Brussels, 19/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Socialist Group in the European Parliament, chaired by Enrique Baron Crespo is organising a Forum in Marseilles on 20 October aimed at mobilising left-wing forces in Europe and the Mediterranean region in general under the theme of comprehensive Mediterranean policy with a shared democracy and development. A Manifesto, which will be signed at 15.30 by the participants, should highlight the common heritage of all the countries of the Mediterranean basin, and the need to build a common future from this heritage, and to respond to the many problems in the region by a more effective Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. Special attention should be granted to "South-South" integration, and more involvement by civil society, to the development of decentralised cooperation and cultural links, and to consolidating democracy.
The Forum should enable participants to make an interim assessment of the Barcelona Process and different aspects of cooperation. Other than MEPs, several prominent people are expected: the Moroccan Minister for the Condition of Women, Nezha Chekrouni, Tunisian philosopher Hichem Djait, Hanna Siniora of the Euro-Palestinian chamber of commerce, the Israeli Labour parliamentarian Colette Avital, the Chair of the Mediterranean Institute, Andrea Amato.