Valencia, 24/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - In Valencia, the Foreign Ministers of the European Union and of Mediterranean third countries taking part in the Barcelona process approved the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary assembly. The Presidency's Conclusions (soon to be published in our series EUROPE/Documents) state: "The Ministers reiterated their firm political commitment to democracy, human rights and rule of law in the region and agreed to further develop the parliamentary dimension of the Partnership. They welcomed the holding of the meeting of the Speakers of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliaments in Athens last February, recognised the value of the existing Euro-Med Parliamentary fora and agreed to recommend the creation of a Euro-Med Parliamentary Assembly as proposed by the European Parliament". The Action Plan entrusts the senior officials with the task of examining, with national parliaments and the European Parliament, the arrangements necessary for establishing this assembly as soon as possible.