Marseilles, 16/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - The second and third part of the Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Marseilles were devoted, on Thursday, to economic cooperation and social and cultural cooperation. For the first part, devoted to political cooperation and the rekindling of the Barcelona Process, see above pages, adding that: - the EU ministerial Troïka (France, Sweden, Mr Solana, Mr Patten) met the Arab countries and Israel separately. The question of the Security and Stability Charter was discussed on the fringe of the official session.
As far as the economic volet is concerned, the main issue was that of direct EU financial aid through the MEDA 2 programme, not only the amount (not negligible with partner countries) but also the new programming arrangements proposed by the Commission. The latter affirmed its wish that more effective and rapid aid should be attributed and recognises that "responsibilities are shared" for delays in using MEDA 1 funding. It will make a permanent follow-up of how funds are used with more flexible and off-centre rules, and will focus aid on main carrier projects for regional or sub-regional integration. It said, according to a spokesperson, that an assessment would be made three years after each decision and that the funds could be reallocated differently if there is no possibility of choosing a convincing project. The EIB vice-president, who was present in Marseilles, declared that the Bank will grant EUR 6,425 million to this cooperation for the 2000-2006 period, plus one billion from its own resources. In total (MEDA and EIB), EUR 12.75 will be earmarked by the EU for the Mediterranean over the next seven years.
According to the same Commission spokesperson, there was general consensus on six priorities: 1) acceleration of the negotiation process for the bilateral association agreements, with the year 2005 being cited as a buffer date; 2) a move forward towards mutual liberalisation of trade, including farm products (mutual and gradual opening of market access); 3) the promotion of South-South trade; 4) the encouragement for the setting in place of an "internal market" for the Mediterranean; 5) harmonisation of rules of origin; and 6) investment promotion.
EUROPE will report on the conclusions of the Conference in tomorrow's edition.