The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership was established at a Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in Barcelona on November 27-28, 1995. Its final Declaration (the so-called “Barcelona Declaration”) is an ambitious and far-reaching document, reflecting the joint initiative by 27 partners,* which will remain in modern history as the first attempt to create durable and strong bonds between the shores of the Mediterranean. The aim of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership is to create peace, stability and development in a region, which is of vital strategic importance for Europe.

The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (which is also called “Barcelona Process”) focuses on three main objectives – often referred to as the three “Chapters” or “Baskets”:

1. The creation of an area of peace and stability based on the principle of human rights and democracy (Political and Security Partnership – or “Basket I”).
2. The creation of an area of shared prosperity through the progressive establishment of free trade between the EU and its Mediterranean partners and amongst the partners themselves (Economic and Financial Partnership – or “Basket II”).
3. The improvement of mutual understanding among the peoples of the region and the development of a free and flourishing civil society (Cultural, Social and Human Partnership – or “Basket III”).

By combining all three chapters into one comprehensive policy, the Union acknowledged the fact that financial, economic, cultural, and security issues cannot be effectively tackled separately.

The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership has two dimensions: a bilateral one and a regional one.

The bilateral dimension is mainly driven through the conclusion of “Association Agreements” between the Mediterranean partners and the European Union and the political, economic and cultural dialogue building on them. The ultimate aim of this bilateral dimension is to establish a Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area by 2010. At the time for the Barcelona Conference, all partners had realised that creating more favourable conditions for Foreign Direct Investment was crucial for the economic development of the Mediterranean.

The regional dimension of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, by contrast, has as its backbone a whole set of forums, networks, programmes and projects in areas falling within the objectives of the three Baskets. In addition, a number of institutional contacts have been established between Parliaments, Economic and Social Council and Civil Society agents. The fundamental aim of this aspect of Barcelona is to build trust among the people of the region by engaging them in regular professional cooperation.

The main financial tool of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership is the “MEDA programme” – a budget line used for accompanying the Mediterranean partners’ socio-economic reforms. Under MEDA, money is committed in the form of grants, as opposed to complementary financial support given by the European Investment Bank (EIB) which comes in the form of repayable loans. The provisions of the MEDA regulation apply to all three chapters of the Barcelona Process. MEDA provides funds for both the bilateral and the regional track.  The budget for 2000-2006 is €5.35 billion. The EIB credits for 2000-2007 amount to €6.4 billion.

For more information on the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and open calls for proposals, please contact regularly the following websites:

Website of the Commission Directorate General for External Relations:

www.europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/med_mideast/intro/index.htm

Website of the EuropeAid Co-operation Office:

www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/index_en.htm (Quick Tender Search).

* The 27 participants in the Euro-Med Partnership

15 EU Member States

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Spain and Sweden.

12 Mediterranean Partners

Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.