European-Mediterranean partnership between chambers of commerce launched

The European association of chambers of commerce, "Eurochambers," has just launched a program of exchange and partnership with the chambers of commerce of Mediterranean countries.

The program, dubbed "Archimedes," is endowed with a budget worth 2.5 million Euros for the 1999-2000 period. 1.7 million Euros will be supplied by the European Commission while the rest of the budget will be provided by the chambers of commerce.

The program is meant to promote a Euro-Mediterranean network of chambers of commerce and consequently upgrade commercial and industrial cooperation between the two banks of the Mediterranean.

"Archimedes," which is part of the general frame of Euro-Mediterranean partnership launched in Barcelona in 1995, also aims at improving the quality of services of Mediterranean chambers of commerce.

The programs provides for the exchange of the chambers' executives, the holding of training sessions on the chambers management, and the carrying out of joint projects.

The Euro-Mediterranean chambers network includes more than 1,200 members in the 15 members of the European Union and the other 12 Mediterranean countries.