Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was the final witness to the fact that February 17 constituted an encouraging date in the context of the relationships between North African countries, as it coincides with the establishment of the Maghreb Union. However, the date turned into a bad omen as it also now coincides with the start of the revolution of the Libyan people. Gaddafi was once surprised as he obtained a response from late King Hassan II, informing him that he agrees to signing a treaty of unity with Libya. This happened in the mid-eighties. Back then, the king told the colonel that he does not covet a single dollar of the returns of Libyan oil, but that he does agree that the “African-Arab Union” should become a space that is more receptive of political and economic initiatives that would lead to the improvement of conditions in the region. However, between that union that did not last for long, and its Maghreb counterpart that was a stillborn, opportunities were lost, hopes were squandered, and conflicts and other vagaries prevailed. But one positive thing is that the Algerians as well as the Moroccans started to think out loud that their opening up to each other is better than the setbacks and the clashes that went on to no avail. This was a positive development in itself, especially that the Maghreb framework was essentially based on Moroccan-Algerian accord. It is not important that the region is preoccupied with worrisome events and that no one knows where the rumbling tornado of those events will stop. It is instead more important to re-stress on the notion that the region is but one bloc, and that no part of it can be affected without having all the other parts equally affected. This is an imperative call for bringing life back to the Maghreb issue, which has been since rusting. The present differences in opinions between Morocco and Algeria concerning the Sahara issue and the border dispute, and their differences in tackling the issue of growing extremism, cannot stand in the face of the major wave of popular anger that is demanding urgent and immediate reforms. Thus, the current challenges will perhaps not be more merciful towards such differences, which must be buried away. The major characteristic of the Moroccan-Algerian union is that it reflects positively on the entire Maghreb region. However, propping up the Maghreb framework as a strategic option that has no alternatives requires that this project be given the utmost level of attention. Focusing on the priorities of the [Maghreb] Union – whether these are economic in nature, similarly to the European stakes placed in the common market; or political on the level of enhancing measures of coordination and dialogue in order to rebuild trust – does not cancel the strategic dimension of an experience that has yet to be accomplished. The Maghreb capitals had become aware, in the sixties of the last century, of the principle of border economies. The most important projects of economic integration focused on this area more than anything else. But today, this has become a major headline for many crises. While the number of workers in Libya is estimated in the millions, and includes Arabs, Africans, and foreigners, unemployment is eating at the bodies of Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Mauritania. [Libya's] revenues from agricultural products and consumables are also staggering, while Morocco is negotiating with its European partners, under growing pressure, in order to secure the passage of its agricultural products into the European Union. This is not to mention the hefty price of bringing in oil products. Meanwhile, no two countries are closer than Algeria and Morocco thanks to the bonds of brotherhood, as well as historic, spiritual, and geographic affiliations. However, the two countries have grown further apart in spite of the abundance of favorable conditions for their economic integration. Thus, they have both lost their way and their disputes have had adverse reflections on the situation of the two neighboring peoples. It is estimated that the failure to establish the Arab Maghreb has also helped destabilize the region, since the new generations that could have been breathing a fresher air of freedom and dignity, are now only thinking about emigrating to the northern bank of the Mediterranean Sea. There is a need for a counter emigration, the closest thing to which consists of the opening up of the Maghreb capitals to one another. The horizontal expansion, which is gorged with common bonds, is closer to the strategic outlook. This is to be followed by pushing the Europeans to think about policies that would allow them to avoid a mass exodus of the youths who are searching for themselves.
