SOUTH MEDITERRANEAN REGIONAL INTEGRATION: PERSPECTIVES AND BENEFITS
IDRISSI SONIA
*
Prospective Strategies and Durable Development (PS2D) Laboratory, Department of Economics, University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Economics Sciences and Management, Tunisia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Regional integration between the southern Mediterranean countries is a relevant topic despite the arguments against it. Indeed, this article will try to show the various obstacles and advantages for this process. Through an analysis, we have demonstrate a real potential for trade between these countries. This potential can accelerate their integration if it will be exploited correctly. The study period includes the first year of the establishment of the WTO 1995 to the present day.
To clarify this idea we will proceed in a first section to identify the various obstacles that slow down the process of this integration and to mention the favorable factors allowing the development of this southern zone of the Mediterranean. In the second section, based on data taken from the Arab Monetary Fund and based on UNCTAD data, we try to study intra-south mediterranean countries trade during the period 1995-2020 and to identify the real potential existing in this region.
Keywords: Regional trade, integration south-south, benefits of regional integration, real potential for south, mediterranean countries.