A career diplomat, Nasser Kamel has been, for five years, the secretary general of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), an intergovernmental organization created in Barcelona in 2008 with the aim of promoting cooperation between the countries of the region. Last Monday, the 43 countries that make up it spoke out in favor of recovering the two-state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Israel, however, did not participate in the meeting, rejecting the change in the agenda of a meeting in which the Gaza war was discussed exclusively.
The UfM deals mainly with areas related to cooperation. On this occasion they chose to talk about a conflict between two of their members.
It is good that the member countries of the European Union meet with Arab and eastern Mediterranean countries. That they are able to discuss a topic as important, urgent and tragic as war is already positive in itself. Ours is a unique platform for many reasons. One of them, that Palestine and Israel are full members. It is the only international or regional forum in which this occurs. For the UfM it is also important that this is the case: the fact that they have decided to meet on a platform like ours will undoubtedly have an impact on our ability to engage more politically.
You changed the content of the meeting agenda. Will the war change the UfM?
This conflict will have many repercussions on regional cooperation in general. Not only within the Union. The longer it remains with us, and the more tragic it is, if the current pause does not hold, and we hope it does, the more impact it will have. The meeting has given visibility to the organization as a platform for countries to talk, even discuss difficult issues such as war. But what we hope is that events in the region will develop in a way that allows us, the EU and everyone, to move in a more constructive and dynamic direction.
What is the Union's relationship with Israel?
Israel was invited to the meeting. Not only for me personally, but for many foreign ministers. They did not come. But Israel remains invited to all our future activities. The UfM provides the right space for open dialogue, especially if we are serious about the hope of achieving security for Israel and justice for Palestine. And I emphasize these two terms. Security and justice. Israel's main concern has always been security. And for Palestine, justice. Justice, for the Palestinians, means an independent State. The two-state solution.
Do you think that Barcelona is the appropriate setting to hold this type of meeting?
Barcelona has a symbolic meaning because the entire process of meeting between Europe and the countries of the southern and eastern Mediterranean was launched in Barcelona in 1995. It was the end of a dialogue process that had begun earlier, in 1973, after the war Yom Kippur. Barcelona has, therefore, a symbolic meaning for us. And Spain also has it, because it has always been a bridge between the Arab world and the southern Mediterranean region. Spain is the closest European country to Africa. It has always had a good relationship with the Arab world and also with Israel. From a logistical point of view, Barcelona is perfectly located. It is one, two, three hours maximum from other countries. The city has good transportation infrastructure, good climate and quality of life. I don't see any other place that can compete with Barcelona as a venue.
Could the controversy over Pedro Sánchez's statements about the conflict, or some votes in the Barcelona City Council on the relationship with Israel be a problem for the city's image of neutrality?
I am sorry to disagree with those statements. I do not think that Pedro Sánchez's statements were controversial. Spain advocates the two-state solution. Is that controversial? Spain calls for an end to violence, do you consider it controversial? Spain asks for humanitarian aid access to 2.3 million Palestinians. Is that controversial? Perhaps I have not understood well what Pedro Sánchez said, but what part of his speech is controversial?
That has not been exactly Israel's reaction.
But that's understandable. It is a country that is under tension. We understand the rage and anger following the horrific and atrocious attack of October 7, which has led to the captivity and death of so many civilians in Israel. Nobody can deny that reality. But as I said in my speech on Monday, anger and revenge do not resolve a deep-rooted crisis. This crisis did not begin on October 7. Nobody denies that it was a terrible day, but it is a conflict that has lasted 75 years.
Have you held conversations these days with Minister Albares and Mayor Jaume Collboni to generate more activity in the Union for the Mediterranean for the future?
The UfM holds around thirty meetings a year on very different subjects. Meetings in which employment, the blue economy, and women's empowerment are discussed. It is possible that political correspondents miss these topics. But it is our reality every week. And both Barcelona and Catalonia are two perfect ecosystems for us. They are two important actors in the field of cooperation. In any case, I have to say that both the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Albares, and the mayor of Barcelona, Mr. Collboni, have a high degree of commitment to the UfM.
Tell us what projects you are working on now.
This Sunday [the interview took place last Tuesday at the Pedralbes headquarters] I traveled to Dubai for COP28. We are working with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) on the creation of a fund for the blue economy. Our ambition, and I hope it ends up being fulfilled, is to raise 1.3 billion euros for projects of these characteristics for four countries: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia.
