PRESIDENCY CONCLUSIONS FOR THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN MEETING
OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(THE HAGUE, 29-30 NOVEMBER)
Introduction
The Euro-Mediterranean Meeting of
Foreign Ministers in The Hague, 29-30 November, took
place at a time of increasing engagement between the EU
and the Mediterranean partners. Ministers confirmed that
the Barcelona Process, enhanced by the European
Neighbourhood Policy, is the main initiative for the
Mediterranean in which the EU and the Mediterranean
partners jointly participate. The Barcelona Process,
enhanced by the European Neighbourhood Policy, is the
central instrument for partnership and dialogue for the
Mediterranean, which in its turn, will lead to achieving
the objectives of the political, social and economic
reforms generated from within the societies concerned as
also stated in the EU Strategic Partnership with the
Mediterranean and the Middle East. The meeting in The
Hague was the second Ministerial Meeting between
Barcelona VI (Naples) and Barcelona VII (Luxembourg),
which underlines the importance given to the Partnership
by its Members. It not only conducted the traditional
stocktaking of progress, but additionally launched the
preparation of the tenth anniversary, which falls in
November 2005. In that context, Ministers agreed that a
comprehensive review of the process should be put in
hand to be submitted to Ministers at Luxembourg for
approval, which should provide basis for decisions on
the future of the process. In this context Ministers
decided that 2005 will be the Year of the Mediterranean.
The meeting has sent a strong message
of the shared commitment of Europe and the Mediterranean
partners to the Barcelona Process, enhanced by the
European Neighbourhood Policy, for achieving peace,
stability and prosperity in the Euro-Mediterranean
neighbourhood. It reiterated that within this
partnership the EU will give further focussed support to
reform undertaken by partners according to agreed
priorities and based on shared values as endorsed by the
Barcelona Declaration. Ministers welcomed the Arab
League Tunis Declaration on Reform and Modernisation as
the Arab Mediterranean Partners’ guiding framework for
their cooperation with international partners. In this
context, Ministers welcomed the EU willingness to
support indigenous programmes for development and reform
emanating from within the countries of the
Mediterranean.
European Neighbourhood Policy
Ministers welcomed the progress made
in developing the European Neighbourhood Policy, as a
policy to enhance the Barcelona Process. Through this
policy the EU will work with each partner individually,
at the appropriate pace, to deepen political and
economic integration and achieve the objectives of a
privileged relationship based on shared values, endorsed
by the Barcelona Declaration. Ministers welcomed
progress made in consultations concerning the Action
Plan with Israel, Jordan, Morocco, the Palestinian
Authority and Tunisia. Consultations on Actions Plans
should be pursued with Egypt and Lebanon.
Building on the decisions made and
achievements reached within the Barcelona Process, the
European Neighbourhood Action Plans will reinforce
existing forms of co-operation within the Euromed
framework. Thus the achievements of bilateral and
sub-regional co-operation should feed into the
multilateral process and vice versa. The European
Neighbourhood Policy envisages new forms of
co-operation, notably the crossborder co-operation by
means of the MEDA Neighbourhood Programme. The
implementation of crossborder co-operation would require
a specific capacity building effort by Partners and
Member States. It will be supported in the framework of
the proposed European Neighbourhood and Partnership
instrument.
Review of the Barcelona Process
Ministers agreed that a comprehensive
review, prepared by Senior Officials, of the Barcelona
Process should be submitted to Ministers in Luxembourg
for approval; this should provide the basis for
decisions on the future of the process. In that respect
the two Euro-Mediterranean independent networks of
research organisations, EuroMeSCO and FEMISE, are
requested to contribute to the review of the Barcelona
Process. Other independent actors and non-governmental
organisations should also feel free to make their own
submissions. These contributions will be the subject of
discussion by Senior Officials.
Ministers stressed the importance for
the Senior Officials from the EU and partner countries
to prepare in depth for the extraordinary
Euro-Mediterranean Conference which will celebrate the
tenth anniversary of the Barcelona Process in November
2005 and to formulate appropriate recommendations.
Senior Officials should decide on the working methods
for this, based on the principle of partnership and
mutual trust with a view to enhancing Euro-Mediterranean
co-operation. The recommendations will be presented to
the Euro-Mediterranean Conference in the first half of
2005.
Implementation of the Barcelona-acquis
The priority to be given to the
process of political, social and economic reform and
modernisation, as stated in the three volets of the
Barcelona Process, is now widely recognised. The
challenge as far as the Mediterranean is concerned will
be to improve the efficiency of the Barcelona Process
enhanced by the European Neighbourhood Policy as an
instrument to this end. Still greater efforts are needed
to translate words into actions and to demonstrate
genuine political will to implement the commitments
jointly entered into in the Valencia Action Plan. The
European Neighbourhood Action Plans, once agreed, will
be an important demonstration of this shared political
will. They should be implemented as a priority, in a
focussed way through the organs of the Association
Agreements and with support from MEDA at the national
level. The Barcelona Process should be used as a
political framework to confirm the joint commitment to
the plans and to ensure the consistency of their
objectives and their contribution to regional and
sub-regional integration. In this regard, the provision
of adequate financial resources should be considered,
taking into account the importance attached to the
southern Mediterranean countries. Finally, Ministers
reaffirm the importance of ensuring that Barcelona
activities are open to all Mediterranean Partners.
