are already working on building a tunnel under the Mediterranean to link North Africa to Europe, thus linking South Med countries to North Med Countries circulation networks. The rail networks (already Egypt is extending its  railroad system  into Libya through bilateral protocols) help prompt and expand trade, economic, cultural, and social cooperation. Gas lines and Electric national grids are already linked  to Jordan and Syria as well as to Libya. The thrust of cooperation and physical development has already energized and accelerated greater interdependence and linkage among several Mediterranean countries. The great natural resources of Energy, Water as well as the implementation of various information technology networks and operations(Telecom) will further reinforce  and expand the promising horizons of cooperation.

 

Promising Horizons of Comprehensive Development

The promising horizons of economic cooperation and integral development are already dawning upon us to recognize and support. These must be given a high priority in the national strategy and long-term goals.History tells us that through Spain,Cyprus, Malta, Venice,..that the Arab civilization and pioneering knowledge in the fields of medicine, physics, chemistry, mathematics, algebra, astronomy,etc., have reached Europe, and sparked its Age of Enlighment and  renaissanse from the dark ages! The Irish ambassador in Cairo( Ireland is at present the President of the European Union) declared in Alexandria during the celebration of the expansion of the Union that the strategy of European assistance to Egypt and the South Mediterranean countries is aimed at supporting structural reform, and the projects that improve social, health educational and cultural services and not on specific developmental projects. He praised the Bibliotheca Alexandrina as a pioneering regional institution that embraces and promotes the cultures of the Mediterranesn countres. He insisted that Alexandria is the link between Egypt and the Southern and Northern Mediterranean countries as well as European countries, with Egypt being the kingpin of peace and stability in the region and a model of political, economic and cultural reform for sister countries to follow! To confirm this conviction ,the European Commission has endorsed the nomination of the BA as trhe center for Euro-mediterranean dialogue and understanding of civilisations.

There are several promising horizons of solid cooperation , strong interaction and meaningful interdependence amongst Euro- Mediterranean countries:

 

·        Road and Transport Networks:- Countries around the Mediterranean should agree on a plan of action to design and implement a comprehensive network of highways and railroads encircling the Mediterranean basin to promote greater trade, mobility, tourism, transportation, migration, employment and interaction among Mediterranean institutions, corporations and communities. Border and custom formalities should be gradually eliminated as was already adopted in New Europe.

·        Electric and Solar energy:- National power grids should be linked for the benefit of all parties, as already implemented in Europe and North America.

·        Oil and Gas Networks: Linking the rich oil and gas resources of south med countries to European consumers around and across the Mediterranean will strengthen greater cooperation, interdependence ad economic benefits to both the oil producing South to the dependent user countries to the North.

·        Employment: Given the increasing need of European countries for labour, due to their decreasing population, and the high unemployment of the mushrooming  North African population, there is an obvious need to fulfill the supply and demand labor market needs with all parties to benefit, according to the quality, standards, skills and conditions to be mutually agreed upon.

·        Tourism: Egyptian touristic resources are varied, attractive and unique, which cater to the  preferences of many Europeans.This trend should be capitalized upon as a lucrative revenue for integral economic and cultural development.

·        Agricultural and industrial Exports: The new agreement of free trade and partnership with the Union should be implemented with great insistence on quality control and quality assurance. It is a golden opportunity to capitalize upon and insure credibility and continuity.

·        Environment: No doubt that as a closed sea, the Mediterranean is a major resource of linkage, trade, tourism and recreation for many Mediterranean cities. Its protection from pollution by dumping of waste will endanger its ecosystem as well as human life. Safeguarding the Mediterranean is a common goal that must be adopted by all, as well as the implementation of the Earth Summits of Rio, Johannesburg and Kyoto protocols. The greenhouse effect will cause the rise of sea water by 3 mm annually resulting ultimately in the flooding of coastal areas, erosion of beaches and loss of human life and investments. Mediterranean countries must cooperate to face this common threat.

·        Urban and Cultural Development: Mediterranean cities share a rich heritage and common cultural wealth. They must cooperate to preserve its heritage grid and uplift its urban character and architectural identity. Use of materials, finishes, crafts, vocations and skills need to be coordinated t ensure quality, unity, identity and character.

·        The Advancement of information Technology: The fast pace of development in the Technotronic Age necessitates greater cooperation, sharing of knowhow and investments to keep peace with needs of development,  and accelerating progress in the fields of information and communication technologies..

 

Political Reform and Civic Society: East European countries have miraculously changed their institutional structure, political, legal and administrative frameworks from socialistic  to democratic governance before joining the Union. There are lessons to be learned, especially with the widely expanding role of the N.G.Os and civil society as partners of development, reform and change. The experience of east European countries should be studied closely to learn and adopt relevant means, machinery, policies and practices.

            These are a few of many vistas and horizons to be pursued and capitalized upon in order to join and partake in the rapidly rising development of the New Europe which will promise greater peace, stability, progress and prosperity for all .This window should never be missed or eclipced…The horizons are promising, the tasks are enormous, the challenges are multitudinal, HOWEVER, the goals are honourable, the will is truly determine, and the sky is the limit!!

 

 

Mohsen Zahran

Professor of Planning,

University of Alexandria

 

15/05/2004