Club Med postcard, 1961. Arroser/Wikimedia Commons. Some rights reserved.It’s hard to remember that, only a decade ago, the Mediterranean region – both in Europe and Africa – was the great success story of the EU. A war in the former Yugoslavia had been brought under control, tourism was flourishing in north Africa, and countries like Spain were experiencing the most dynamic economic growth in the eurozone. Both EU members and countries beyond the edges of Europe seemed to be benefitting from EU economic policy: creating a more seamless region, less fractured by nationalism, religion, or language.
It was an achievement that brought the ancient fable of an interconnected ‘Mediterranean world’ right up to date, fusing it with the EU project of dismantling borders.
Now, these very same ties are an existential threat to Europeans. The countries on the Mediterranean’s southern shore are either at war or have become launch points for unsafe boats loaded with refugees. These rafts are aimed for southern European countries which, while in the EU, are mired in debt and fractious party politics.
