Rabat, 26/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Foreign Ministers of four Arab Mediterranean rim countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan) associated to the EU signed an agreement in Rabat on 25 February aimed at establishing a free trade area between them. Lebanon officially announced that it will be joining this group of countries as soon as it has ratified its agreement with the EU.
The signing of the agreement is a "major step" in the integration process in the Mediterranean and a "leap forward" toward consolidating links with Europe and toward the creation of an EuroMed free trade area in the run up to 2010, European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten said, representing the European Commission at this ceremony. Rabat was finally chosen as the place for the signing ceremony but without the announced attendance of the King of Morocco, due to the earthquake that has just hit the country. Mr Patten believes the agreement is the expression of the Mediterranean Arab countries' political resolve that the EU plans to support, "despite scepticism in some places". He congratulated those who had initiated the Agadir Agreement for deciding to open up the agreement to all Mediterranean partners that have concluded Association Agreements. He added: "We strongly encourage other partners to join the agreement. And, in this respect, we hope that the forthcoming Euro-Med Conference of Trade Ministers in Istanbul (in autumn 2004) will take the process of negotiation of free trade agreements bestween Mediterranean partners and Turkey forward". The Commission recalled on this occasion the determination of Brussels to complete the network of association agreements with conclusion "as soon as possible" of negotiations with Syria. Mr Patten also mentioned in his speech the EuroMed dialogue and the new EU "neighbourhood" policy, for which responsibility is entrusted to his colleague for enlargement, Günter Verheugen. Mr Patten sought to clarify the situation saying: "Let's make no mistake: The neighbourhood policy is not an alternative or a replacement to our Euro-Mediterranean partnership, but a vehicle to enhance and deepen the Barcelona Partnership".