No one defended the Maghreb Union like the French President, François Hollande, did during his visit to Morocco. He simply understands the challenges that prevented the realization of the historic dream and he insists that the concerned parties work before anyone else on realizing that dream. Besides, Hollande has the ability to consolidate the “beautiful idea" of turning the Mediterranean basin into a haven for security, peace and coexistence. No one can blame the French socialist president for interfering in the region's domestic affairs, because the approach he used helps the Northern African countries axes get closer to their northern aspirations towards Europe, without excluding their closer proximity to the Sahel. Between the French military intervention in Mali, the dissection of the instability threats, and the call for the establishment of a productive economic and political bloc - one that will rekindle the European-Maghreb dialogue - the French approach seems appropriate in establishing a connection between the interests and benefits on one hand, and the spreading of stability, democracy and the commitment to the international principles of Human Rights on the other. The French position has political and ethical dimensions aiming at re-building the trust between Paris and its former colonies, in a different way that responds to aspirations, the closer of which lies in the fact that new links now unite France with the dispersed centers of its' traditional power. The logic of estrangement and the unilateral-conflictive relations has ended with unilateral relations that create a lot of sensitivities. The Maghreb capitals have always complained that the western countries like to follow bilateral policies with the different Maghreb countries with the aim of weakening their negotiation power. Even the negotiations over the partnership with the EU were conducted with each country separately. However, this situation, which was actually due to the differences in choices among the Maghreb countries themselves, constituted a barrier that prevented any coordination of positions. Although the features of these differences, which were mainly consequences of the Cold War, now vanished, the North African countries still have a lot of work to do. Interestingly, President François Hollande wore a Maghreb cloak as he spoke about the benefits that the Maghreb Union can bring to its people, as well as its European, Arab and African neighbors. He probably understood the truth saying that the French intervention in Mali, under the cover of the international legitimacy, cannot possibly be replicated in the same manner. Thus, he went to Morocco in quest of a different kind of intervention, where North African countries would shield their borders and existence, which will end the need for any other adventure. Indeed, Hollande called for a unified currency for the Maghreb and for political stability, democratic openness, and an economic and cultural partnership away from any kind of military interventions. His term also saw the holding of the 5+5 summit that maintained the relations of cooperation and coordination between the countries of the southern and northern shores of the Mediterranean. This implies that Hollande will be imposing a more active role for the Union for the Mediterranean, knowing that the Maghreb structure constitutes a major horizontal and vertical extension of this union. The French and European positions had previously surrendered to the American power monopolization. However, this is about to change due to the effect of the economic and financial crises that hit the European fortresses. There was once a reigning conviction that opening up to the Eastern European countries suffices to avoid looking for new resources and markets. However, the need for the rich African continent has re-emerged once again, just like in the case of crises, wars, and tragedies. One cannot enter Africa without going through its northern passageway, i.e. the countries of the Maghreb Union with its' vast neighborhoods. Besides, one cannot confront the competition of the Chinese markets – knowing that China was a pioneer in opening up to Africa – without strengthening the economies of the African countries that are ridden with corruption, misleading direction and ill governance. This is the reason why it is so important to pump some new blood into the politically asphyxiated vessels of the Maghreb Union. In the approach that is closer to the French vision, which President Hollande is presenting, with some sense of democratic and human values, as well as the security-related and economic challenges, it shows that Paris has already tried the French-African summit and the francophone bloc. Today, it might be looking for something closer in form to the French-Maghreb dialogue, especially that France's relations with the Maghreb capitals are surpassing the phase of a mere agreement, as indicated by the French-Algerian advancement on the path of normalization. Indeed, France seemed more eager to contain the difficulties of a democratic transfer in the countries of the Maghreb spring, all while admitting the challenges facing the Maghreb Union. Who knows, the 5+5 dialogue might develop into something more than just periodic meetings, provided that the Maghreb countries do not miss any of the security-related, political, and military dues.
