ABSTRACT:
The article positively evaluates the EUROMED programs of the European Union. The well-known hypotheses about the clash of civilizations by Samuel Huntington notwithstanding, there is increasing evidence about a positive trade-off between Islam and development capability in a multivariate perspective.
To exclude the Islamic Southern Mediterranean in the long-term from the project of a Europe of peace would be self-defeating, also from a very narrowly defined European self-interest.
Both sides along what still might look like a cultural deviding line – should begin to learn again from the very positive co-existence that existed in Spain before the Reconquista 1492. The peaceful coexistence and economic convergence between Europe and Islam could even become the basis of future European well-being in world society.
A Shortened version under the title: Mediterraneo Vivace. In: International. Die Zeitschrift für Internationale Politik, ISSN 1010-9285, international-office@gmx.net, 4, 2002: 15 – 20.
