Brussels, 24/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - The International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (ICAMAS) was set up in 1962 and is now at the heart of Europe-Mediterranean agricultural cooperation. Its role is recognised both by the EU and its partners on the southern banks of the Mediterranean and by the “5+5”, as an informal but practical framework for dialogue between countries in the western Mediterranean basin. This role was again confirmed during a recent meeting in Algiers to take stock of what is happening in Euro-Mediterranean agriculture, which is regarded, first and foremost, as an area where fierce competition is played out between similar products subject to the same seasonal rhythm. The idea of cooperation, however, given that it is still impossible to talk about any complementarity, is making progress and ICAMAS is responsible for outlining this cooperation within its networks in its 13 member countries (Albania, Algeria, Egypt, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Tunisia and Turkey). This multilateral cooperation is focused on food security in the region but also on aspects linked to territorial balance. In an effort to clarify the core areas of ICAMAS' work, its secretary general, Cosimo Lacirignola, agreed to answer a number of questions Europe put to him. He pointed out that Mediterranean countries had always had to build their agricultural development “within a regime subject to substantial constraints”. (interview by FB).
Cosimo Lacirignola: The lack of water and soil, the capricious climate and the aridity of the geographical environments are restrictions with regard, too, to demographic growth (the population doubled between 1980 and 2010). Food requirements have very often increased at a swifter pace than productive capacity. This has resulted in an agri-trade deficit developing in southern Mediterranean countries. By the end of the 1970s, this had become structural and has continually increased to a figure for the whole area of almost $38 billion in 2012, the year in which its debt stood at $52 billion.
Although they manage to export increasing numbers of products (these countries) are also obliged to purchase increasing amounts, too. This is particularly true for grain. These countries accounted for between 15 and 20% of global wheat imports for a population that represents 2% of the world's inhabitants.
Agence Europe - What is the agricultural trade situation like between the two sides of the Mediterranean?
Increased and more varied imports have been observed. 70% of imported agricultural products do not come from the EU or the region itself and 50% of these countries' products are sold outside Europe and the Mediterranean.
Agricultural trade, however, remains substantial. (…) Arab Mediterranean countries in 2012 only accounted for 8% of the EU's total agricultural exports, which represented a figure of almost €10 billion. This figure has doubled since 2006. They export less than 3% there (2012), an amount worth €3.5 billion. This trade has been stable since the middle of the first decade of the century. This has not been because of enlargement but because of more robust trade flows between countries in the Mediterranean rim, both north and south, with a range of European agricultural products that in general have a stronger economic value and have been able to benefit from the worldwide rise in prices (particularly cereals, and also meat and milk products), unlike citrus fruit, for example. The EU had agri-trade balance with Arab Mediterranean countries of around +€6.5 billion in 2012 (this should be put in perspective with the EU's total agricultural surplus of €12.6 in 2012). This situation has reached historic proportions, which means that trade with Arab Mediterranean countries provides almost 50% of the EU's agri-trade surplus.
How has Euro-Mediterranean agricultural cooperation evolved since the Barcelona Declaration in 1995?
Agricultural relations have always constituted a given specific domain. Some of the Euro-Mediterranean trade concerns stem from the risk of stronger competition between the two sides of the Mediterranean in the same agricultural products (olive oil, fruit and vegetables, etc.). These sensitive issues explain why agriculture has been to a certain extent on the margins of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and was not subject to trade liberalisation during the first ten years of the post-Barcelona Declaration. We had to wait until November 2003 for the first Euro-Mediterranean conference of agriculture ministers to be organised in Venice, chaired by Italy. The institutional format of this meeting is still unique to this day in the history of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.
In 2005, negotiations opened for the mutual liberalisation of trade in agricultural and fisheries products, both for fresh and processed products and a number of agreements were thrashed out (with Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories and, more recently, Morocco). All of this was done in a bilateral, differentiated and extremely specific way. The Mediterranean, however, is not ready to become part of the regionalisation trend in general and agricultural trade. Intense geo-economic flows are affecting this area but without having really developed any sort of regional construction. In terms of agriculture, the Mediterranean therefore remains subject to bilateral trade, with the origins and destinations of this trade becoming increasingly more diverse. It is therefore more an interface than an integrated region, although as a whole it remains subject to huge challenges (natural resources, adaptation to climate change, agricultural productivity, the development of rural territories and food security). One in five jobs in the Mediterranean is agriculture-related. One in every three inhabitants still lives in a rural environment. Between 30 and 50% of household budgets is still spent on food. Between 15 and 25% of exports and total imports for the majority of Arab Mediterranean countries are in agricultural products.
Demographically, socially, territorially, economically and politically, agriculture, food and rural affairs are strategic issues for these countries and the region as a whole. This is why we should be delighted with the fact that the EU is now devoting increasing numbers of programmes and resources for research, cooperation and development projects in agriculture, agronomy, innovation and rural employment. The European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development initiative (ENPARD) launched as part of the neighbourhood policy in 2012 is a very encouraging example. Research and development programmes such as MED-SPRING and ERANETMED are equally encouraging and are leading in the direction of a Euro-Mediterranean relationship based on concrete partnerships around essential subjects because they are located in people's daily lives.
What is the role of ICAMAS in this context?
The expansion of our organisation to countries in the southern and eastern Mediterranean was launched in the 1980s and confirms our pioneering spirit and determination to build partnerships between the two sides of the Mediterranean. ICAMAS is not working on the Mediterranean but for the Mediterranean and therefore with the people of the Mediterranean.
It has to bring concrete solutions, share experience and know-how, pool human and financial resources and adapt knowledge to the demands of member states. Obviously, this approach also stimulates relationships with the others towards whom our cooperation project is directed (farmers, food sector companies, the local authorities, civil society etc.). ICAMAS is helping to develop a global, structured and engaging vision of development in the Mediterranean and through our expertise and partnership research, we are promoting the development of knowledge and science for everyone by developing synergies between the different research communities and cooperation programmes based on multidisciplinary know-how. Our organisation is currently involved in 80 transnational projects worth around €100 million in total, with almost 50 different countries on board (a quarter of all countries in the world).