Brussels, 02/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 27 November, the European Parliament's international trade committee passed a report on trade relations in the Euro-Mediterranean area drafted by Vital Moreira (S&D, Portugal). The EU began talks with nearly all the countries on a new in-depth agreement which targets not only an increase in trade but also harmonisation of all the rules governing trade while integrating services with it. Negotiations opened with Morocco, and exploratory conversations with others are now underway.
The objective will be to favour sustainable economic growth in the Euro-Mediterranean countries, notes the international trade committee, which welcomed what had been achieved in discussions already opened with Morocco, which are considered a useful model for negotiations with Tunisia, Jordan and Egypt, and later with Algeria, while recognising the need for a diversified approach. The international trade committee also welcomed the offer of an agreement on visas. The facilitation of mobility is considered an encouraging factor for trade.
It is a dual-track approach that is recommended - “bilateral” for the technical details, said the rapporteur, while ensuring “integration of the regions”, which will be achieved through common projects and investment in infrastructure.
The MEPs also said they were encouraged by the resumption of Algeria' accession negotiations at the WTO, which is a pre-condition for the CAFTA negotiations. (FB/transl.fl)