Amman, 19/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Economic and Social Councils (ESC) of the EU and its member states and the countries of the Mediterranean rim, except of course Syria, which have been at a three-day meeting in Amman (Jordan) since Wednesday, have largely discussed the follow-up of the Arab revolutions and the response that Europe must provide to meet the expectations of the communities concerned. Discussions, which have sometimes proven somewhat contradictory on sensitive issues, to which NGOs and other civil society associations have contributed for the first time, focused on reports coordinated by the European ESC. They first dealt with the need for “improved governance” by enhancing the clout of civil society and its involvement in the decision-making process. The EU must strengthen its European neighbourhood policy, especially in the Euro-Mediterranean region, and must clearly support policies for providing assistance to democracies and reforms, and also watch out for backtracking.
During the debate, the representative of the Tunisian Human Rights League said that vigour was lacking when it comes to penalising dictatorships. The same reproach of past weakness on the part of Europe to show determination against repression was made by various speakers from the southern side of the Mediterranean, on the subject of the situation of women and the press, not only as a reminder of the past but also to warn against future risks. The general situation does not seem to inspire a great deal of optimism and requires, it is generally felt, far more vigilance.
Discussion on this theme also pointed a finger of blame at the weakness of means and at the heavy bureaucratic burden when seeking recourse to support funds available, and highlighted the need for structured and strengthened dialogue. Civil society associations for their part called for greater proof of efficacy and for their networking capacities to be increased, not only South-South but also North-South. One might reach the conclusion that similar efforts are expected not only from the EU but also from its partners, as well as a commitment to work on developing new courses of action. Despite the still uncertain situation, it was said, it is essential for Europe to rapidly gather pace when it comes to the Mediterranean and to review its policies in order to better adjust to the new context.
The fight against corruption - the theme of another report - was illustrated by a rich presentation by the representative of the Moroccan association “Central Corruption Prevention”, who spoke of what has been experienced in that country. During the debate, several speakers from the southern Mediterranean asked for the picture to be completed by aiming not only at the corrupt but also at those who do the corrupting. They concluded that there is nowhere in the Mediterranean region that is free from this or exempt from reproach or that is not just simply an accuser. Virtue, they said, is to be sought more in control and prevention than in the real ability to fully curb such practice. “One must know where to place the cursor”, the speaker said, indicating the usefulness of fixing a sort of tolerance threshold for effectiveness. The representative of the Euro-Mediterranean trade unions also underlined the determination to take action against corruption while, at the same time, reactivating a weakened social dialogue in the wake of the lack of progress of the first version of UfM (Union for the Mediterranean).
There was another quite lively debate on freedom of the press and a representative of the Jordanian journalist association bore witness to the heavy official hand that is placed on the media and called on the EU to give a more resolved response to this.
On the situation of women's rights, another report presented during the session, the representatives of the ESC and NGOs from the southern rim were clearly more incisive in their assessments than what was written in the report. One Jordanian ESC representative gave a gloomy picture of the situation of women, backed by comments from Moroccan, Tunisian and Algerian representatives who felt it is no longer time for simply wishing for something to happen but for real action to be taken against the scheduled worsening of the situation. The other reports covered sustainable development and cooperation in energy and two noteworthy addresses were given on this subject. There was that of the UfM deputy secretary general, Sotiri Varouxakis, who announced that new courses of action will soon be announced, including one end October on industrial capacity in the field of renewable energies, development of which is fixed as a priority. A roadmap, he said, is being prepared. The other noteworthy address came from the representative of the Notre Europe think tank, created by Jacques Delors, who spoke of the initiative taken by the former Commission president in favour of a Euro-Mediterranean Energy Community. Sami Andura, in Amman for Notre Europe, said “coal and steel were the making of Europe. For the Euro-Mediterranean it will be energy, agriculture and migration”. The ESC report presented at the session points out that it is in the industrial energy chapter that one finds a large potential of Euro-Mediterranean integration. However, it is recommended that one goes beyond bilateral relations. (FB/transl.jl)