Brussels, 18/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - According to the European People's Party (EPP) at the European Parliament, it is “urgent to step up EU efforts for a strategic plan and partnership with the Mediterranean region in order to solve the current crises and deliver on long-term shared interests”. This is what comes out of a position paper developed by Bulgarian MEP Mariya Gabriel, which was approved by the EPP Group and published on Thursday 14 July. The paper sets out the conclusions gathered from internal reflection on the future of the EU's Mediterranean and Middle East policy.
According to the EPP, the EU's global strategy and the ongoing review of the European neighbourhood policy “offer a unique opportunity to rethink the EU's policy on the Mediterranean”. The position paper reviews the different chapters of this policy (immigration, the right to asylum, democratic consolidation, trade and economy) and the resulting analysis enables the EPP to refine its position and propose new possibilities to the European Commission. The Commission is expected present new guidelines by the end of the year, according to an EPP spokesperson.
The EPP believes that the Mediterranean region should be “one of [the global strategy's] main priorities, with a focus on conflict prevention and on tackling the root causes of fragility in the Southern neighbourhood”. The group states that “while the stabilisation of the region from the security point of view is a first priority for Europe, harnessing the economic and human potential of the Mediterranean region is also key to enabling lasting peace and prosperity”. The EPP thus calls for “a limited number of priorities to be included in the strategy” and says that “specific initiatives and measures are necessary to build a genuine bridge linking the EU, its neighbours and its neighbours' neighbours, including also with the Arab League and other regional and international organisations”. (Original version in French by Fathi B'Chir)