Brussels, 22/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - The work group made up of parliamentarians from the EuroMed group (MEPs from the European Parliament and MPs from European national and neighbouring countries), met on 19-20 January at the EP in Brussels. Here they finalised the draft regulation for transforming the current Forum, an informal structure, into a joint parliamentary assembly, conceived as a joint institution in the framework of the Barcelona Process.
According to Renzo Imbeni (PES, Italy), the vice president of the EP, "intense discussions on each article" characterised the debate between those present (members of the EP and national parliamentarians from the enlarged EU and the Mediterranean basin, except for the Lebanon). Under the joint presidency of Renzo Imbeni and Abdelwahed Radhi, president of the Moroccan Chamber, parliamentarians strove to guarantee balance in the decision making process between north and south of the Mediterranean, as well a between MEPs and European national parliamentarians. One decision that is definitive: the Assembly will not have a headquarters or permanent secretariat. The question of funding for its activities remains t be settled, either in the form of appeals to MEDA funds or by way of contributions from participating parliaments.
The formal transformation meeting of the Forum into and Assembly will take place in the spring in Greece. Mr Imbeni explained that, "If this meeting on 22-23 March in Greece is confirmed, the first meeting of the assembly will take place on this date as well". Mr Imbeni also explained that this was a crucial stage towards the creation of the EuroMed National Assembly (APEZM). "The train is waiting on the platform and can now leave. We'll therefore have, together with the partner countries from the Barcelona process, another body in which dialogue will be promoted, as well as exchanges on mutual understanding and respect, and a contribution for peace in the whole of the Mediterranean basin", he declared.