Brussels, 01/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The EU is working on “bringing in close cooperation between the Maghreb and the EU”, according to its ambassador in Tunis, Laura Baeza, in a speech made at the opening session of a colloquium held on 27 and 28 September by the Association des études internationales, working together with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation on the subject of “The New Maghreb and the European Union”. “On the basis of our own experience of integration, the EU supports the new dynamism observed a year ago towards a better integration between the countries of the Maghreb”, said the ambassador, speaking of a glimpse of cooperation at “several levels, notably democracy, economy, migration, energy, the environment and civil protection”. She stressed that the EU sets great store in the development of the private sector and intends to establish “technical dialogue to discuss all the successive stages towards the integration of the markets” of the Maghreb and of Europe.
She said that the EU is proposing “to make additional funds available to cover the investment requirements of the region and for infrastructure projects linked to the environment, as well as cooperation to complete the West-Mediterranean electricity loop along to corridors (Algeria-Morocco-Spain-France-Algeria/Libya-Tunisia-Italy)”.
A “summit” of the five countries of the UMA (Union of the Arab Maghreb) is due to take place before the end of the year. Talks are underway, notably on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, to guarantee the success of this, and Morocco has launched an appeal to give fresh impetus to the organisation. (FB/transl.fl)