Brussels, 05/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - In its plenary session on 10 April, the European Parliament will discuss the report by Pere Esteve, Spanish member of the Liberal group, that supports "without reservations" the Communication published by the European Commission with a view to relaunching the Barcelona Process before the meeting of EU and Mediterranean (EuroMed) foreign ministers in Valencia on 22/23 April (see EUROPE of 18 and 19 February, p.13). The rapporteur stresses that the action plan proposed by the Commission should breath new life into the Process through tangible action supported by strong political will, rather than grandiloquent, empty declarations of programmes as has frequently been the case in the past.
The report outlines proposals aiming to further institutionalise the Barcelona Process, suggesting for example to organise an annual summit of heads of state from either side of the Mediterranean in order to give political impulse from the highest level to the Process; setting up a EuroMed Parliamentary Assembly (the EP has long been calling for this, Ed) to closely monitor the implementation of the EU/Mediterranean countries Association Agreements; taking the fundamental role of the regions and local authorities into account; launching a MEDA-LOCUS regional EuroMed programme to encourage co-operation in all areas between administrations, local authorities and civil society (along the lines of the EuroMed Pact signed at the meeting of the EuroMed group "Eurocities" that was held in Barcelona on 22 February 2002, explains the rapporteur).
In his report (which was unanimously adopted), Mr Esteve also focuses on the need to unite in a common anti-terrorist front and proposes setting up a EuroMed contact network for co-operation to combat terrorism and a common code of conduct in this area (which should not simply rely on military action, he notes, but use all diplomatic, political and trade instruments available to the Barcelona Process partners).
In terms of economics, the rapporteur calls for the setting up of a EuroMed Development Bank, with the independent participation of the EIB (to guarantee co-ordination rather than duplication) and capital from third parties, particularly countries around the south and east of the Mediterranean rim (thereby assuring a feeling of co-ownership) - all this, of course, in consultation with the European Parliament. The resolution that will be voted on next week notes that the European Parliament should publish an Opinion on the future bank. It calls for the European Commission to rapidly put forward a new Communication looking specifically at the financial requirements, existing flows of finance and institutional financial structure that would be most fitting for the Bank to be able to come on stream in the near future.
The Resolution also raises the issue of the impact that mutual agricultural liberalisation might have, stressing the need to carefully examine the prospects of favourable greater mutual liberalisation of trade in agricultural products along the lines of a strategy taking into account the complementary nature of Mediterranean agriculture. He also focussed on the need to implement a EuroMed agricultural policy recognising the importance of the impact of agriculture and the extent to which agricultural has social and environmental repercussions.
Mr Esteve stresses that greater importance should be accorded to various proposals to make it possible to definitively promote intercultural dialogue, an area in which the current shortcomings of the Process are particularly intense (a framework programme for inter-cultural dialogue, setting up of a EuroMed Foundation financed by EUR 1 million from each Member States and voluntary contributions from each Mediterranean partner country). He called for a true debate to be launched on the common management of migratory flows, for the setting up of a specific visa to be considered in order to make it easier for business people involved in the EuroMed partnership to travel, and for an integration policy to be clearly set up in the host country for legal immigrants. The rapporteur also called for the rapid signature of a regional programme in the field of justice and home affairs focussing on judicial co-operation and combating terrorism and organised crime.
Presenting the European Parliament Plenary Session (continued)