New international initiatives
The year 2004 has shown a variety of
new initiatives by different international frameworks
aimed at furthering and accelerating the political,
economic and social reform process in the Mediterranean
region. New initiatives include the Arab League Tunis
Declaration on reform and modernisation and the G8 Sea
Island Declaration. In this context, and in order to
further the EU Strategic Partnership’s focus on reform
issues, Ministers reaffirmed the centrality of the
Barcelona Process enhanced by the European Neighbourhood
Policy, but at the same time acknowledged that there
should be a continuous effort for improvement of the
Partnership in all its aspects. Ministers also confirmed
their willingness to work alongside other international
actors insofar as their policies are compatible with the
principles and approach to which the EU and its
Mediterranean partners are committed.
Association Agreement Syria
Ministers welcomed the conclusion of
the negotiations for the Association Agreement with
Syria, which represents an important step forward in
EU-Syria relations. Once the signature with Syria is
confirmed, all Association Agreements will be in place.
Those in force are being actively implemented through
the Association Councils, Committees and the
comprehensive set of technical sub-committees being set
up.
Political Dialogue
Ministers reviewed developments since
their last meeting in Dublin. Ministers agreed that the
changes in the political situation create new hope and
opportunities for political dialogue between the parties
concerned. Both Palestinian and Israeli leaders have
contributed to this positive atmosphere.
Reaffirming their commitment to a
negotiated solution agreed between the parties in
accordance with the Roadmap, Ministers agreed that an
important opportunity presents itself to bring about the
peaceful realization of the Two State solution with a
Palestinian State which is sovereign, independent and
viable, living side by side in peace with Israel.
Ministers recalled that a just, lasting and
comprehensive peace, in accordance with relevant UN
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
conference and the principle of land for peace, must
meet the legitimate aspirations of the Israeli and Arab
people, notably the Palestinians. They agreed that the
Quartet should play an active role in pursuing the goal
of a comprehensive regional peace. In this respect they
welcomed the Quartet statement of 22 September 2004.
Ministers agreed that the focus
should lie on the immediate future. They underscored the
need for positive steps from Israel and the Palestinian
Authority in the following areas and agreed to support
these efforts where possible. Priority should be given
to a smooth transfer of power in the Palestinian
Territories. In this respect, Ministers were encouraged
by the signals coming from Palestinian leaders. They
agreed that Palestinian presidential elections,
development of a strong, financially stable and
democratic Palestinian Authority, improvement of the
security situation and acceleration of the agreed-upon
Palestinian reform programme were essential. Ministers
recognised the importance of Israel taking the necessary
measures to improve the economic and security situation
of the Palestinian population. They also stressed the
importance of Israel lifting the closures to allow for
free movement of people and goods and to facilitate the
holding of free and fair Palestinian elections,
including in East Jerusalem. Furthermore, Ministers
encouraged Israel and the Palestinian Authority to
strengthen security co-operation.
Ministers reiterated that the
decision by the Israeli government to withdraw from the
Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank would, within
parameters as formulated by the EU, represent a
significant step towards the implementation of the
Roadmap. The economic viability of those territories was
considered crucial in this respect.
A just and comprehensive peace in the
Middle East is the strategic option for the Arab
countries as stated in the Arab Peace Initiative as
adopted by the Beirut Arab League Summit of March 2002.
Ministers stressed that a comprehensive peace must
include Syria and Lebanon.
Ministers called on all States in the
region to exert every effort to promote peace and urged
all states to act to combat terrorism.
Partners discussed Libya’s full
integration into the Barcelona Process and took note of
ongoing consultations in view of addressing outstanding
issues.
Ministers welcomed the outcome of the
meeting on Iraq in Sharm al Sheikh on 23 November 2004
and underscored the objective of a secure, stable,
unified, prosperous and democratic Iraq that will make a
positive contribution to the stability of the region.
They reaffirmed their commitment to support the
implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1546
and underscored the need for a leading role of the
United Nations. Ministers welcomed all steps taken by
the Iraqi Interim Government to achieve a broad
participation of the Iraqi political spectrum in the
political process and to hold general elections before
the end of January 2005. They also welcomed the
commitment to Iraq’s future by its neighboring states,
as so clearly stated in the Sharm al Sheikh meeting.
Ministers took note of the importance
of the International Criminal Court as an effective
means to combat impunity from the most heinous crimes of
concern to the international community. Ministers of
these countries which have ratified or acceded to the
Rome statute encouraged other partners to do so.
Political and Security Dialogue
In line with the commitments entered
into under the Association Agreements and where
appropriate in the framework of the European
Neighbourhood Policy, Partners agreed to continue
working towards the implementation of political reforms,
and welcomed a structured dialogue, based on joint
ownership, on co-operation on human rights and
democratisation including support for civil society.
