Brussels, 19/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - As part of the fourth Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers for Industry that will by taking place on 9-10 April, the European Commission has just adopted a working document putting forward a certain number of practical suggestions for setting up a Euro-Mediterranean free-trade zone by 2010.
The free-trade zone is expected to offer a number of substantial trade opportunities to Mediterranean partners but certain challenges will still need to be confronted, such as greater competition. The Commission document intends to contribute to the debate on how to further industrial Euro-Mediterranean co-operation and help Mediterranean partners overcome the obstacles facing them. The document stresses that governments of southern Mediterranean partners must make their global regulation frameworks more attractive for investors and developing new enterprises, whilst individual companies are encouraged to become more competitive.
The Commission believes that Euro-Mediterranean industrial co-operation will have to overcome two obstacles. The working group on Euro-Mediterranean co-operation already plays a strategic role for supporting Mediterranean partners prepare for the free-trade zone. These activities include a development programme for the different industrial poles in the area, with the Commission on the verge of launching three new technical assistance programmes that will impact in the three following areas: (1) Promotion of investments; (2) Innovation, technology and quality; (3) Adoption and adaptation of the main mechanisms of the EU internal market in an enlarged Euro-Mediterranean market.
The Commission does refer, however, to a certain number of fields where co-operation could be improved, as well as the ability of Euro-Mediterranean companies to compete on the expanded market, on the basis of the political experience of EU companies. The tightening of European policy on standards, technical regulations and assessment procedures for conformity could significantly simplify Euro-Mediterranean countries' access to EU markets, as well as facilitate trade between developing countries in southern Mediterranean countries. Another field of action that is important, involves the development of industrial development, a field in which the EU has significant know-how and which can help Mediterranean countries to improve their industrial competitiveness. The Commission document also proposes that the economic communities of the two areas play a more pro-active role in the strategic debate on aspects of the economic dimension to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.