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Learning Module
05
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La Unión Europea y el Mediterráneo:
V. Estrategia, Seguridad
y Defensa
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Academic Coordinator
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Prof. Nicole Stoffel Vallotton | University Complutense of Madrid
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Abstract
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This Course entitled “European
Union and Mediterranean: V. Strategy, Security and Defense” will focus on
the Mediterranean as a region of special concern to the Euro-Mediterranean
common sucurity. It will address the strategic changes and transformations
implemented in the Mediterranean region during the last two decades in terms
of security and defense. The Mediterranean has increased its importance
gaining a central position since the end of the Cold War. During the ninetees
a number of international organisations, including the European Union (EU),
developed different dialogues with third Mediterranean countries in matters
of security and defense.
If we want the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation to succeed we need to
address strategic goals common to all Euro-Mediterranean Partners and aim
to strengthen the cohesion of our Euro-Mediterranean policy through the
building up of a more peaceful environment.
In short, two general issues will be studied:
Firstly, the origins of the security and defense challenges are to be
identified, namely geographical areas of instability and risk factors.
In this regard, students will address the political, economic, social,
military, cultural and religious conditions existing in the identified
areas of instability, and think about the basic risk factors coming from
these conditions that have a great impact on the Mediterranean and Euro-Mediterranean
security.
Secondly, students will look at the means that different actors in the
region - nationals and internationals - have in launching political initiatives
leading up to various instruments to implement them and thus contributing
to foster security in the region. They will discuss initiatives taken by
the EU, NATO, the OSCE and other international organisations and question
their results. In this regard, additional confidence and partnership building
measures could be elaborated to practise students’ awareness for the critical
Mediterranean security region.
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Course
Objectives
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The objectives of this Course
are:
- To asses the importance of the Mediterranean security and defense
for Europe as a whole.
- To address this maritime sphere first with general considerations
and then more pragmatically via specific domains.
- To make the strategic issues affecting the Mediterranean, including
the emergence of trans-national risks and threats, more understable for
the students.
- To evaluate the goals for common security as achieved by the political
initiatives for Mediterranean security, with emphasis on, among others,
the Barcelona Process, on the NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue contribution
to the Euro-Mediterranean stability, and on the potential imputs provided
by the French proposal of an Union for the Mediterranean.
- To assess the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in order to draw conclusions
for improving the engagement with the Mediterranean partners and fostering
their stability. Mediterranean and European countries can manage only together
their future within the globalisation.
- To discuss the different approaches about present issues and possible
solutions. It will be very stimulating to get new ideas to implement and
improve the current EU concepts about the Mediterranean security.
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Programmatic
Contents
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Concerning the Mediterranean
as a common geopolitical space involving the Maghreb and the Middle East
together with the northern European shore, the Course will include the study
of the Barcelona Process as a multidimensional approach to the region that
recognises the deep-rooted linkages between political, economic, social and
securitarian developments. In addition, the European Neighbourhood Policy
(ENP) and its importance in security terms will be addressed in order to
update this global approach.
The Course will also address the shared understandings and meanings
of the commitments entered in the various frameworks of dialogue and cooperation
defined in recent years. We asume that, without this, building a real partnership
will become an impossible task, achievable only through regularised political
cooperation and interaction between governments and the public opinions.
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Teaching Units »»»
4.2.1
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Basic factors needed to understand the origin of Mediterranean
instability, focussing on specific parts of the region where these factors
have special importance.
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4.2.2
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From mistrust to confidence. Effort made by Europeans and Mediterranean
partners in order to achieve stability, prosperity and peace in the whole
region.
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4.2.3
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Sharing good practices in the Mediterranean. Confidence and partnership
building measures to overcome security problems.
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