In classical antiquity the Mediterranean did not constitute a barrier between the populations living on its shores. Rather, it was a basin of communication for intense trade in commodities and goods, for cultural exchange, for often peaceful, sometimes belligerent relations. 2  BIS Review 5/2004  In the words of Fernand Braudel, “The Mediterranean is the world’s most ancient crossroads.
We have no guarantee that the projected surpluses will actually materialize. An even more important consideration, though, is the need to address the erosion of the budget after the next decade, a task that will become increasingly difficult the longer it is postponed.