BEZPIECZEŃSTWO I WSPÓŁPRACA W REGIONIE MORZA ŚRÓDZIEMNEGO – WIELKIE WYZWANIE DLA EUROPY
Security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region – an important challenge for Europe

Summary/Abstract: The problems of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region are closely connected to those of security and cooperation in Europe. The EU and NATO have made the resolution of these problems a priority and play important and positive roles in the area. The signifi cance of the Mediterranean area is based on strategic, civilizational, and economic considerations as well as tourism. The region has long been characterized by tension and conflict, and the Israeli-Palestinian confl ict which has lasted since 1948 constitutes the main obstacle to carrying out an effective policy of security and cooperation. Apart from the USA, other powers are increasingly conscious of their interests in the region, especially Russia and China. The region’s Arab states have made their commitment to Mediterranean cooperation contingent on the Israeli-Palestinian confl ict being decided in favour of the Palestinians. The Arab states question the ability of the EU to bring about such a resolution and have indicated their expectation that the European powers will increase their commitment to the region and that this role can also be played by the USA or other powers from outside the region. Experts from the European Union Institute for Security Studies have formulated interesting proposals for the strengthening of the EU’s Mediterranean policy in such fi elds as the Israeli-Palestinian confl ict, the deradicalization of political Islam, the development of democracy in the region’s Arab states, and a change in attitude to immigrants. Poland and the other Central European EU member states should be interested in contributing to the implementation of the EU’s Mediterranean security and cooperation policy even though their priority is “Eastern Partnership.”

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