Brussels, 27/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 26 November, Cyprus - which is hosting the annual Euro-Mediterranean economic and social summit (the framework bringing together economic and social committees and similar organisations from the EU and countries bordering the Mediterranean) - called for a “structured dialogue” to be built between all the Mediterranean coastal countries.
The Cypriot president, who was represented at the inaugural session by Agriculture Minister Nicos Kouyialis, stated the need to encourage inter-dependence and shared interests, and to ensure the stability of a region which is full of potential in energy. He said that this involves “respect for the law and especially for that of the exclusive economic zone” and doing everything so that “the neighbouring countries might conform on this”. Cyprus wants to be “the solution and not the problem” to settling the region's stability, Kouyialis stated. This was a direct allusion to relations with Turkey (which was absent from this meeting).
Henri Malosse, the president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), drew a worrying picture but nevertheless highlighted a few encouraging signs - like the success of the Tunisian elections. “The gap is getting wider” between the two shores, he said, referring to the economic crisis which plagues both south and north. In Malosse's view, the crisis is resulting in an intensified migratory movement - not only from the North of Africa. “In southern Europe too, emigration is starting again”, particularly among young people “who are going to look for work” outside their country - Portugal, Spain and Greece, for example. “Concrete tools need to be set up” and “civil society needs to be more involved” in all the countries concerned, Malosse added.
A common home. In Malosse's view, the EU's Euro-Mediterranean policy “lacks method”. It should obey the “variable geometry” method and only involve the interested countries in each action so as to avoid the current blockages. His recommendation is for “flexibility” and for the efforts to be outlined better, especially for the creation of a common economic and social committee for the Euro-Mediterranean region - for which he is launching a formal call to the governments of the region.
“I don't like the neighbourhood policy because there are often problems between neighbours. We ourselves want a common home. Malosse does not believe that the Mediterranean is a threat for the EU - but an opportunity. It “offers important opportunities for collaboration through its demography and dynamism”, he said, reiterating that the EESC has “called on the EU to develop legal channels of immigration” which do not involve the risk of loss of life.
On behalf of the Italian Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, Italy's ambassador in Nicosia, Guido Cerboni, reaffirmed Rome's commitment to giving stronger impetus to the Euromed process over Italy's six month presidency. He listed all the sectoral meetings that have already been scheduled, or are currently being so - especially on energy, agriculture, young people and immigration.
Civil societies. Discussions continued on Thursday about the involvement of civil societies in all areas, including in trade talks. This role, which everyone said was crucial, is nevertheless viewed with criticism by two Arab organisations - the confederation of Arab unions, and the Arab network of NGOs for development (ANND). On behalf of the former, Mustapha Tlili criticised the EU's choice of civil society organisations to support financially. They are selected more because they are “docile” said another delegate from an Arab NGO in Jordan. The executive secretary of the Arab union was not afraid to state that the EU finances Daesh through a network of NGOs, some of which operate in Egypt. He would like assistance to be reserved for “structured civil society” and not for that composed of small and disparate associations chosen because they are “more malleable”.
Pedro Narro, the leader of the EESC's follow up committee on the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, regretted “the lack of tools”. An EESC representative from Algeria, Mohamed Bouhali, also pointed out “the inflation” of civil society actors favoured by “badly targeted” European aid.
On behalf of the network of Arab NGOs, Zahra Bazzi wanted a more precise “legal framework” to be established, which would enable better control of the choice of beneficiaries, their independence to be ensured and their access to be guaranteed to information which is held only by governments. (FB)