În ciuda apropierii Uniunii Europene de ţărmurile sudice ale Mediteranei, există diferenţe considerabile care ne deosebesc din punct de vedere economic, politic, social, demografic, cultural ş. a.
In spite of the proximity of the European Union to the southern shores of the Mediterranean, there are considerable differences separating us in economic, political, social, demographic and cultural terms, and so on. Some of these disparities are due to serious deficiencies in our neighbouring states.