European Neighbourhood Action Plans devote a central
part to political dialogue and reform, strengthening
democratisation and the rule of law. New sub-committees
under the Association Agreements are being set up with
Morocco, Jordan, and pending final agreement with
Tunisia, whilst a promising dialogue has begun with
Egypt. Financial support will be given from MEDA in 2006
for countries implementing these measures.
The EU and some countries of the
region, particularly Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, have
stepped up the dialogue and co-operation on
counter-terrorism which could be extended to other
Partners. Cooperation should be developed using a
comprehensive approach based on international
commitments leading to concrete activities in the fight
against terrorism, notably by preventing the financing
of terrorism, as well as a dialogue on the underlying
factors relating to the recruitment for terrorism. Such
cooperation should respect and further the rule of law,
human rights and political participation. In this
regard, Ministers noted Egypt’s initiative concerning
the organisation of an international conference on
terrorism and Tunisia’s proposal for a code of conduct
on the fight against terrorism. Ministers welcomed
progress in the co-operation in the field of counter
terrorism through the holding of an ad hoc meeting on
the 10th of November 2004 in Brussels, on terrorism that
underlined the importance of this global approach
Ministers welcomed the results of the
discussions among Senior Officials, on the initiative of
the Personal Representative of HR Solana for
non-proliferation of WMD, on possibilities for enhancing
dialogue and cooperation on regional security and
elimination and non-proliferation of WMD, as a follow-up
to the Presidency conclusions of the Euromed mid-term
meeting of MFA in Dublin (5-6 May 2004). Subject to
Terms of Reference to be agreed upon by the Partners,
Ministers endorsed the idea in principle of organising
an ad-hoc meeting within the Barcelona framework.
Ministers instructed Senior Officials to conduct
consultations in order to reach the necessary agreement
on the modalities for such a meeting beforehand and
requested the Personal Representative to assist in this
process. It could be held in the first half of 2005.
Partners reaffirmed the need to
develop the dialogue to address issues on their
security. The new format for developing dialogue and
co-operation on ESDP, as successfully confirmed at the
ad hoc meeting on the 10th of November in Brussels,
should be pursued and gradually lead to agreed
activities. Ministers encouraged the Commission to
continue support for Partnership Building Measures i.e.
the Malta Diplomatic Seminars, co-operation in Civil
Protection and Disaster Management and the EUROMESCO
network of foreign policy institutes. Ministers welcomed
the progress report on Partnership Building Measures
under the co-ordination of Italy and Jordan.
Free Trade Area
A successful Euro-Mediterranean Trade
Ministerial was held in Istanbul on the 21st of July
2004. On economic issues the first priority is to take
further steps towards the creation of the
Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area by the target date of
2010. Ministers took note that substantial progress has
been made on free trade. The network of bilateral
EU/Mediterranean partner arrangements has been
reinforced by the entry into force of the agreements
with Jordan and Egypt and of the interim agreement with
Lebanon. The Agadir Agreement between Jordan, Egypt,
Tunisia and Morocco has opened new perspectives of
integration among southern Mediterranean partners. The
Agadir Agreement should enter into force in 2005 with
technical assistance from MEDA to its Secretariat in
Amman. Agadir represents a promising experience that
should be pursued and followed by other partners. The
Agadir Process should be extended to other Arab
Mediterranean partners, without prejudice to their
continuing to establish free trade with other partners,
as Ministers noted. The upgrading of the bilateral trade
agreements between Jordan and Israel for further
liberalisation allowing for further diagonal cumulation
of origin is a significant contribution. A significant
contribution is also made by Morocco, the PLO and
Tunisia through the conclusion of free trade agreements
with Turkey; more countries should express their
willingness to conclude free trade agreements with
Turkey. Ministers welcomed the agreement reached at
Palermo that the pan-Euro-Mediterranean Protocol on
cumulation of origin should be adopted in the framework
of Association Agreements. Ministers promoted the use of
the new framework protocol for the liberalisation of
services that can constitute an appropriate basis for
future negotiations between the EU and Mediterranean
partners. The strategy for accelerating the
liberalisation of trade in agriculture has begun to be
addressed through a meeting at senior expert level, with
a view to Ministers agreeing later on measures for
reciprocal agricultural trade liberalisation within a
package – containing a specific roadmap - including
trade in processed agricultural products and non-trade
aspects (rural development, etc.). Furthermore, in line
with the European Neighbourhood Action Plans,
harmonisation with the EU Single Market should be
developed in priority sectors such as customs,
environment, industrial standards, health, veterinary
and phyto-sanitary regulations. A Ministerial Meeting on
textiles was held in Tunis on the 28th of September.
