Brussels, 26/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - The meeting of foreign ministers from the Arab and Mediterranean countries - which was held in Beirut on Wednesday 24 June at Lebanon's initiative, ahead of the European neighbourhood policy (ENP) review, and with the support of the European Commission - finished with an affirmation of the special link between the EU and its partners on the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean. The meeting was attended by European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, Luxembourg's Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean Asselborn (whose country will take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 July), and the secretaries general of the Arab League and Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).
In an outcome document given to Hahn, emphasis was put on a three-pronged approach that would involve: (1) confirming the interest of the overall Euro-Arab relationship and enhancing it with the strategic purpose of serving the stability of the “common region”; (2) safeguarding the bilateral relationships that each partner must manage in line with its specific needs; (3) contributing together to resolving the conflicts that undermine the region and, primarily, the conflict in the Middle East (in which the EU is asked to play an active role and not be neutral).
In the view of Lebanese minister Gebran Bassil, who was hosting the meeting, the ENP review “must focus on the essential challenges” to be addressed “in the immediate future, without losing sight of the long term need to establish conditions for shared prosperity”. It should also take account of the “cultural dimension” of the relations between the parties. Indeed, he says, establishing understanding will help bridge the gaps that are observed on the political and security level, as bringing the cultures closer together is one of the main keys to addressing the challenges facing the inhabitants - including the EU, which is confronted with threats to its security and uncontrolled migration. Bassil also spoke of the regional context, especially in Syria, which weighs upon his country's stability.
Bassil then affirmed that Lebanon “guarantees to play a leading role alongside its Arab brothers” in the ENP review process, and he was strong in his “belief in the importance of an active EU role in the south of the Mediterranean”. This commitment is also due to “the interest of collectively meeting the serious challenges upon us all” and of acting together to “create an area of strategic importance, politically and economically”. Bassil also underlined the complementary nature of the overall Euro-Arab relationship and the bilateral relationships that characterise the ENP. The attendance at the meeting of the secretary general of the Arab League, Nabil el-Arabi, marks this resolve “symbolically”.
The secretary general of the UfM, Fathallah Sijilmassi, said that the meeting participants “reaffirmed the importance of the UfM” in leading the cooperation between the two parties, and that they “expressed their support” to the UfM secretariat. The leaders indeed “underlined the need for increased financing for the 'labelled' projects as part of the UfM”. Sijilmassi also highlighted “the need to strengthen the regional dimension more, as well as the principle of co-ownership, and to take greater advantage of the synergies and complementarities” that exist in the region.
“I was favourably impressed by the strong commitment” expressed at the conference and by the “recommendations adopted”, said Hahn, in an interview published in the Lebanese daily Arabic language newspaper Al Nahar. In a statement printed by Lebanon's French-language daily newspaper L'Orient-le-jour, Hahn reiterated the stages of the consultation process, both in the countries and on the regional level. “During the course of our meetings and discussions we highlighted the essential sectors linked to the economy, energy, security and power”, Hahn said. “We are anxious to strengthen the dialogue around these sectors in order to offer the best to citizens”, he added. According to this newspaper, Hahn also spoke about the importance of creating jobs for young people and of strengthening student exchanges between the north and south, in both directions, with emphasis on vocational training. In addition, Hahn said that “the development of the new neighbourhood policy will be finalised in 2016, and the discussions will focus on how the make the system faster and more effective”, L'Orient-le-jour notes. (Fathi B'Chir)