ABSTRACT
France, Spain, and Portugal comprise the northern border of the western Mediterranean. They are European, Catholic countries, economically members of the EU and militarily members of the NATO alliance. The southern border of the Mediterranean consists of Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco. They are African, Muslim countries, members of the Arab Defense Council. The recent rise of Arabic fundamentalism poses an immediate threat to the internal security of the Muslim countries and a potential threat to the security of the Catholic countries. Considering the economic disparity between the two sides of the sea, the EU launched in 1985 the Forum Euromed. Formed to promote cooperation and economic growth, the Forum Euromed is not performing adequately and, at present, is not promoting economic growth as intended.
