Euro-Mediterranean FMs to discuss working together
Regional-European Union, Politics, 5/23/2003

The next Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference will be held in Crete on 26-27 May 2003. High on the agenda will be a joint assessment, on the eve of the enlargement of the EU, and how to define the role of the partnership in reducing tensions following the war in Iraq and with the continuing uncertainty in the Middle East Peace Process.

This mid-term meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership "the Barcelona Process" takes place while violence and political tension continue throughout the region. Against the background of the Commission's Communication on "Wider Europe, setting out a new framework for relations with the neighbors of the enlarged EU, Commissioner Chris Patten said, "The EU's most successful external policy has been its enlargement. We must now see how we can establish with our Mediterranean partners ways of developing the Barcelona Process to bring them as many as possible of the same benefits, even if the question of joining the EU is not on the table for them."

The partnership is the main instrument for developing the relationship between Europe and its neighbors to the south. Ministers will be looking for ways of confirming their common commitment to restoring peace and stability to the region and to improve understanding between the different cultures and traditions on either side of the Mediterranean.

Foreign Ministers from the acceding countries will be attending such a meeting for the first time (though Cyprus and Malta have previously attended as Mediterranean Partners). Enlargement therefore implies that the Euro-Med Partnership grows from 27 to 35 members providing a multilateral vehicle for enhanced relations between the new member states and southern mediterranean partners ministers will be taking stock of progress made since they last met in Valencia one year ago, and unanimously agreed on the Valencia Action Plan.

The short and medium-term initiatives contained in that plan are all designed to reinforce cooperation on political and economic reform, raising levels of prosperity and enhancing mutual understanding. They will discuss what more needs to be done to improve the implementation of these measures.

Ministers should reach agreement in Crete on a number of specific actions: Speedy implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements; Deepening political and security cooperation notably against terrorism; Improving respect for human rights and democracy by finding areas of common ground for legislative and regulatory reform and improving the standards of the forces of law and order; Developing cooperation on judicial systems, police training and joint approaches to immigration; and bringing regulation gradually in line with the Single Market.

The Ministers should also reach supporting regional free trade and cooperation, especially the "Agadir" Free Trade Agreement between Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan; Assessing the effectiveness of the MEDA program, noting the considerable improvements in its disbursement rate; Using the EIB' s Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) to boost private sector development and interconnection of infrastructure; Enhancing the sustainability of the Partnership (environmental protection) and raising the visibility of the partnership (through the 'Euro-Med. Dialogue' program).

Previous Stories:
  European ministers statement   (5/21/2003)
  Europe Day: an occasion for activities that bring Europe closer to its citizens, peoples of the EU closer to one another   (5/12/2003)
  Arab League chief discuss with Moratinos Iraqi issue developments   (3/21/2003)

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