TUNIS: Europe should work with its southern Mediterranean neighbours to challenge Asia economically, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on a visit to Tunisia on Tuesday.Sarkozy told a gathering of 500 French and Tunisian business people that European and southern Mediterranean countries should harness their complementary strengths as Asian states had done, rather than “opposing and excluding” each other.

Combining European know-how and North African manpower would be mutually beneficial, he said, adding there could be no decent future for Europe if North Africa does not develop.

“Together — with your workforce, with our schools and universities, with what we exchange — we can create a model that will triumph throughout the entire world,” he said.

More than 1,000 French firms have operations in Tunisia, a former French colony and one of France’s closest Arab world allies. Textiles and industrial components businesses have provided new jobs in North Africa but many have struggled in recent years as lean Asian competitors muscle into their traditional European markets.

Sarkozy was forced last month to water down a plan for a full Mediterranean Union linking neighbours from the north and south after fierce resistance from Germany, which feared the new body would split the European Union and siphon off common funds.

Last month, EU leaders agreed to a limited form of union involving a regular summit between EU and Mediterranean leaders with a joint presidency and a small secretariat.—Reuters