Industry and Enterprise Co-operation
Industry Ministers adopted the
Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise at the
Conference held in Caserta on 3-4 October 2004. By doing
this, Euro-Mediterranean partners agreed to put industry
and enterprise development high on their political
agenda. The Charter defines common, coherent and
monitorable principles to improve the business
environment and boost competitiveness. Industry
Ministers also confirmed their readiness to converge
towards EU regulations and standards within an
international context, for industrial products; partners
have already started the process of identifying
priorities for harmonisation in this area. Ministers
have also started a discussion on new forms of
co-operation, at national, regional and sub-regional
level, aimed at fostering the competitiveness of
Mediterranean partners' production systems, stimulate
business links and investments in the region and
disseminate innovation. The Conference also launched
co-operation at sectoral level, including a
Pan-Euro-Mediterranean dialogue on the future of the
textile and clothing industry. Industry Ministers took
note of a proposal by Greece to host their next meeting
in 2006.
Free trade needs to be accompanied by
regional economic integration. Further steps should be
taken towards infrastructure development including
interconnection in transport and energy: the new MEDA
Neighbourhood Programme for 2005-2006 allocates a
considerable share of its € 45 million to promote
inter-connections and investments in these two sectors
and the European Neighbourhood Action Plans incorporate
measures to promote further integration. The development
of a regional gas market in the Mashraq region and a
regional electricity market in the Maghreb region, with
their eventual integration with that of the EU, as well
as the development of joint initiatives between Israel
and the Palestinian Authority in the energy sector,
should continue to be promoted. In the field of
transport the aim is to support transport sector reforms
and identify a backbone transport infrastructure network
for the region as well as the interconnection of the
Trans-European Transport Network with the neighbouring
regions. Ministers welcomed the official opening of the
Rome Euro-Mediterranean Energy Platform (REMEP) as from
15 October 2004.
In addition to liberalisation and
regional economic integration the deepening of the
economic reform process is required. Economy and Finance
Ministers should meet next year, possibly back to back
with the FEMIP Ministerial to be held in Morocco in
2005, to consider key economic reform policy issues
aimed at fostering growth, private sector development,
poverty reduction and lower unemployment.
There remains a need to develop the
access of the Mediterranean partners to the knowledge
economy through regulatory reform and transfer of
technology. The Ministerial meeting on Information and
Communications Technologies, to take place in Dublin in
the first half of 2005 on this subject, a well as the
World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) to be held in
Tunis in 2005, should give a boost to this process.
Research and Technological
Development (RTD) also has an important role to play.
The inclusion of capacity building and investments in
the field of RTD in the European Neighbourhood Action
Plans will provide new synergies between different EU
instruments, like MEDA and ENPI and the Framework
Programme for RTD.
Financing
The considerable improvement in the
performance of MEDA is still increasing. The main
reasons for this success are the deepening of the
Partnership, the better appropriation of programmes and
projects by all Mediterranean partners, and the
devolution of decisions and implementation to the EU
Delegations. At the end of 2004, payments (€750 Million)
will for the first time in the history of MEDA overtake
the amount of commitments (€700 Million). Future
financial assistance under MEDA and its successor will
further prioritise and focus on support for reform,
while also taking account of the other objectives of the
Barcelona Process.
The EIB is becoming one of the most
important sources of external investment financing in
the region, both for public and private sector projects.
Total FEMIP lending to the region stands at more than €
13 billion and is rapidly increasing. The volume of new
projects is reaching € 2 billion per year. Ministers
should acknowledge the success of FEMIP activities and
reaffirm their commitment to the establishment of the
FEMIP Trust Fund in the light of the financial
contributions to be made by Euro-Mediterranean partners
in the course of 2005. The Ministers noted again that
the possibility of the incorporation of an EIB majority
owned subsidiary dedicated to the Mediterranean partner
countries will be fully assessed in December 2006, on
the basis on an evaluation of FEMIP’s performance as
agreed in the Naples Euro-Mediterranean Conference.
Justice, Security and Migration
Ministers recognised the importance
of co-operating on key issues such as the functioning of
the judiciary, migration, as well as combating major
threats like drugs, terrorism and organised crime. The
European Neighbourhood Action Plans contain a large
section dedicated to this co-operation that will
concretely be implemented through the “Justice and
Security” and “Migration and Social Affairs”
sub-committees. Ministers confirmed the importance of an
integrated approach recognising both that migration is a
positive factor for socio-economic development and
integration of the whole region and that there is a
common interest in fighting illegal migration within the
context of a comprehensive approach, in particular in
upholding respect for the rule of law and the rights of
asylum-seekers and legal migrants. Ministers also
reaffirmed their existing commitment to the conclusion
of readmission agreements. There should be co-operation
in identifying the roots of migration, in the fight
against illegal migration and in improving the social,
political and cultural integration of migrants. In the
light of the successful implementation of the regional
JHA-framework programme covering the justice, police and
migration sectors, ministers encouraged the launching of
its second phase. New projects should lead to
collaboration in new areas, such as commercial as well
as civil matters, including the facilitation of the
resolution of family conflicts, in respect of national
legislation and international law.
In the light of the common problem of
illegal migration to Maghreb countries and the
subsequent transit migration to the EU, characterised by
human suffering, there is a need for intensified
co-operation that addresses root causes as well as
negative effects of transit migration and the
possibility of a dialogue with third countries to
address the issue. This co-operation should involve all
aspects of illegal migration, the fight against human
trafficking and related networks as well as other forms
of illegal migration, border management and migration
related capacity building. Support for capacity building
and providing technical assistance to countries meeting
their obligations under the Geneva Conventions could be
considered.
