Brussels, 05/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Follow-up Committee, made up of High Level Civil Servants from 27 countries and involved in the Barcelona Process (EU and 12 neighbouring countries) met in Brussels on 4-5 April to assess the situation on the eve of the Ministerial conference in Valencia (22-23 April see page 14 for details). Preparation for this meeting will see the updating of two texts to submit to the debate between the Ministers: an action plan and the outline of a co-operation programme in the field of justice and home affairs. The Commission has also provided the Committee with an outline of the debate in Valencia with an economic and political analysis of post-11 September. The situation in the Middle East will also underpin the Ministerial conference, but uncertainties surround the possibility of being able to confirm the rendezvous in such a context (EUROPE will return in detail to the results of the Follow-up Committee).
The Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Industry Ministers on 9-10 April will take place in Malaga, Spain. Official sources state that it will focus on Euro-Med industrial co-operation, including best regional practices and co-operation in innovation and technology transfer. The Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE) and its Mediterranean counterpart, the Union of the Mediterranean Confederation of Companies (UMCE) will be presenting their conclusions on the recent Euro-Mediterranean summit in Istanbul.