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Origins of the dialogue
At their Brussels Summit in January 1994, Allied Heads of State and Government declared that the positive developments then underway in the Middle East peace process had opened the way for NATO to "consider measures to promote dialogue, understanding and confidence-building between the countries in the region". They also encouraged "all efforts conducive to strengthening regional stability".
Why a Mediterranean dialogue?
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- Security in Europe is closely linked with security and stability in the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean dimension is consequently one of the various components of the European security architecture. The dialogue is one of the new tasks of the Alliance, presenting a cooperative approach to security.
- The main purpose of the dialogue is to contribute to security and stability in the Mediterranean, achieving a better mutual understanding and correcting any misperceptions between NATO and the Mediterranean partner countries.
- NATO's dialogue is meant to reinforce other international efforts such as those undertaken by the EU, the OSCE, the WEU and the Middle East Peace Process. It does not intend to duplicate such efforts or create a division of labour.
- NATO supports the Middle East Peace Process and urges all participants to remain firmly committed to it. While NATO does not play a direct role in the process, some of its member states are directly or indirectly involved.
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This was followed in December 1994 when NATO Foreign Ministers stated their readiness "to establish contacts, on a case-by-case basis, between the Alliance and Mediterranean non-member countries with a view to contributing to the strengthening of regional stability". They directed the Council in Permanent Session to develop the proposal further and to initiate appropriate preliminary contacts. As a result, on 8 February 1995, the North Atlantic Council in Permanent Session invited Egypt, Israel, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia to participate in the initial round of the Mediterranean dialogue. In November 1995, Jordan was invited to join this dialogue too.
Principles and modalities
The successful launch of the Mediterranean dialogue and its subsequent development have been based upon several principles.
First, the dialogue is progressive in terms of participation and substance. Such flexibility has allowed the number of dialogue partners to grow, with the possibility of additional countries joining the dialogue in future, as appropriate. This has also allowed the content of the dialogue to evolve - something which has already occurred in the course of its relatively brief existence.
Second, the dialogue is bilateral in structure. This principle has proved extremely important for Mediterranean partners who do not form a group and wish to conduct the dialogue as individual sovereign states. It has consequently made the dialogue less vulnerable to disruption due to political developments ongoing elsewhere in the region. Despite the predominantly bilateral character, the dialogue nevertheless allows for multilateral meetings on a case-by-case basis.
Third, all Mediterranean partners are offered the same basis for cooperative activities and discussion with NATO. This non-discrimination is an essential feature of the dialogue and has been key to its successful establishment. Within this non-discriminatory framework, partners are free to choose the extent and intensity of their participation. What is offered to one dialogue partner is offered to all the others in the dialogue.
Fourth, the dialogue is meant to reinforce other international efforts to establish and enhance cooperation with Mediterranean countries. The European Union's Barcelona process, the Middle East peace process, and efforts by institutions such as the Western European Union (WEU) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), are complementary to the Alliance's dialogue. We are careful to avoid duplicating other cooperative efforts or creating a division of labour. Allies attach great importance to the strict application of the principle of complementarity and mutual reinforcement in developing the dialogue. This does not exclude, however, the possibility or scope for closer coordination among the various international organisations playing a role in the region. Partners have in fact pointed to the utility of a greater coordination of efforts by such organisations.
Fifth, activities within the dialogue take place on a self-funding basis, with the exception of certain information activities.
In terms of content, the Mediterranean dialogue consists of a political dialogue and participation in specific activities.
Political dialogue
The political dialogue consists of regular bilateral political discussions which provide the opportunity for extensive briefings on NATO's activities, including the Alliance's programmes of external outreach and partnership, internal adaptation and general approach to building cooperative security structures. In turn, Mediterranean partners are invited to share their views with NATO on issues relating to stability and security in the Mediterranean region.
The Mediterranean
Cooperation Group (MCG)
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- Established:
- 8 July 1997 by the Heads of State and Government at the Madrid Summit.
- Composition:
- in principle at the level of Political Advisers from national Delegations while reinforced meetings with representatives from capitals could take place as warranted.
- Purpose:
- in promoting the aims of the dialogue, to underline its political importance commensurate with the Alliance's conviction that security in Europe is closely linked with security and stability in the Mediterranean, and that the Mediterranean dimension is consequently one of the various components of the European security architecture.
