Brussels, 08/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - On 8 March, the Commission presented its ideas in favour of a “Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity” with southern neighbour countries in a communication to be submitted on Friday 11 March to the extraordinary European Council devoted to Libya and the countries of North Africa. The document reviews the various emergency measures already taken (humanitarian aid amounting to €30 million, coordination of evacuation, Frontex operations, etc) but also sets out new, longer term initiatives to support democratic transformation and the countries' socio-economic development. One of the main workshops - on the recasting of European neighbourhood policy - will, moreover, by the subject of a specific Commission communication in April. “We are experiencing one of those extraordinary periods when history seems to be fast forwarding. On our doorstep, on the other side of the Mediterranean, a wind of freedom has begun to blow. Our place is alongside those who are calling for political freedom and respect for human dignity”, said José Manuel Barroso speaking on Tuesday before the EP in Strasbourg, where he gave a brief presentation of the document.
“More for More”. The Commission suggests basing the new partnership on three pillars: democratic change, strengthening of civil societies and socio-economic development. The key word is “differentiation”: those who go further in reform may count on more European aid (the principle of “more for more”). The “EU should be ready to offer greater support to those countries ready to work on such a common (reform) agenda”, the document reads. The most willing may, for example, expect negotiations to be resumed on association agreements with the objective of gaining “advanced status”.
Economy, trade. The EU has already sealed free trade agreements with the countries of the region (except Syria and Libya), offering free market access for industrial products. Upgraded preferential market access exists for agricultural and fishing products, in particular with Egypt and Jordan. In the short term, the Commission is now proposing: - speeding up bilateral talks underway on agricultural products and fisheries with Tunisia and Morocco; - launching talks on conformity assessment and acceptance of industrial products; - speeding up bilateral talks underway on the liberalisation of trade in services; - and creating a foreign direct investment (FDI) facility leveraging European investment in the region. It also calls for greater commitment on the part of the EIB and EBRD. Member states are urged to rapidly accept an increase in the lending mandate of €1 billion which would allow the bank to provide loans totalling €6 billion over the next three years. The EBRD, which is not at this stage active in the southern Mediterranean, is expected to change its statute to become operational in that region.
Energy, mobility. The Commission sees “clear potential” for developing an “EU-Southern Mediterranean Partnership” for the production and management of renewable energy (mainly solar and wind power). The Commission also calls on the 27 EU member states to offer the countries of the region a “credible prospect” of integration in the Union's internal energy market, on the basis of a “differentiated and gradual approach”. In the medium and long term, it also foresees the creation of an “EU-Southern Mediterranean Energy Community”, initially made up of the Maghreb countries and, later, possibly also the Mashreq countries. The Commission also suggests “Mobility Partnerships” with new initiatives for visas and legal immigration, as well as greater cooperation in combating illegal immigration. (H.B./transl.jl)