Brussels, 10/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Industry ministers of EU member states and Mediterranean rim countries will be meeting in Malta on 12 May despite the troubled regional context, in order to put the final touches to the 2011 and 2012 work programme for their joint structure, which stems from the Barcelona process.
One of the objectives of the meeting, to be attended by Commissioner Antonio Tajani and by Hungarian Minister of State Responsible for Foreign Economic Affairs Zsolt Becsey, is to take stock of progress made in implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise.
Antonio Tajani is expected to give a presentation on the environment of companies in the southern Mediterranean, while the vice-president of the European Investment Bank, Philippe de Fontaine Vive, is to evoke the promotion of investment and business partnerships. Two industry ministers - from Egypt and Tunisia - are expected to attend. One will tackle questions relating to market access and the other the imperatives of creating jobs on the southern rim of the Mediterranean, and the opportunities that both would provide with promising industrial cooperation. In a report, the European Commission (in this case DG Enterprise which is steering the operation) underlines the interest of enhancing relations with Mediterranean partners. It states that they wish to fully exploit the possibilities provided by the European neighbourhood policy. In time, it says, this could lead to the creation of a single market, giving a sustainable and advantageous situation for all partners involved. The DG indicates that some key measures have already been taken to improve business prospects and to take advantage of mutual exchange and apprenticeship. The Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise is clearly a good example in this respect, the report states, in so far as nine Mediterranean partners have signed up to it. The Charter was adopted by industry ministers in 2004. It is based on the model of the European Charter for Small Enterprise. The Commission writes that the European Union is faced with the challenge of improving the business environment, promoting the entrepreneurial spirit, and fostering small and medium-sized enterprises. This is a challenge that also faces the EU's neighbourhood partners. The Commission asserts it is appropriate to cooperate to enhance prosperity and job creation. (F.B./transl.jl)