Valencia, 22/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Euro-Mediterranean Conference began work in Valencia late afternoon of 22 April, in the absence of Syria and Lebanon.
A little before the beginning of the session - the 5th since the launch of the Barcelona Process - the EU-Algeria Association Agreement was signed in Valencia. The signing of such an agreement with Lebanon, initially scheduled, was postponed at the country's request, which refrained from taking part in the meeting of Valencia. Its defection followed that of Syria, and once again underlines the influence of the conflict in the Middle East on the Barcelona Process and weighs on the outcome of this ministerial meeting from the outset. The main outcome could be an "action plan" - kind of practical guide for the Barcelona Process - proposed by the Spanish Presidency and a co-operation programme in the realm of JHA (Justice and Home Affairs, term rejected by many partner countries), in fact entitled "Regional Co-operation Programme in matters of justice, combating drugs, organised crime and terrorism, and co-operation in the social integration of migrants, migration and the movement of persons". The adoption of these two texts, at senior official level responsible for preparing the texts, had so far run into problems raised by Syria and Lebanon on the definition of terrorism, which they intend distinguishing from the "right to resistance", and their absence should not contribute in facilitating the required compromise. The text will remain open to these two countries who may adopt it later, says a diplomat of the EU Council Presidency. José Piqué, Council President, nevertheless, had hope: "The Plan is very ambitious, as it incorporates political dialogue, including subjects relating to security, the economic aspect, and the social and cultural dialogue between civilisations. That's why we shall try, for the first time, to have it approved through a majority by the 27 countries members of the Barcelona Process".
Influence of the conflict in the Middle East
The moment most waited for should be, Tuesday morning, the meeting between the EU Troika and Arab countries engaged in the Barcelona Process and Israel, separately, meeting centred on seeking a way out of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the hardening of which lay behind the Syrian and Lebanese attitude.
Syria had announced Friday evening that, given the circumstances in the region, it could not participate in a meeting in which Israel was also to be. It also claims that it does not understand that the EU should not have responded to its request, presented with Lebanon, on suspending co-operation with the Hebrew State, whereas, it stresses in a press release, "the UN, all specialised agencies and international humanitarian organisations condemn the genocide" against Palestinians. It is doubtless the first time that Damascus and Beirut have been so explicit in explaining why they were boycotting a meeting of the Barcelona Process with, in addition, direct accusations levelled at the EU (in Marseilles last year, and recently in Malaga, their absence had not been accompanied by comments). For its part, Lebanon, which resolved to postpone the signing of its association agreement, reaffirms its interest inf formalising the adoption as soon as possible. At the end of talks with the European Union's representative in Lebanon, Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri told the press that "this postponement in no way affects our relations with Europe or the agreement itself". "We shall sign the agreement as quickly as possible", he added.
Ordered re-launch of the process and review of management and working methods
With the "Action Plan", the intention of the Spanish Presidency was of reviewing all the topics broached in the political dialogue, which were placed into question by the difficulty of advancing in the drawing up of joint Charter on politics and security (the plan is currently on hold). The aim is also to raise the profile of two topics not much broached so far and that come under the social, cultural and "humane" chapters: migratory issues, free movement and, since the suspension of talks on the Charter, the questions of security and the fight against terrorism for which a regional programme has been devised and included in the global "action plan".
One chapter of the Plan is intended to settle disputes, born from the outset, on how to manage work and meetings (there is a lack of parity in decision-taking, according to the partner countries), and should enable them to envisage a rotation of meetings which, except that of Malta, have all taken place in EU countries, which have - so far - assumed the presidencies. Morocco, which has reaffirmed its full commitment to the Barcelona Process - has lodged a memorandum that deals with all aspects and especially this lack of the spirit of partnership: "One of the major problems of which the partnership suffers is the lack of genuinely equal structures that could allow for greater involvement of southern Mediterranean countries in the management process", the text states. Morocco makes proposals on the administrative structure (notably, proposal to create a permanent structure for information exchange that it wants more "fluid", as well as "clarifying the statute of the minutes", regularly disputed). The most pertinent aspect of the document is the proposal of introducing, on the model of European "enhanced co-operation", the possibility of seeing an issue evolve according to a "differentiated" rate, that is to say, only involving the countries interested or which are prepared to join. The idea would also be to create an EU-Mediterranean-candidate countries working group and provide content to parliamentary co-operation. The Moroccans place strong emphasis, moreover, on the need to encourage inter-Maghrebin co-operation (Agadir Accord).
In its preamble, the Plan reaffirms the Mediterranean's "strategic importance" for the EU: "six years after its launch, the Process should allow for the highest levels of Euro-Mediterranean integration to be reached and generate a new rhythm and more balanced approach towards common goals". Regarding the political and security chapter, the recommendation is: strengthen the partnership in areas relating to ESDP, promote democracy, establish common bases for conflict prevention and crisis management. In general, the EU would undertake to take account of the interest of its partners in all fields of a political nature, including enlargement to Eastern Europe. The sensitive issue of combating terrorism has a special place, but discussions between senior officials have progressed little. They left the text open for exchanges of views between ministers, which will be jeopardised by the absence of the Syrian Minister, main person to contradict the EU on its concept in this field (Algeria, which from the outset wanted to promote co-active operation in the field, is said to be satisfied with the European wording). Taking up the subjects of the draft Political Charter (prevention mechanisms, confidence-building measures) as well as the question of migration, the text simply mentions them and recommends that the senior officials continue their work.