Brussels, 09/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Tangiers on 7 October under Moroccan and Portuguese co-chairmanship, the foreign affairs ministers of the Western Mediterranean reaffirmed “the key role of the 5+5 Dialogue as an informal dialogue framework”. This 5+5 Dialogue session was the 12th and brought together the foreign ministers of Portugal, Morocco, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Mauritania, Algeria and Tunisia. There was a representative for Libya. The session mainly focused on the subject of young people, but it also enabled other important subjects for the region to be addressed (including security and an update on the situation in the Middle East, migration, economic and social cooperation, climate change, energy, transport, culture, tourism and civil society). A very long statement was issued once the session had finished.
As regards young people, the ministers stated that “strengthening the potential of young people” is “a fundamental element” and “a strategic priority”. They noted “the importance of putting young people at the heart of exchange and cooperation programmes”, especially “with a view to supporting mutual understanding and preventing racism, xenophobia, religious intolerance and abuses from radicalisation”. With regard to economic and social cooperation, the ministers underlined their “common determination (…) stamping a new dynamic”. They called for partnerships with the rest of Africa to be developed and “hail the different initiatives to strengthen the integration and cooperation” between their countries and Africa.
As regards Libya, the ministers reaffirmed their support for the ongoing process under the aegis of the UN special envoy - as they did the process initiated by Morocco as part of the Skhirat process. The ten ministers “confirmed their resolve to help Libya in the process of the country's reconciliation, rehabilitation and stabilisation - which can no longer be delayed”. Assessing the situation in the Middle East, they expressed their “great concern at the current multiplication of violent tension” and “deplored the lack of progress” to resolve this conflict. Syria was discussed, and in their statement, the 5+5 underline “the seriousness of the situation, condemn all violence targeting the civilian population and reiterate the need for the Syrian issue to be managed in all its dimension (…) especially political”. They “challenge the international community on the need to increase aid to the countries that make considerable efforts to host refugees and displaced Syrians”.
As regards the neighbouring Sahel, the ministers express their “concern as to the humanitarian and security situation” which “calls for global action from all actors”. They underline “the importance of continuing to mobilise the international community” and “sub-regional bodies” by encouraging “their capacity to be strengthened”. The ministers state their support for Mali in its fight against terrorism, commending the “successful outcome of Algerian mediation”.
The discussions on terrorism enabled the ministers to review this subject. They underlined “the importance of paying particular attention to the ways terrorist groups are recruited” calling for “radicalisation and extremist speech to be fought, including through traditional means of communication and new media”.
As regards migration and the flows of asylum seekers, the ministers expressed their concern and recognise the need to reach political solutions to the conflicts that are tearing certain countries apart, from where the migrants and asylum seekers are coming. They “agree to contribute actively to the success of the next Euro-African summit in Malta on migration”. They state they are in line with the comprehensive dialogue approach of the EU and Africa and they “hail the proposal of the European Union to set up a multi-donor emergency trust fund”.
Full support was given to the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) as the framework able to serve the “revitalisation” of integration in the Maghreb. Full support was also given to the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the ministers welcomed its “role of engine as the only arena for cooperation bringing together all the Mediterranean countries”. The ministers state that it is important for the UfM secretariat “to continue to foster concrete and structuring projects bringing positive results for the people, and the growth and economic and social development of the member countries”. In addition, the ministers “agree to give the UfM an enhanced role in the future adjustment of the European neighbourhood policy”. (Original version in French by Fathi B'Chir)