Dialogue between cultures and civilisations
The successful launching of the Anna
Lindh Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures
planned for 2005 will be an important benchmark for the
future in terms of political perceptions and visibility
of the Foundation, which will be located in the
Alexandria Library in tandem with the Swedish Institute
in Alexandria. To this end Ministers agreed to
facilitate and promote all activities of the Foundation,
to support the participation of their civil societies in
the work of the Foundation and to confirm their
political commitment by substantial financial
contributions by all partners. Its location in a
Mediterranean partner country has important symbolic
value and the involvement of civil society in this
initiative on a subject at the heart of the political
relationship is to be welcomed. Ministers welcomed the
formal adoption of the Statute of the Foundation and the
first constituent meeting of the representatives of the
national networks held in Brussels preparing for the
official launching of the Foundation in 2005.
Ministers underlined the need to
prevent all forms of extremism, radicalisation and
incitement. They underlined that the Barcelona Process,
and in particular the Dialogue between Cultures, should
be used to the fullest to promote understanding between
and among the people living in the EU and around the
Mediterranean and to create conditions in which freedom
and initiative can flourish. They stressed the need for
to make sure that extremism and radicalization, racism,
discrimination and xenophobia do not gain the upper hand
over the majority of the population that wants to live
peacefully.
On civil society, Ministers
welcomed the meeting held in Cyprus in June 2004 and the
general assembly planned for March 2005 with the
objective of the constitution of the “Euro-Mediterranean
Non-Governmental Platform” aiming at the reinforcement
of civil society networks of the region. Ministers
looked forward to the next Civil Forum to be held on 1-2
April 2005.
Ministers agreed to enhance existing
activities supporting cultural diversity such as Euromed
Audiovisual and Euromed Heritage, and foster exchanges
of expertise and dialogue on the promotion of cultural
diversity, as well as promoting the access of cultural
products to the EU and partner countries in view of
‘knowing the other’.
Education, Youth and Women
In a region where young people make
up more than half of the population partners should
encourage all efforts to improve their living conditions
and support the improvement of standards of education
and litteracy. The European Neighbourhood Action Plans
and MEDA should support co-operation in these fields. In
this respect Ministers noted the successful
implementation of the TEMPUS programme for co-operation
on higher education.
Ministers acknowledged the valuable
work of the Youth Platform and agreed to enhance the
Euromed Youth programme, which has given more than
15.000 young people the opportunity to work together on
common cultural values. A further objective for the
future should be to promote mobility and exchanges and
thus allow youth to discover the diversity of cultures
by travelling, taking part in exchanges as one of the
main ways for mutual understanding and promoting respect
for cultural differences.
All efforts should be made through
bilateral and regional co-operation as well as through
financial support from MEDA, to increase the education
level of women and promote their equal political,
social, cultural and economic opportunities in the
respective societies.
Parliamentary Assembly
In March 2004, the Euro-Mediterranean
Parliamentary Assembly held its inaugural session in
Athens, a landmark in joint efforts to promote
inter-parliamentary exchanges as a vehicle to foster
pluralistic democracy as well as making an additional
contribution to the overall implementation of the
partnership. Ministers looked forward to the second
meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly
to be held in Cairo in 2005.
Visibility
Finally, partners agreed to make a
major effort to remedy the lack of visibility of the
Barcelona process and its achievements. In this context
they decided that 2005 will be the Year of the
Mediterranean. They arranged for an effective
convergence of the message they give. For its part the
Commission will be stepping up its activities through
the Euro-Med Dialogue programme on information and
communication of the partnership.
Overview of developments: Annex
A detailed overview of developments
in the Barcelona Process is contained in the annex. It
indicates clearly that in spite of political obstacles
progress continues to be made in a large number of areas
and that the partners continue to develop the objectives
identified at Barcelona in 1995 and covered by the
jointly agreed Valencia Action Plan.
List of Barcelona Process activities since the Naples
Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Foreign Ministers
Association Agreements
The Agreement with Egypt entered into
force in June 2004. Ratification of the Agreements with
Lebanon and Algeria is well advanced. Negotiations with
Syria have been concluded. Association Councils and
Committees are held regularly under the Agreements in
force and technical sub-committees have been set up with
Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan. Under the MEDA programme,
twinning activities between Ministries and other public
bodies in EU Member States and Mediterranean Partners
have been prepared or launched during 2004 to facilitate
the implementation of the Association Agreements with
Jordan, Morocco, and Lebanon.
European Neighbourhood Policy
Consultations with Morocco, Tunisia,
Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority for Action
Plans are expected to be finalised soon. Consultations
should be pursued for Action Plans with Egypt and
Lebanon. The MEDA Neighbourhood Programme for the
Mediterranean is expected to be approved before the end
of October.
Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly
The Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary
Assembly was set up at a meeting in Athens on 22-23
March 2004. Its three Committees held their constituent
meetings in Brussels in September.
Financial Cooperation
Cooperation with Mediterranean
partners has proceeded in the framework of MEDA funding.
The increased effectiveness and efficiency in the
implementation of programmes has been confirmed and
accelerated in recent months. The payments/ commitments
ratio will improve dramatically from 28% under MEDA I
(1995-1999) to 105 % in 2004. The process of
de-concentration has been virtually completed and now
all Commission Delegations in Partner countries assume
ample responsibilities in the implementation of
programmes and projects. This increased efficiency is
also the result of a better absorption capacity of
Partners’ beneficiaries and administrations. The
national and regional indicative programmes for the
period 2005-2006 were approved, thus establishing the
agreed broad lines of Euro-Med cooperation priorities
for the two years to come both at bilateral and regional
levels.
In line with the Council Conclusions
of November 2003, the EIB has proceeded with the
implementation of a "Reinforced" FEMIP lending facility.
A regional office has been established in Cairo and
others are being set up in Rabat and Tunis. At the
Alexandria Ministerial meeting in June, the EIB
introduced proposals to establish a donor Trust Fund
that provides additional grant financing for technical
assistance and risk capital operations under FEMIP.
Furthermore, the Special FEMIP Envelope was introduced
as a new financing window for private sector projects
with higher commercial risks. The Trust Fund has
received sufficient donor pledges to be launched before
the end of the year. The first project proposals on the
Special Envelope are also expected in the next few
months
Human rights and Democratisation
Progress has been made in
implementing the Commission Communication on human
rights and democratisation with Mediterranean partners:
the regional political dialogue has covered the rights
of the child, and is envisaged to discuss the fight
against racism and xenophobia; specific commitments,
with objectives and benchmarks, are included in the
European Neighbourhood Action Plans; sub-committees
under the Association Agreements on human rights,
democratisation and governance have been set up with
Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan; a dialogue has been started
with Egypt.
Political and Security Cooperation
The political and security dialogue
has been pursued at regular meetings of Senior Officials
of the Barcelona Process and has covered human rights
and democracy, conflict prevention and crisis
management, the fight against terrorism,
non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and
other matters of mutual interest.
Ad-hoc meetings on the fight against
terrorism were held in April 2004, concentrating
primarily on ways to prevent the financing of terrorism
and November 2004, concentrating on enhanced
co-operation with some Mediterranean partners.
Agreement has been reached on the
principle of holding a workshop or ad hoc meeting on the
non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
involving senior governmental and non-governmental
experts.
A meeting of the Political and
Security Committee with Mediterranean partners took
place on the basis of an Options Paper for further
dialogue and cooperation in ESDP matters. In response to
comments from Mediterranean partners a further meeting
was held under a revised format within the Barcelona
Process involving Senior Officials and ESDP experts from
all partners in November 2004.
Existing partnership building
measures have been pursued under the MEDA programme,
notably the Malta seminars for diplomats, EuroMeSCo
network of foreign policy institutes and cooperation on
civil protection. The civil protection pilot project has
terminated and been favourably evaluated. It has been
agreed to pursue this cooperation through a bridge
project in advance of the implementation of a long term
project.
Two meetings of the ad-hoc informal
working groups on Partnership Building Measures and the
European Neighbourhood Policy were held in June and
September 2004. It was agreed that they would report
before the end of the year.
Justice, Freedom and Security
The regional programme covering the
justice, police and migration sectors has proceeded
which permits experts and trainers from
Euro-Mediterranean countries to work together in
judicial co-operation in civil and penal matters, in the
fight against terrorism, drugs and organised crime and
in a joint approach to migration. MEDA actions have been
supported respectively with the European Institute of
Public Administration in Maastricht, the European Police
College (CEPOL) and The European University
Institute-Robert Schuman Centre in Florence.
Trade
The EU and Mediterranean Partners
have pursued the process of creating the
Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area with concrete steps
and initiatives. Of particular relevance are the
conclusions reached at the Euro-Med Trade Ministerial in
Istanbul to accelerate the introduction of the
pan-Euro-Mediterranean cumulation of origin. The
conclusion of a common regional protocol for the
liberalisation of services was another major step
achieved in Istanbul that will open the door for the
conclusion of bilateral agreements with Mediterranean
Partners. In addition, all Mediterranean partners have
now identified the priority sectors for which they wish
to obtain improved access to the EU market through the
implementation of EU-harmonised legislation on
industrial products and the examination of the relevant
legislation has already started. Two series of regional
training workshops held within the Euro-Med Market
Regional Programme financed under MEDA have facilitated
preparations for the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area,
allowing for information sharing and exchange of
experience.
The signature of the Agadir Agreement
in February 2004 is creating considerable momentum for
the establishment of the Southern dimension of free
trade. The process of ratification of this agreement
should be completed before the end of the year so that
implementation starts as foreseen on 1 January 2005. The
Commission will support the implementation of the
agreement with a targeted MEDA technical assistance,
including support for the Secretariat to be set up in
Amman. In July 2004 a MEDA sub-regional initiative was
launched within Euro-Med Market to help the parties to
the Agadir Agreement in this regard.
