German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared her support of the French president’s proposal for a Mediterranean Union on Thursday.

Nicolas Sarkozy has been pushing the plan to project power into the Mediterranean basin since becoming French president in May. In October, he pointed to his reasons for the European Union becoming more involved in the region: “In the Mediterranean will be decided whether or not civilizations and religions will wage the most terrible of wars … whether or not the North and the South will clash.”

It has been widely reported over the past couple days that Merkel rejected Sarkozy’s plan. However, as Stratfor points out (December 7), it was merely the details she objected to, not the idea:

Sarkozy feels it would be natural for such a program to involve only the seven EU states littoral to the Mediterranean; that it would be equally natural for it to be spearheaded by France; and that it would be supremely logical for the European Union to pay for it. Merkel has no objection to the idea of drawing the Mediterranean into the European sphere of influence, but she noted wryly that a program underwritten by the European Union should have the full EU participating in it and not just select members.

Of course, Merkel would not have been receptive to France’s idea of being the lead player either. On Wednesday, she stated that the Mediterranean Union could result in “a corrosion of the EU in its core area” and “could release explosive powers in the EU.”

Nevertheless, the German chancellor clarified misconceptions yesterday in Paris when she said she and Sarkozy were in agreement on the proposal. “The Mediterranean Union is a challenge for all of us in Europe,” she said. Pointing out that her earlier comments were simply aimed at ensuring the EU would not become divided, she stated, “Now I believe that we can accomplish this together.”

Sarkozy confirmed that the proposal could be amended to take into consideration Merkel’s concerns.

The plan calls for an affiliation of European and Northern African nations, together with Israel and its Arab neighbors. The group of nations would address issues such as counter-terrorism, immigration, energy, trade, water and sustainable development.

This Mediterranean Union proposal is the latest in a list of EU initiatives in the region. The EU has already absorbed the gateway nations of Malta and Cyprus, and has considerable influence in Africa and the Middle East.

Watch for the EU to continue to maneuver through the Mediterranean to North Africa and Israel. Read “Europe Marches South” for an explanation of how this will fulfill an ancient prophecy recorded in Daniel 8:9.