Details

Overview:

The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership Simulation held in Jerusalem on January 8th, 2006, simulated the meeting of the EU and Mediterranean Partner Countries at the capacity of Foreign Ministers. The Simulation, which was held by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the European Forum at the Hebrew University, the Helmut Kohl Institute for European Studies, brought together graduate students from diverse academic background who specialise in European Studies.

The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership:

The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP), also known as the Barcelona Process, was initiated in 1995 in Barcelona, Spain by the European Union to promote the development of multilateral and bilateral cooperation among the European Union and non-EU Mediterranean Member States. The EMP, which was then signed between the 15 EU Member States and 12 Mediterranean Partnership, extends after the 2004 EU enlargement to 35 countries. With the aid of the positive momentum of the Peace Process between Israel and its neighbouring countries, the EMP was designed to further the complex and diverse relations, which prevailed between the EU and Mediterranean countries, to the regional level. As such the Barcelona Declaration set three main objectives:

1.Establish a common Euro-Mediterranean area of peace and stability based on fundamental principles including respect for human rights and democracy (political and security partnership);

2.Create an area of shared prosperity through the progressive establishment of a free-trade area between the EU and its Partners and among the Mediterranean Partners themselves, accompanied by substantial EU financial support for economic transition in the Partners and for the social and economic consequences of this reform process (economic and financial partnership);

3.Develop human resources, promote understanding between cultures and rapprochement of the peoples in the Euro-Mediterranean region as well as to develop free and flourishing civil societies (social, cultural and human partnership).

Simulation Rationale:

The rationale underling the simulation was to allow students to experience, practice and experiment in an interactive way the proceedings, pitfalls and prospects of the EMP. The simulation, applying the concept of a scientific laboratory, engaged the students in the capacity of Foreign Ministers participating in a summit of the EMP. Each student participating researched the EMP, the specific country it represent, as well as the agenda, took on the role of a diplomat, investigated international, bilateral and regional issues, debated, deliberated, consulted, and then developed solutions to the issues at stake. During the simulation, students employed a variety of communications and critical thinking skills to defend and advance the policies of their country.

Participants and organisation:

The simulation was held in the European Forum of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It was organised by Lior Herman from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), as a follow-up to an intensive course which dealt with the European integration and the State of Israel. The students participating in the simulation, had initially studies the general topic within the course framework, and in preparation for simulation submitted a 2-pages outline of their respective simulated countries' positions with regard to the proposed agenda. In addition, a short workshop on negotiation skills and rules of procedure was conducted before the simulation.

The simulation was directed by Lior Herman, formerly Director for European Union at the Israeli Ministry of Finance and a representative of Israel in the EMP, and engaged three foreign experts in the field who participated in the same manner as the students did. Ms. Ulrike Hauer, Head of the Economic, Trade and Agriculture sectors in the EU delegation to Turkey, simulated the role of the European Commission. Mr. Luis Moratinos, Third Secretary Political, Economic, Trade and Public Affairs in the EU delegation to the Philippines, simulated the role of Israel. Mr. Harald Wilkoszewski, a negotiations expert and a Ph.D. candidate at the Universities of Rostock and the LSE, simulated Turkey.

The roles simulated were: EU Presidency (Austria), EU Commission, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Czech Republic and United Kingdom.

Simulation summary:

The simulation was launched with greetings by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and by Prof. Alfred Tovias on behalf of the European Forum.

Although, officially beginning in January 8th, the simulation began on the evening of January 7th, when all participants received a revised agenda, as well as an EU detailed proposal. This change to the preliminary agenda thar was sent to the participants three weeks in advance, was methodologically done in order to force the participants to adapt their positions to developments and constraints as if in "real-time" diplomacy.

The Preliminary Agenda included four items, which were originally defined in a broad manner, so as to allow each participant to develop appropriate positions:

(i)Working plan for the next five years – political and security, economic and social development, and civil society and people to people relations

(ii)Counter-terrorism – increasing police and judicial cooperation against terrorism and endorsing a Euro-Mediterranean code of conduct on counter-terrorism

(iii)The interplay between the Barcelona Process and the European Neighborhood Policy

(iv)Migration

Following an "agenda-setting" process on the morning of the Simulation, the participants negotiated the adjustment of the agenda according to their interests and began with deliberations and negotiations, in line with the specific Rules of Procedure that governs EMP meetings. Negotiations were conducted in three manners. The first manner which was used was official debate, according to a speakers' list and other formalities. The second manner, which was mainly used toward consensus-reaching, was informal debate, which allowed more flexibility and less formality at the negotiation table. The third manner of conduct took the form of informal caucus, whereby participants left the negotiations table to informally intimately discuss the debated issues, form coalitions, draft and crystallise proposals and brake ice. In addition and in parallel, participants representing EU Member States simulated also the internal EU coordination mechanism and process.

Although deliberations did not reach an agreement on all aspects, the participants managed to agree on consensus in two main areas:

On the issue of counter-terrorism, the participants agreed to reiterate their decision to adopt a Euro-Mediterranean Code of Conduct on Countering Terrorism from their EMP Summit held in Barcelona 27th and 27th November 2005. They have recalled that progress has been made in strengthening cooperation among police, judicial and other authorities and this will be further developed. However, the participants noted that bilateral state-to-state cooperation has proved insufficient in tackling the global threat of terrorism. Since 2001 serious terrorist attacks have hit Euro-Mediterranean countries but regional dialogue on dealing with this has too often failed over disagreements on definitions. They have decided to propose a list of proposed activities to make the Code of Conduct operational:

(1)Developing a joint list of terrorist organizations. The EU list of terrorist organizations will serve as a basis for the development of this list. All Euro-Mediterranean members will be represented on an equal basis in the formulation of such a list which will be periodically reviewed by Ministers. A technical group will meet one month from today.

(2)With a view of cutting sources of support and financing of these groups, partners agreed to:

(a)Not grant asylum to terrorist and deny them safe haven in accordance with international law.

(b)Establish a forum, which will develop a database on terrorist organizations as defined in the joint list and their activities, members and sources of support.

(c)Encourage the full implementation of the standards established by the Financial Action Task Force by transposing them into national legislation.

On the issue of migration, the Partner Countries agreed that migration, social integration, justice and security are issues of common interest. Toward that end they have agreed:

(1)That a Euro-Mediterranean conference of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers, with the participation of local authorities, will be held in 2007 to discuss management of migratory flows and social integration.

(2)To promote legal migration opportunities, work towards the facilitation of the legal movement of individuals. To that end, the EU Member States shall endeavor consult quotas for partner countries, with Mediterranean Partners.

(3)To reduce significantly the level of illegal migration, trafficking in human beings and loss of life through hazardous sea and border crossings. Therefore, partners will reinforce monitoring and surveillance of their respective maritime border, through the establishment of a Mediterranean Coastal Patrol Network with the assistance of the EU.

The simulation was concluded in the evening with a one and a half hour "Reality-check" session of discussion between all the participants. The panel of the guest experts reviewed and noted participants' individual performance and discussed by what means the negotiated-issues and the deliberations were in accordance with the actual real-life way conduct in the level of Foreign Ministers in the EMP. The discussion also highlighted negotiation skills acquired during the simulation.

The simulation was highly successful in meetings its goals, as described above. Students' performance was based on thorough prior-learning and proved to match the real performance of the EMP in a very accurate way, highlighting its strengths but also its notable shortcomings.