Brussels, 07/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - On the meeting of the Economy and Finance Ministers of the countries involved in the Euromed process in Alexandria (Egypt) on 7 June (see EUROPE of 5 June, p.13), the European Commissioner appointed by Estonia, Siim Kallas, who works in tandem with his Spanish colleague Joaquin Almunia, spoke of the ambitions of the EU's neighbourhood policy. Mr Kallas felt that greater co-ordination was needed "on all fronts". The donors must make certain that they do not burden their partners with overlapping mandates and uncoordinated activities, he explained, but added that "this is all much easier when the partner country itself sets clear priorities on how best to reap the benefits of the various co-financing initiatives".
Mr Kallas indicated that the Commission will deliver the same message at the G8 Summit this week in Florida, when it discusses the Middle East and North Africa (see EUROPE of 5 June, p.9). For the remainder, Mr Kallas stressed that the Commission's main message on the Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership Facility (FEMIP) was that this instrument should offer more active support to the private sector, especially SMEs. The Commission said that this objective should entail projects being designed and implemented not individually, but rather, as part of sectorial or regional polices approved by the beneficiary and donor countries. Lastly, Mr Kallas said that the Commission expected the FEMIP to get up to cruising speed in 2005, and achieve synergy with the MEDA programme.