Other economic issues
The steps taken in the field of
energy have been instrumental in further integrating the
energy markets in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The two
Ministerial Conferences held in 2003 laid the
foundations for stronger links in the oil, gas and
electricity sectors. Following decisions taken by
Ministers in energy and transport the Commission is
taking measures to promote inter-connections and
investments in these two sectors and commitments in this
respect are contained in the Neighbourhood Action Plans.
Work on regional energy projects has continued, and some
projects have ended, yielding substantial results.
In the transport sector the MEDA
funded Euro-Mediterranean Satellite Navigation (GNSS)
project was launched in September 2004 when the GALILEO
Euro-Med Co-operation Office was officially opened in
Cairo. The project, which involves Mediterranean
Partners in the EU’s GALILEO Programme, is one of the
priorities within the Euromed Transport III Regional
Project financed under MEDA. The SAFEMED project for
Co-operation on Maritime Safety and prevention of
pollution from ships, which was given a favourable
opinion from the MED Committee in April 2004, is another
priority.
A sizeable part of the MEDA European
Neighbourhood programme approved in 2004 will
concentrate on the energy and transport sectors as
factors for economic growth and regional integration.
Telecommunications is another sector
of strategic significance for the development of the
services economies of the Mediterranean Partners. Under
the Irish Presidency, the Euro-Med Experts and Senior
Officials Conference brought together sixty
representatives in Malahide from authorities dealing
with the Information Society in the Mediterranean area,
the EU Member States and the European Commission. The
programme organised among five panels included issues of
Communications policy and regulations, ICT for Business,
sustainable growth and education, regional co-operation,
eGovernment and Business in ICT. It offered the
opportunity to address eBusiness, eGovernment,
eEducation, emerging technologies, investment and
cooperation at regional and global level. Co-operation
on the ground has been going on within MEDA with the
EUMEDIS Regional Programme (Euro-Mediterranean
Information Society), which facilitates the extension of
existing infrastructures through the Eumedconnect
project, and promotes applications in areas like
telemedicine and distance learning. In addition, the New
Approaches to Telecommunications Policy II programme
(NATP II) has received the green light from the MED
Committee.
Research and Technological
Development (RTD) also has an important role to play.
Co-operation will be pursued to open the European
Research Area by increasing Mediterranean partners’
participation in all research activities open in the VI
Framework Programme, reinforcing the specific activities
strengthening regional integration and fostering the
mobility and exchanges of Mediterranean researchers with
EU. The inclusion of capacity building and investments
in the field of RTD in the Neighbourhood Action Plans
will provide new synergies between different EU
instruments, like MEDA and ENPI and the Framework
Programme for RTD. The TEMPUS programme to support
cooperation in education and training should be
continued and developed.
The Euro-Med Economic Transition
conference next year should take stock of progress on
economic reforms in the region. This conference as well
as the bilateral Economic Dialogues should also take a
forward-looking view on economic reforms in the context
of the Neighbourhood Policy. The 8th annual Euro-Med
meeting on Economic Transition was held in Brussels in
June 2005. Presentations and discussions focused on
legal, judicial and regulatory reform in the Partner
economies. The importance of a well-functioning legal
and judicial system in a market economy was underlined
and several Partners presented the programmes and
efforts they have undertaken in this respect. Progress
towards establishing competition authorities and rules
on corporate governance were also discussed. Further
comparable Euro-Mediterranean statistics have been
compiled and published within the Regional MEDSTAT
Programme.
Representatives from the key
stakeholders in economic reform (including, employers,
employees and women) and government officials who deal
with economic reform, from across the EuroMed region,
met in the Euro-Mediterranean conference on “Managing
the Social Consequences of Economic Reform” held in
Marrakech on 20 and 21 May 2004. The aims of the meeting
were to study how different groups of society are
affected by economic reform and to examine strategies to
limit its social costs. The conference concluded that
although there will always be social costs resulting
from economic reform, the failure to implement reform
has even greater social costs in the longer term. If
implemented effectively, economic reform will result in
the creation of an enabling business environment that
stimulates investment and job creation, and the
provision of better basic services – housing, hospitals,
schools, transport – the standards by which good
governance is measured. Such reform is being supported
by MEDA within a number of bilateral programmes and will
be further promoted under the European Neighbourhood
Policy. In addition, training activities in the
Mediterranean region have been given a boost with the
launching in 2004 of two MEDA regional programmes, one
on Education and Training for Employment, the other on
Training of Public Administrations.
A number of MEDA bilateral programmes
and projects launched in 2004 provide national and local
authorities in the Partners with assistance for
modernising higher education and vocational training,
and fighting against poverty, particularly through local
development programmes, in Egypt and Morocco, for
instance.
