Brussels, 11/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - The 10th session of the Parliamentary Assembly for the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM) took place near the Dead Sea, in Jordan, on Sunday 9 February. It was marked by the transfer of the joint Euro-Mediterranean institution's presidency from Jordan to Portugal.
Little information has been given on its discussions or the content of the reports adopted. The session reportedly approved the recommendations from the five permanent Assembly committees (political, security and human rights, economic, financial and social affairs, and teaching, committee for promoting living standards, human and cultural exchanges, committee for energy, the environment and water, and women's committee).
The agenda focused on two points - the peace process and the Syrian issue taken from the angle of the refugees whose increasing flows are causing consternation for neighbouring countries, especially Jordan. Amman is continuing to ask for international aid. The outgoing AP-UfM president, Atif al-Tarawna, President of the Jordanian Parliament, was quoted by media as insisting on the need for such support. The presidency of the AP-UfM was handed over to Maria da Assunçao Esteves, President of the Portuguese Parliament. (FB/transl.fl)