Brussels, 11/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - Morocco's Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Saâd-Eddine El Othmani urged the EU at the Croatia Summit in Dubrovnik (Croatia) on 6 and 7 July 2012 to come up with a new partnership system between the north and south Mediterranean to respond more appropriately to the new aspirations of Arab nations for democracy, freedom and economic prosperity. He stressed the importance of giving fresh impetus and a more ambitious approach to the European Neighbourhood Policy and Union for the Medterranean (UfM), the latter being an ideal framework for an innovative regional partnership. He called for a new EuroMed order based on a four-pronged approach of shared values, a common economic area, shared security and common knowledge. El Othmani said it was a matter of respecting plurality and the diversity of situations of each country in the regions, along with its endogenous evolution and ambitions.
UfM Secretary General Fathallah Sijilmassi, who attended the summit, highlighted that the 43 nation UfM “stands ready today uniquely suited as a key forum of 43 partners to promote regional cooperation and integration in an effort to secure a stable and prosperous future for the Mediterranean. In this regard, he conveyed three main messages: the new context in the region is both an opportunity and an obligation to strengthen the regional cooperation in the Mediterranean as a key factor for regional stability; an enhanced coordination of initiatives in the region will lead to synergy of actions and quick and concrete results; priorities for the region remain job creation, increasing employability, youth, gender equality and strong civil society. (FB/transl.fl)