At the Caserta Conference on 3-4
October 2004, Industry Ministers agreed on a work
programme for industrial co-operation for 2005-2006. The
planned actions are intended to support efforts to
implement the principles of the Euro-Mediterranean
Charter for Enterprise. These principles relate to
administrative simplification, education for an
entrepreneurial spirit, improved skills, easier access
to finance, better market access, promotion of
innovation, the development of efficient business
support services, stronger business networks and
partnerships and clear information. The work programme
focuses on the monitoring of the implementation of the
Charter, benchmarking and the exchange of good policy
practices at regional level, the promotion of a Pan Euro
Mediterranean dialogue to identify common strategies for
the competitiveness of the textile and clothing
industry, as well as the definition of new forms of co
operation for private sector development.
At the Summit held in Valencia on 18
and 19 November 2004 Economic and Social Councils and
Similar Bodies from the countries of the
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership met together. The summit
recommended that the role played by civil society
organisations in implementing the partnership strategy
be recognized by the Ministerial Meeting in The Hague,
that representatives of the civil society organisations
be closely associated with the implementation of the
European Neighborhood Policy Action Plans and that
agriculture be given higher political priority in the
Barcelona Process. It also called for more integrated
and balanced migration policies.
Sustainability
The 6th meeting of environment
correspondents was held in Brussels on 21-22 June 2004.
The meeting was instrumental in revitalising the SMAP
network of correspondents and of their partners in the
NGO community, the international organisations acting in
the area and the European Commission services involved
in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. Both the funding
and the policy development aspects of the network will
be pursued in the future through the various means
identified at the meeting, so that the SMAP network
continues to be an important actor in the Mediterranean.
As regards environmental policy, there was a consensus
that more efforts should be deployed to put sustainable
development at the core of national policies and of the
Barcelona Partnership. It was estimated that the SMAP
Correspondents could have a key role to play in this
context and that SMAP strategies and modus operandi, as
well as the status and role of the SMAP Correspondents
might have to be reconsidered and adapted if necessary,
in order to best address this problem. . As to
co-operation activities, the 3rd Regional Environment
Programme (SMAP III) was given a favourable opinion by
the MED Committee in April 2004. The programme aims to
assist Mediterranean Partners in designing appropriate
sustainable development strategies and mainstreaming
environmental issues, as well as supporting Integrated
Coastal Zone Management. In addition, the Commission has
commissioned an independent assessment on the possible
impact of the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area on the
sustainable development of the region. The project
started in early 2004. Improvement of Water Supply and
Management has been the focus of new MEDA funded
bilateral programmes, notably in Jordan and Morocco.
MEDA regional projects involving universities, research
institutes, and specialised agencies have started
actions in early 2004 as part of the Regional Programme
for Local Water Management.
Dialogue between Cultures
The Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean
Foundation for Dialogue between Cultures was launched in
the Naples Foreign Ministers’ meeting in December 2003,
which also agreed on the modalities of setting it up.
During the Mid-term Ministerial Conference in Dublin
Ministers accepted the offer of Egypt and Sweden that
the Foundation should have its headquarters in
Alexandria Library in tandem with the Swedish Institute
in Alexandria. The Commission has agreed to provide
financing of € 5 M from MEDA and the Euro-Mediterranean
partners have announced commitments with a total figure
superior to that amount. The Euromed Committee in July
agreed on the appointment of Mr Traugott Schöfthaler as
Executive Director Designate. The approval of the
Statute of the Foundation and the signature and
publication of the Egyptian Presidential Decree
concerning the privileges of the Foundation will be the
last steps before the official launching of the
Foundation.
Civil Forum
The Civil Forum in Naples 28-30
November 2003, organised with a comprehensive bottom–up
approach, concluded with the decision to ensure
continuity through a steering committee to organise
future meetings and to give a mandate to the recently
created NGO Platform to coordinate actions to strengthen
the participation of civil society in the Barcelona
process. This structure of continuity has already held a
general conference in Cyprus in June 2004 and is
organising a general launching assembly prior to the
next civil forum under the Luxembourg Presidency in
Spring 2005, for which an organizing steering committee
(including Luxembourg and Moroccan NGO’s and the
platform) has been created. This in order to identify
the ways and means to achieve a real impact of the civil
societies on the development of the Barcelona process.
Youth, Education and Culture
The Commission is incorporating the
TEMPUS programme of support for co-operation in higher
education into MEDA National Indicative Programmes for
the Mediterranean partners – calls launched in 2002 and
2003 and selected projects started in academic year
2003/4.
Within the MEDA programme, the
Euro-Med Youth programme for youth exchanges is
continuing with calls for proposals issued three times a
year, as are the two programmes on Cultural Heritage and
Audio-visual (next phase of each of them launched during
2004). The latter two programmes organized their annual
general conferences in 2004 in Rome and Marseilles
respectively.
Visibility
The Commission is starting a MEDA
programme (‘Euro-Med Dialogue’) in 2004 to raise the
visibility of the partnership through co-operation on
news-based activities, managed on the ground by the
Commission Delegations in the region. It will include a
wide variety of actions including TV, radio, actions
with journalists, civil society, youth, etc. The Arabic
language has been increasingly used in Commission and
other MEDA funded publications and web sites designed to
inform about the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.
