Brussels, 10/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - Experts from the 10 Western Mediterranean countries, known as the 5+5 group (see EUROPE 10548), met in Algiers at the start of the week. They pledged to act to tackle price volatility for agricultural and food products and adopted a series of measures to increase food security in the sub-region. The 10 countries, which include five European countries from the northern rim of the Mediterranean, agreed to increase information exchange on and monitoring of agricultural prices on international markets. They stressed “the need for better regulation of agricultural and food products in the region”. A “map of potential agricultural complementarity” will be developed, putting in place monitoring of supply and demand for agricultural produce. The experts recommended increasing agricultural production and improving international food supply through greater investment and protecting farmers' incomes. They also suggested “improving the effectiveness of protection systems for those at risk in times of food price crisis and the effectiveness, too, of food supply systems in urban areas in light of the substantial rise in numbers living in cities”. The meeting also discussed public and private investment in “agriculture, infrastructure, and research, development and innovation””. “Creation of a positive financial framework, tax breaks, access to micro-finance, especially for small farmers, and support for female entrepreneurs” were seen as priorities. (FB/transl.rt)