Brussels, 18/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 15 December, the Council of Ministers of the EU approved the Italian initiative to create a framework for coordinating aid and investment for the Mediterranean: Southern Mediterranean Investment Coordination Initiative (AMICI). This involves more of a desire to develop efficiency and coordination than a new offer to the region, in which aid remains restrained and investment short on the ground.
In a press release, the Council stresses that “in the context of regional developments over recent years in the EU's southern neighbourhood and the need for political and economic reforms with regard to the primacy of the law” there is a “need for improved coordination of investment programmes and increased support for political dialogue and regional cooperation”.
A balance sheet of on-going operations has been drawn up and the Council welcomes this. This “mapping” covers Community aid - budget and financial institutions- and the member states. It calls on the High Representative/VP of the European Commission, “to continue investment in the southern Mediterranean” within the AMICI programme. The recommendation calls for them to ensure that there is no duplication of tasks with the existing coordination mechanisms. It also calls for the commitments made within the context of the G8 (Deauville partnership) to be examined.
“Regular coordination will be launched at a national level, when this is possible, as part of the joint programming framework”. A follow-up structure will be set up and a constitutive meeting will be arranged in the first half of 2015. (FB)