Mediterranean dialogue forum in Libya

Morocco's secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taib Fassi Fihri, is taking part this May 28-29 in the "5+5 dialogue" Mediterranean forum, an informal forum that brings together European and Maghreban countries bordering the Mediterranean sea.

The Tripoli meeting is debating issues of interest to the ten countries (five European and five Maghreban countries bordering the Mediterranean sea, such as security, stability, economic integration and immigration.

Countries member to the forum are Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia in addition to France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain.

Participants are looking into economic integration in the Maghreb, free trade agreements in the region -- including the Agadir declaration signed in May 2001 in Morocco for the creation of a free-trade zone between Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan and Egypt, globalization challenges and the Euro-Mediterranean financial institutions, especially the Spanish project on the set up of a Mediterranean development bank.

Maghreban officials and their European peers will also examine the migratory flow in light of Tunisia's proposal to hold a forum on immigration, and the promotion of cultural dialogue with a view to establishing a space of peace and cohabitation.

Foreign ministers of the ten countries will also be taking part to assess results of the Valence Euro-Mediterranean forum, and examine issues related to stability in the west-Mediterranean region.

The informal dialogue forum was launched in early 80's and after an interruption resumed in January 2001 in Lisbon.