Nasser Kamel (Cairo, 1959), former ambassador of Egypt to the United Kingdom (2014-2018) and France (2006-2012), closes this December a stage by concluding his seven-year mandate as secretary general of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)the Barcelona-based organization that brings together 43 countries in the Euro-Mediterranean area to promote regional cooperation and dialogue. These days, the UfM celebrates 30 years of the Barcelona Declaration and the launch of the Barcelona Processwhich led to the creation of the intergovernmental organization in 2008. Kamel attends EL PERIÓDICO within the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Economic and Business Forum, organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona and the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), held this week in Llotja de Mar and with the desire to consolidate itself as an annual event.
Among the main objectives of the Barcelona Process in 1995 were the creation of a free trade zone, the promotion of democracy and human rights, and the fight against terrorism. What, according to you, is the balance?
The Barcelona Process has managed to create a common identity and a shared Mediterranean narrative. This is evident in the number of institutional platforms that have emerged, not only at the government level through the UfM, but also at the scientific, business, university, agricultural or citizen level. We have created a series of avenues for cooperation across the spectrum of human activity that did not exist before. Have we reached our full potential? The answer is no. But, without a doubt, today we are in a better position in terms of integration and cooperation than 30 years ago.
“The hope that the Barcelona Process could contribute to creating the conditions for an understanding that would guarantee peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis has not materialized”
And in what aspect has there been much left to do?
The events of the last two years have shown that the hope that this process could help create the conditions for an understanding that would guarantee peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis within the framework of a two-State solution has not materialized.
In it foro European Bridges Last Monday, in which you participated, it was emphasized that the world today is not the world of 1995. How is the Barcelona Process adapted to new challenges?
The update will be carried out using two instruments. One of them is our new vision statement, which we will adopt at the ministerial conference on the 28th. The other is the Pact for the Mediterranean, which will be presented on the same day and in the same place, and which represents the new EU strategy regarding its relationship with the southern Mediterranean. Both include many of the new challenges we face. In 1995, the climate and the environment were not among our priorities, we all lived under the influence of oil and gas without being aware of its enormous negative impact. Nor was the empowerment of women in the foreground, which is not only an ethical issue, but also a socioeconomic one. The Barcelona Process has evolved, is evolving and will continue to evolve because the challenges are changing.
Nasser Kamel, secretary general of the Union for the Mediterranean, in Llotja de Mar last Tuesday. / MY MOIST
Immigration is considered one of the main challenges of the EU. More and more physical walls are being built to prevent the arrival of migrants, but the truth is that it is the so-called transit countries that are under greater pressure. In fact, the EU has reached agreements with some of them, such as Tunisia, Albania or Türkiye, so that they can play a containment role. Is this the way to go?
I do not believe that immigration management is the only solution. It’s part of her. There is no doubt that illegal immigration must be dealt with. But we must address the root causes while trying to better manage the phenomenon in the short term. Most of the immigration does not even come from the immediate neighborhood, but from further afield, from sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan, Iran and other countries. Thus, the solution also lies in co-development and greater economic cooperation. Without addressing all the dimensions that lead people to take such risks when moving from their homes to the north, I do not believe that mere management will be enough.
The Arab Spring was a brief breeze of democratic hope for many countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean. Now, the Generation Z protests In some countries, like Morocco, they have brought those revolutions to memory. Why are democratic regimes unable to consolidate in these countries?
The Arab Spring, yes, brought that hope, but only that. It did not bear the expected results. Democracy is a process, not a decision. It is something that is consolidated over the years. I fully trust that those societies with greater socioeconomic development, education and inclusion of women in the political, social and economic spheres will advance peacefully. Transforming a system in 24 hours is not the formula. And we see that the leaders of many countries are fully aware that they must open the public space, allowing opposition. Morocco is a good example. But wanting to act rashly can sometimes lead to what we have seen in Libya, Syria and so many other cases.
“We must address the root causes of immigration while trying to better manage the phenomenon in the short term”
What is your opinion of the plan promoted by Donald Trump for Gaza which he received this week endorsement of the Security Council say la HIM?
Well, we have to see how it is implemented. You ask me to evaluate the process, but I can’t. I will evaluate the result. And I hope that this process can lead to the end of the war in the first place. That in itself is an achievement, at least we will not see again the horror, the amount of death and destruction that the Palestinian people have suffered for more than two years. At least the minimum conditions necessary for a dignified existence will be met, I’m not saying a dignified life. I am aware of the criticisms of the plan. But I also know that it is the only option available. In the Security Council no country opposed; only Russia and China abstained. Regional players, including Türkiye, Egypt, the Emirates and Saudi Arabia, are in favor. Therefore, I hope, like them, that this plan can lead us to a better situation and a more favorable state of affairs than the one we currently live in.
And what role does the UfM want to play in post-war Gaza?
We hope to play a role in the resilience dimension, with support for educational centers and capacity development, governance and transparency. We are not a development agency, so within our limited resources we must select activities where we can add value. But we are really interested in helping to provide aid to the Palestinian people.
“I hope that Trump’s plan for Gaza can lead us to a better situation and a more favorable state of affairs than the one we currently live in”
In December his seven-year term as general secretary of the UfM ends. How do you value this stage?
We have achieved many things, but there is still a long way to go. There are many things we could improve and we could do more. The potential of this region is unlimited. So yes, the balance is positive compared to my starting point and that of my predecessors. The region has become more united over the past seven years, but have we reached our full potential? As I said at the beginning of the interview, not yet. That is why we are adopting a new strategy, a new vision. We are restructuring the organization to leave it in optimal conditions and capable of facing the new challenges of the coming years.
Who is going to be your successor?
This topic will be addressed over the next few weeks.
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