SOUTHERN EUROPE'S "NEAR ABROAD": WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN SECURITY

Created: 7/1/2000

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

Intelligence Report

Office of Russian and European Analysis

Southern Europe's "Nearestern Mediterranean Security

clearly occupies cenicr stage among Italy's North African anxieties, followed by considerable interest in Tunisia as well. Much as French views of Algerian developments are particularly important io formulating EU policy, Rome is talon* the lead in shaping Union relations with Libya. Apart from its colonial history in the area and its geographicItaly's Libyan preoccupation can be traced in part to the fact that it Is the only European country whose territory was directly attackedorth Africanin recentretaliated fot the US bombing of Libya6 by launching two Scud missiles against Italy's island of Lampedusa, although the missiles fell short of their mark.|