Brussels, 02/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 1 December, EU foreign ministers said the EU was ready to “explore ways of giving the EU-Arab League dialogue a more visible and engaged format”. The Arab League secretary general attended the Council lunch.
In its conclusions, the Council reaffirmed the European Union's attachment to a new partnership with its southern neighbours. Ministers welcomed the European Commission's proposal to begin talks on in-depth and complete free trade zones with Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. The Council also welcomed the launch of dialogue on migration, mobility and security with Tunisia and Morocco, saying this should lead to mobility partnerships. The ministers welcomed the recent elections held in Tunisia (23 October), Morocco (25 November) and the appointment, in Libya, of a transitional government. (CG/transl.jl)