Brussels, 06/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - In preparation for the ministerial meeting as part of the Barcelona Process (the EU plus twelve neighbouring countries including two new accession countries, Cyprus and Malta, and a promised accession country, Turkey) in Crete on 26/27 May, the group of twenty-seven high ranking officials responsible for preparations met in Athens on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday the group was expected to decide on dossiers to submit the ministers in terms of issues of security, combatting terrorism and more broadly, areas of political dialogue to be elaborated upon between EU countries and the Mediterranean region. The second day focussed on various aspects of economic, cultural and social cooperation, particularly the Euromed Foundation for culture, the creation of which was decided in Valencia in April of last year but which has proved difficult to put into practice.
The draft common charter on policy and security is no longer on the agenda. While it hasn't been abandoned (Brussels has not given up the idea of breathing life into it), it is no longer supported by most of the participating countries which prefer these days to refer to progress achieved in the field of security in the framework of the EuroMed Forum. In this informal ministerial structure of eleven Mediterranean countries (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey), the discussions on a draft code of conduct made considerable progress.
This progress will only be used as a basis for further discussions rather than as regulations established in the Barcelona process. Various commentators see it as the beginnings of "reinforced cooperation" (between Mediterranean countries or mix and match) as recommended by the new approach launched by President Prodi (the "good neighbour" policy). During the meeting of high-ranking officials in Brussels part way through March, the presentation of this policy of good neighbourliness is reported to have been well received as a first step towards further progress when it is discussed in Council and no doubt also by the European Convention. The approach taken by President Prodi has not yet won over the entire College of Commissioners and the relevant departments since some wanted it to be kept for Russia and the Balkans.
The EuroMed Civil Forum (of NGOs and other associations funded by the European Commission) held its annual meeting in Chania in Crete on 1 - 4 May.