The leaders of Italy, France and Spain have announced the emergence of a union of Mediterranean countries designed to streamline migration policy, and encourage trade and environmental protection.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero made the announcement at a news conference in Rome on Thursday.
Sarkozy called the project's goals "a great dream, a great vision, which I'm sure can be realized." "The three of us have decided that this will be a united Mediterranean, a war against despair," he said.
The Spanish premier said: "the union that is emerging in Rome today is designed to unite the Mediterranean region, promote peace and stability, and tackle immigration problems."