Summary: November 26, 2004: Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers meet to prepare 10th Anniversary of their partnership (Brussels)
Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers meet to prepare 10th Anniversary of their partnership
Euro-Mediterranean Ministers for Foreign Affairs will meet in The Hague on 29-30 November to launch a year of activities to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of their Partnership, under the 'Barcelona Process'. The meeting will focus on three themes: a review of the process and its future direction; economic reforms and investment; and social-cultural aspects. Ministers will welcome the conclusion of negotiations with Syria for an Association Agreement with the EU, which completes the grid of
agreements with the EU's Mediterranean Partners[1]. In addition, the meeting will provide an opportunity for political debate on the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Commission will be represented by Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner. 25 EU Member States, the 10 Mediterranean Partners[2], plus Libya as observer, will attend the meeting. EU Troika meetings with Israel, the Arab States and Palestine will be held in the margins.
Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said: "Ahead of the 10th anniversary I want to take an honest look at the achievements and the shortcomings of the Barcelona Process, with a view to presenting some concrete new ideas next spring. The Barcelona Process is central to our relationship with our neighbours to the South and the Neighbourhood Policy gives us an opportunity to progress towards even closer relationships with them.
Offering these partners a closer political and economic relationship with the EU under the Neighbourhood policy will be one of my top priorities in my new role as European Commissioner"'
The review of the Barcelona Process will be completed in time for the next Foreign Minister's meeting in Luxembourg in May. The Commission will issue a communication in the Spring with proposals for the 10th anniversary, culminating in a meeting at the highest level in Barcelona in November 2005. Commission proposals are still under consideration, but may include items on reform and modernisation, and education, particularly of women.
In 2004 the Barcelona Process has made significant progress in the areas of trade, industry, energy and transport.
The Agadir Agreement for free trade between Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan, which is supported by a €4million EU regional programme, was signed in February. The Hague meeting will now focus on the further steps needed towards the creation of the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area by 2010.
Progress has also been made on social and cultural matters and Ministers will welcome the establishment of the Anna Lindh Foundation for inter-cultural dialogue in Alexandria.
The Partnership is supported by the MEDA programme which currently disburses over €700 million annually in support of political and economic reform, socio-economic development and co-operation to meet common threats. Taken together with the European Investment Bank's FEMIP facility the EU provides a total of nearly €3 billion in grants and loans to the Mediterranean partners every year.
The Euro-Mediterranean partnership will take a step further with European Neighbourhood Policy which offers partners closer political and economic relationships with the EU based on common values.
More information on the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and the Barcelona Process at
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/euromed
[1] MEMO/04/275: Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements: the Partnership is moving forward
[2] Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.
| Top |
European Union Member States
Alerts by email
Email this page
Print this page