Brussels, 16/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Antalya (Turkey) on 14-15 December, the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) completed its work by adopting reports on its programme for activity in 2015. One part of this is to influence the ongoing redefinition of the European neighbourhood policy and to focus its objectives so as to involve regional and local authorities more.
Other reports were adopted on waste management, on strengthening the cooperation that has already begun with the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and on “the role of communities in the management of migration in the Mediterranean”. The latter report, developed by the mayor of Lisbon in conjunction with most of the authorities from the countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean, recalls that the Euro-Mediterranean region has “always been an area for contact between people, and the scene of large migratory movements” - migration that is “voluntary or forced” but which has intensified since the recent upheavals on the southern shore of the Mediterranean.
“The Libyan conflict prompted a mass displacement (800,000) to the neighbouring countries - especially to Tunisia and Egypt. Since 2011, the Syrian conflict has generated a wave of refugees in the region (2.9 million) especially in Jordan (604,000), Lebanon (1.1 million), Turkey (795,000), Egypt (138,000) and Iraq (220,000)” and “only a limited number of Syrian refugees have arrived in the EU (83,000 requests for asylum since 2011)”. According to the mayor of Lisbon, the impact is thus heavier on the countries of the southern shore of the Mediterranean than on those of the north.
For Europe, the migratory flow, in its “complexity”, can even be an “opportunity” through the “promotion of legal migration” while fighting against the illegal flows. This involves the need for a “strategic framework” based on “four pillars: respect for human rights, the right to leave any country and to return to one's country of origin, the promotion of legal immigration” and the “guarantee of international protection”.
It is a call to a “structured dialogue” that ARLEM is launching by way of this report that was discussed on Monday afternoon.
The local and regional communities would play “a noteworthy role in the joint effort” to be conducted. “The complexity of the situation demands a joint and coordinated response”, the report concludes.
Two reports have been launched for the next session in a year's time. One is on “employment and territorial development” and the other is on “a sustainable urban agenda in the Mediterranean region” for which ARLEM co-president Michel Lebrun requested a specific ministerial meeting to be set up. On this subject, Beatrice Taulegne, director at the Committee of the Regions, presented a draft for “strengthening the competences for an integrated and sustainable urban development”. This will be submitted to “labelling” so as to become a UfM project and receive joint funding. The initial cost will be €6 million over a period of four years (2015-2018). The objective will be to “set up a flagship project for each of the participating countries so as to strengthen the competences of the elected and the public administrations in the strategic design and management of projects” in this area of sustainable development.
The session also unanimously approved the appointment of Hani Abdelmasih Al Hayek, the mayor of Palestinian city Beit Sahour, as co-leader of ARLEM, and renewed the members of the ARLEM bureau representing the countries of the southern shore of the Mediterranean. (FB)