TT: Eastern Europe: Between Russia and the EU (3) : The Mediterranean Union, a model for the European Union's Eastern Partnership

Sceptics fear that the Eastern Partnership could be plagued by some of the same problems that another grand EU scheme has faced. The Mediterranean Union was formally launched last summer . +++LMREIN+++ The project aims to improve trade, security and energy ties with the EU's neighbours around the Mediterranean Sea. +++LMRAUS+++ Dubbed "Club Med" by its detractors, the intitiative has been plagued by divisions: the Middle East conflict has made it difficult to get Arab nations and Israel to sit down at the same table, and Croatia's accession is on hold over a border dispute with EU member Slovenia. Some observers say all this does not bode well for the attempt to found a "Club East." +++FOLGTSYN+++