Brussels, 24/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - Sweden intends taking advantage of its Presidency of the EU Council to tackle what seems to be the basic problem of the Barcelona Process: the perception of it on the part of decision-makers and the public. In a document adopted in Brussels on 22 January, it states that it is only if this perception of the process develops that its real potential can be achieved. On the whole four suggestions may be retained: - strengthening working methods; - placing emphasis on the political chapter, and on the human rights and democracy aspects; - bringing together, for the first time, the ministers of trade of the twenty-seven countries engaged in the Euro-Mediterranean process; - provide more substantive content to the human aspects (culture, social, migration, etc.).
This document, presented in application of the "common strategy towards the Mediterranean region" that the European Council of Feira adopted in June 2000, marks the will of the Swedish Presidency to provide renewed impetus to the process and, in that context, provide the Barcelona Committee (permanent monitoring committee made up of senior officials), with a "more strategic role" and enable it to now have targeted discussions on topical issues in the three fields covered by the Euro-Mediterranean dialogue, and notably on political issues. Thus:
A. political chapter: Sweden intends broadening the political dialogue at senior official level by adding to the agenda of their meetings the human rights situation, democracy, the rule of law and sound management of public affairs. It intends pursuing the examination of the Charter for Peace and Stability that it sees as a "legally non-binding but evolving framework-agreement", a simple "political instrument" ensuring the "gradual implementation" of the principles decided in the Barcelona Charter. It also intends introducing the subject of conflict prevention into talks .
B. economic and financial chapter: the Presidency proposes organising, in Sweden on 28 May, the first Euro-Mediterranean meeting devoted to trade to as to "provide impetus" to the free-trade process provided for in the Barcelona Declaration. A senior official meeting devoted to the environment has also been announced. Attention will also focus the issue of water management, for which the Presidency stresses its "strategic importance".
C. cultural, social and human chapter. The Presidency has marked its will to promote this chapter, that it regards as having been overlooked so far. Thus, by pointing to its past experience (European Conference on Islam in Stockholm in 1995, notably), it would like to open, under its own auspices, a "dialogue between cultures and civilisations". It also suggests setting up a regional programme on training policies and proposes broadening the field covered by this chapter to the realm of justice and home affairs. A seminar on "access to justice" is to be organised in Upsala on 26 April.