Brussels, 05/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - The foreign ministers of the EU and Mediterranean rim countries - Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta - as well as the countries or organisations invited - Libya, Mauritania, the Union of the Arab Maghreb (UAM) - opened on Monday evening in Brussels an informal Euro-Mediterranean dialogue session (see EUROPE of 1 November, p.10). No defection was recorded, not even by Syria and Lebanon that had stayed away from the last ministerial conference in Marseilles, in November 2000.
The theme of peace in the Middle East is once again expected to be the focus of attention, all the more as Yasser Arafat, whose presence is not scheduled, was to give a speech at the opening of work (at the European Commission and with Javier Solana), after having had talks during the day with several European officials. It would appear that his intention is to be able to engage dialogue directly with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, also present at the Euro-Mediterranean conference, after an attempt that was too short to bear fruit this weekend in Spain. Discussions on the political aspects of Euro-Mediterranean policy were not, however, to go beyond the session on Monday evening (the formal opening of work was followed by a working dinner). Tuesday morning was to be reserved to discussions on the "human material" chapter (cultural, social, migration issues, etc.) and the afternoon to economic cooperation.
The exercise, during this mid-term session, was to summarise in a simple passage in review all the themes tackled by the Barcelona process, with a view to the formal ministerial session envisaged next spring in Valencia (Spain). The Belgian EU Council Presidency is to report to the press on this work in "conclusions" but it is not yet known whether these conclusions will be joint or from a single responsibility. Each of the two main groups of countries (the EU and the Arab countries) may, however, as usual, express their views during the final press conference. European sources note that a joint text may reflect convergence of views on the condemnation of recent terrorist action. Such convergence is said to be less obvious when it comes to defining the concept of terrorism. Algeria and other countries of the region expect more united action on the part of the EU against Muslim extremist networks set up in European capitals (London in particular). This seems to pose fewer problems than before 11 September and, on the ground, the situation appears to be developing in a way that could narrow differences. For other countries (Syria and Lebanon in particular), terrorism is also repression of the Palestinians by the Israelis, but the Europeans do not seem inclined to share this meaning of terrorism.
A related theme will also be the focus of discussions between ministers, as it was during preparatory meetings between the senior officials of the twenty-seven countries: - the setting in place of cooperation in the field of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA), or "related" matters, as the countries of the southern rim prefer to define it). Discussion on this subject is initiated in concrete terms on the basis of a working document proposed by the EU to be enacted by the ministers, at the same time as "comments" made since then by each of the partner countries, before entrusting the senior officials with the task of consolidating terms. It is hoped it will be adopted by the next conference, in Valencia, next year. Discussions in this field that began in 1995 at "political level" - covering the treatment of the migratory phenomenon, both legal and unlawful, judicial cooperation, the fight against drugs trafficking and the trafficking of cars, money laundering and organised crime as well as the application of the right of asylum and the 're-entry" obligation arising from this for hinge countries in the trade of human beings - have so far remained at the theoretical stage. The EU suggests that the task of specifying content should now be tackled, and that specific cooperation whose base will be the promotion of "international acquis" should be imagined for each aspect. This does not mean reaching harmonisation of legislation between the EU and its southern Mediterranean partners but encouraging them to accept the body of law formed by the various international conventions on the matter. In parallel, the EU insists on the respect of human rights and democracy and on the good management of public money, presented as the promotion of "fundamental values".
European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine attended the opening of the conference.