Brussels, 09/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - Euro-Mediterranean (27 EU member states, plus the 16 partner countries from the Mediterranean rim and Middle East - Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey) trade ministers, meeting under the auspices of minister Ewa Björling, of Sweden, Anne-Marie Idrac, of France, and Rachid Mohammed Rachid, of Egypt and Trade Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Walder in Brussels on 9 December, took stock of progress in talks on a Mediterranean free trade zone, initially hoped to be in place by 2010. They also adopted a road map for trade in the zone after 2010.
With a view to setting up a Euro-Mediterranean free trade zone by 2010, ministers hailed the progress made in implementing association agreements between the EU and its southern Mediterranean partners, and encouraged the conclusion of the EU-Syria free trade agreement. Ministers calls for faster progress in regional negotiations on liberalising services and the right of establishment, launched in Marrakesh in 2006, and similar bilateral negotiations with Egypt, Israel, Morocco and Tunisia launched in 2008, negotiations which are to lead to progressive, reciprocal liberalisation, taking account of the level of development of each of the countries. Ministers also welcomed the progress made in negotiations on a more effective dispute settlement mechanism. On this, they noted the signature of a bilateral protocol with Tunisia and the initialling of bilateral protocols with Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco. In agricultural trade, ministers noted the conclusion of bilateral agreements with Egypt and Israel, and progress in discussions with Morocco and Tunisia. They also welcomed progress towards the completion of the free trade agreements network among Mediterranean partners, in particular the recent signing of the association agreement between Jordan and Turkey. On regional integration, ministers hailed the progress towards the adoption of a single regional convention on preferential rules of origin in the pan-Euro-Mediterranean area, to replace the current network of protocols, bring the Western Balkans into the system and facilitate simplification of pan-Euro-Mediterranean rules of origin. Ministers gave overall approval to the road map for trade in the EuroMed area after 2010, taking note of the reservations of some southern Mediterranean countries on certain points. The road map identifies definite areas for action to improve economic integration and strengthen trade and investment flows in the Euro-Mediterranean area by 2010, and hopes to turn Euro-Mediterranean association agreements into enhanced, full free trade agreements. The road map will, inter alia: - give priority to the conclusion of current negotiations; - implement planned initiatives, such as the business trade and investment aid mechanism, as quickly as possible in 2010; - take account of non-tariff barriers; - encourage south-south regional integration and the completion of the network of free trade agreements in the Mediterranean region, and its extension to trade in services, investment and regulatory issues. (E.H./transl.rt)