Brussels, 25/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - The spokesperson for Commissioner Chris Patten indicated that the European Commission took note of the conclusions of the Arab summit in Cairo and regrets the aspects relating to the suspension of regional cooperation in the Mediterranean regional as a whole. The Arab countries had decided not to continue any official activity in the multilateral framework, and to put an end to the regional economic cooperation with the participation of Israel.
The Commission spokesperson noted that the Barcelona process foresees reinforced cooperation that are in the interest of all the parties. The proposals made by the Commission to give new dynamism to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and the Barcelona process remaining topical; they have a concrete nature, and they also foresee, explicitly, to reinforce sub-regional cooperation.
In response to questions, the spokesperson indicated not having any information according to which the Euro-Mediterranean ministerial meeting in Marseilles (stet for 16 November) could be postponed. Either way, it is up to the Presidency (France) to decide. What we can now say, is that the ministerial meeting will not be followed, the following day, by a Euro-Mediterranean summit, as was initially envisaged.