Brussels, 19/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - Regional elected representatives and representatives of the Euro-Mediterranean local authorities, grouped within the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), jointly chaired by the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR), held their fourth plenary session in Brussels on 18 February. Their discussion focused on the “territorial dimension” of dialogue between the two sides of the Mediterranean and on the need for “cohesion” between different approaches. This was underpinned by discussion on the effects of a double crisis - an economic crisis in the North, and an economic, social and security crisis in the South.
European co-president Ramon Luis Valcarcel Siso, CoR President, believes everything must be done to ensure that civil society's flame of revolution does not die down, especially for the young who seek democracy and freedom and, above all, employment. This, he said, means that it is a duty for the EU to open up to the civil societies. However, he warned, “no model” must be imposed. He also says one should not seek to “copy a typically European scheme of things”. The only possible approach would be to develop the South's towns and regions and apply a regional dimension to all Euro-Mediterranean projects. The same recommendation was passed on by all the speakers who took the floor: the co-president of the southern side, Ali Abderrahman of Egypt, Governor of Gizeh; European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva; UfM Secretary General Fathallah Sijilmassi; and EIB Vice-President Philippe de Fontaine Vive, who said the bank's resources are available for supporting urban development and micro-projects. The EU representative for the region, Bernardino Leon, spoke of the magnitude of European aid to the southern rim countries, and affirmed the EU's concern about the risk of political polarisation in those countries.
The Egyptian co-president said territorialisation is the best way to meet the aspirations of the people in the southern rim and to satisfy the longer term demand for development that is geared to integrating a region where there is a common destiny for the countries of both northern and southern rims. He pointed out that those countries together form the least integrated area in the world despite a promising trade potential.
The new southern democracies need sound cooperation instruments and political dialogue at every level, as well as the regionalisation of sector-specific policies and development of human capital and also, in particular, job creation, Abd Errahman said.
The CoR president asserted “we are entering a practical phase” which demands “practical answers” (our translation). He underlined the need for impetus that will get Euro-Mediterranean dialogue out of the current standstill in a context which, as he frequently pointed out, is uncertain or even risky and which would be detrimental to ARLEM's achievements. According to Abderrahman, there is also a risk that this will demobilise the member nations still further. In passing, he bemoaned the fact that the southern rim countries were so inadequately represented (only 7 delegates out of 40 present).
The UfM secretary general called for realism and said one should be fully aware of the political, economic and social challenges, and take those challenges into account in order to finalise a feasible 2013 programme. He considers that one of the setbacks lies in the fact that there is “no model” for evoking promising Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. He also spoke of the “African depth” of relations established on both sides of the Mediterranean while strengthening cohesion of the least integrated region of the world. (FB/transl.jl)