- Role:
- overall responsibility for the Mediterranean dialogue as well as conducting the political dialogue with Mediterranean partners at 16+1.
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Until recently, the Alliance's Political Committee had the overall responsibility for the Mediterranean dialogue, while the discussions and exchanges of information with Mediterranean partners were carried out by the International Staff. At the Madrid Summit, however, it was decided to establish a new committee on the Mediterranean, the Mediterranean Cooperation Group (MCG). This Group now has the overall responsibility for the dialogue as well as for conducting the political discussions with individual partners in a '16+1' format. As a rule, these discussions are to take place once a year, though additional meetings can be held on an ad hoc basis. In principle, the MCG will meet at the level of Political Advisers, although the possibility of 'reinforced' meetings with representatives from capitals is also foreseen.
The '16+1' format is key to improving the political visibility of the dialogue, as well as in facilitating the direct involvement of all allies with Mediterranean partners. We are hopeful that, as a result of such flexibility, the political discussion element of the Mediterranean dialogue will become more comprehensive and free flowing and thus increase its overall effectiveness.
Specific activities
In addition to the political dialogue, Mediterranean partners can, if they choose, participate in specific activities in such areas as science, information, civil emergency planning and courses at NATO schools.
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Mediterranean Dialogue partners (35Kb) |
In the field of science, Mediterranean partners can receive and disseminate information on NATO's scientific activities and participate in meetings conducted under the auspices of the NATO Science Committee, including selected symposia and other special events.
In the field of information, partners can participate in seminars and conferences on topics of mutual interest, as well as visit NATO headquarters for briefings and discussions on the Alliance's current agenda. Opinion-makers and academics as well as government officials from Mediterranean partner countries have taken up this offer to come to NATO headquarters in Brussels to meet with members of the International Staff with a view to exchanging information and increasing mutual understanding.
Several courses have been opened to participation by Mediterranean partners at the NATO School in Oberammergau, including courses on peacekeeping, civil emergency planning, arms control and verification, responsibility of military forces in environmental protection, and European security cooperation. A number of partners have also expressed interest in attending courses at the NATO Defense College in Rome - a result of contacts made between the College and corresponding institutions in Mediterranean partner countries.
Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan (left) meets with Commandant Lt. General F. Lecea at NATO's Defense College during his visit to Rome last spring.
(NDC photo - 47Kb) |
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In addition to courses on civil emergency planning (CEP), partners are also invited to participate in CEP activities related to disaster management. This invitation arose as a result of the strong interest shown in such activities by some partners. Future activities could include medical evacuation workshops and civil protection seminars. Activities in the field of civil emergency planning are growing in popularity with partners, particularly regarding civil-military cooperation in response to natural or man-made disasters.
The latest addition to the Mediterranean dialogue is cooperative activities in the military domain. Following the decision by Alliance Foreign Ministers in Sintra last May, certain military activities will in future be added to the content of the dialogue. At the moment, the NATO Military Committee is considering specific proposals in this regard. Again, it should be recalled that participation in any of the cooperative activities offered in the Mediterranean dialogue is at the discretion of partners. As far as military cooperation is concerned, it might be pointed out that three Mediterranean partners - Egypt, Jordan and Morocco - already cooperate militarily with the Alliance in Bosnia and Herzegovina through their participation in IFOR and now in SFOR.
Future development
The Mediterranean dialogue is an important component of the Alliance's policy of outreach and cooperation. Through it, non-NATO Mediterranean partners can work with the Alliance in helping build new patterns of cooperative security in the Mediterranean region. Allies are fully aware that many of the prevailing problems in this region are of an economic and political, rather than military, nature and are therefore best addressed by ongoing cooperative endeavours such as the Barcelona process and by institutions such as the European Union. Nevertheless, it is felt that the Alliance can make a positive contribution to enhancing security and stability in the region by opening its doors to cooperation with its Mediterranean partners to help dispel possible misconceptions about NATO and to build confidence through greater transparency, dialogue and cooperation.
The Mediterranean dialogue has consistently evolved since it was launched in 1994. The Madrid Summit has added a new and more dynamic direction to it by establishing the Mediterranean Cooperation Group. By involving Allied member states directly in the political discussions with partners through the '16+1' format, a forum now exists in which views can be exchanged on a range of issues relevant to the security situation in the Mediterranean as well as on the future development of the dialogue. And this can only be for the mutual benefit of allies and partners alike.
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