For centuries, the Mediterranean has represented a link between Europe, North Africa and the Near-East. Yet for years, these regions have had no common economic or cultural common ground and continue to live in estrangement.
With EUMEDIS, we have a unique opportunity to choose a different path, that of reunion through an exchange of experiences and cooperation in the fields of education, culture, and economic and social development.

Is the digital gap inescapable?
In the EU there are currently 40 million high-speed internet connections (70% more than last year). Faced with the rapid rise in the use of ICT technology, the Commission has presented its « i2010 » strategy (European information society for 2010) to stimulate economic growth in Europe in this sector in particular. In stark contrast with the European figures, only 13% of the Egyptian population (the largest of the region) has a telephone landline. Clearly, riding the wave of ICT technology is not as straightforward on one Mediterranean shore as it is on the other.

The region visibly lags behind EU countries, which calls for a change in our politics. By financing EUMEDCONNECT (a high-speed internet network that aims to connect research and education centres to the GEANT network), we are facilitating high-speed internet connection for regional public institutions (universities, hospitals, research centres...). The foundations that are being laid for this research area covering the MEDA region should in a next phase be taken over by the European Neighbourhood Policy.

As far as future planning is concerned, it should be specified that 2005-2006 is a period of transition, marked by the implementation of new transnational and cross-border programmes in the Southern Mediterranean region (with a budget of 45 million Euro). After EU enlargement in 2004, the Commission proposed to replace MEDA (and TACIS) with a new neighbourhood programme as of 2007. The European Neighbourhood programme proposes a more global approach, taking into account the opportunities as well as the challenges that are created as a result of the greater geographical proximity between the EU and its neighbours.

The new European Neighbourhood programme, which will be implemented as of 2007, aims to advance economic and social integration as well as democratic reform in neighbouring Mediterranean region countries, and seeks to develop closer and better relations between the EU and its Mediterranean neighbours. A clear example of this new course of action might be of interest to the EUMEDIS partners: research centres and universities in the region will have the opportunity to participate in European research programmes.

The recent decentralisation of the management of the EUMEDIS project from the European Commission in Brussels to the Delegation in Cairo has several advantages. Firstly, it makes sense in geographical terms: it is much easier to determine what is at stake for each project and to take decisions accordingly. This also allows for a better understanding of the environment in which the projects are being set up (the MEDA region). Thanks to the Delegation, an interactive network between the ten Delegations of the region has been created: Algeria, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. Obviously some delegations play a more active role than others in EUMEDIS, but they are participating more and more and acquiring increasing “ownership” of the activities that take place in their counterpart countries. We have been able to put practical tools in place (databases, monitoring systems) that allow for a better follow-up of the projects and enable us to multiply the national (bilateral) programmes that are financed by sectors similar to those covered by EUMEDIS.

How can EUMEDIS respond to the current concerns and what solutions can it put forward to tackle cultural, social and economic issues?
Allow me to move beyond generalisations and to try to pinpoint the issues by taking a closer look at an example of a pilot project for a moment. I would like to talk about Egypt, which is what I know best, and to focus on a key sector of EUMEDIS: tourism, in particular with respect cultural heritage issues. I have been living in Egypt for six months. Thanks to the EUMEDIS intermediary (more specifically the STRABON pilot project), I have had the opportunity to meet experienced and renowned Egyptologists who have made me aware of their hopes, but also their fears.

Egypt is lucky enough to be able to reap the benefits of its unmatched cultural heritage and mass tourism is developing rapidly. This quantitative approach is hardly compatible with the preservation of the pharaonic treasures and creates a clash of interests between the cash-flow associated with the millions of tourists that stream in every year and a policy that recognizes the value of the country’s heritage.

The question is certainly not a new one (Howard Carter already complained of the "hordes of tourists" in the ‘20s), but it is becoming more and more acute in the face of the economic interests that are linked to an exponential growth in tourism and its effects on the Egyptian economy. Tourism is the second most important source of income following the profits derived from the sale of oil. In 2004, more than 8 million tourists visited Egypt (accounting for revenue of about 5 million Euro). In the next ten years, the government wants to triple revenue from tourism.

Christian Leblanc, who works for the valuation of the Thebes site (through the "Ramesseum" project, West Thebes) has done a remarkable job at preserving the site. For more than 30 years he has been a privileged observer of the Thebes region and cautions that this ancient site is in danger if the government attracts millions of extra tourists each year without adjusting (and protecting) the site.
"The development of tourism in a country is diametrically opposed to the valuation and management of its cultural and natural heritage. In Egypt, the expansion of agricultural zones, the often uncontrolled urban expansion and various factors of pollution today constitute major risks. To not take these risks into account, or to not attempt to find a solution will not only put numerous archeological sites at risk, but will also, in the near as well as in the more distant future, halt the growth of a an economic area that is of capital importance. Man and his environment don’t always co-exist peacefully. But it is possible to find harmony between the past and the present. As far as the cultural landscape is concerned, it is often possible to find a compromise to avoid focusing on one at the expense of another. Above all we must avoid radical solutions that could create irreversible prejudice towards a patrimonial preservation project and its socio-economic assets."

That is why Christian Leblanc is developing an integrated approach that reconciles the development of tourism with the valuation of heritage, by working towards improving the organisation of local infrastructure. This integrated approach is necessary to enable this region to continue to value the riches of the past as well as benefit from sustainable development, taking problems related to urbanisation, transport, energy, water, infrastructure and soil protection into account.

This brings us back to the question we discussed before. This new "global" approach proposed by Mr. Leblanc foresees an important role for new technologies: "Information and communication, the modeling and registering of geographical data and documents constitutes the fundamental basis of accurate heritage planning."

New technologies, in other words, play an essential part in heritage valuation. Christian Leblanc, supported by STRABON, has therefore chosen to develop a virtual "Ramesseum" in West Thebes. Besides, a new approach to tourism that fosters the development of "cultural tourism" (niche of the MEDINA project) is also relevant to other countries in the region.

What are the future prospects for EUMEDIS and all the partners that contributed to the pilot projects once the programme ends?
Let’s be clear, the Commission does not yet envisage a final phase for EUMEDIS. The partnerships that will survive beyond contractual expiry date will be those that possess the creative skills to find a new, autonomous and permanent way of working. Obviously we will aim to support the EUMEDIS partners as well as groups that bring new ideas to the table, projects that are linked to new information technology, overseen by the monitoring and dissemination team (MDP) based in Brussels.

We are currently devising a strategy to guarantee the continuation of the best pilot projects. The projects (all belonging to one sector) that wish to continue their work in the future should seek to bring together their efforts and achievements (in the same sector). With this in mind, we hope to invite all the participants of the pilot projects in the next months to share their ideas on the continuation of the projects, sector per sector.

Finally don’t forget that in 2006 we expect you in Cairo for the final EUMEDIS conference, which will take place in the second half of June 2006.

*The opinions presented here do not reflect the position of the European Commission, and can be attributed solely to the author.