Luxembourg, 02/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - At the end of the 7th ministerial session of Euromed held in Luxembourg on 30 and 31 May (EUROPE 8958), Jean Asselborn, Foreign Minister for Luxembourg and President-in-Office of the EU Council, said: “We have reached an essential moment in our process with the partners of the southern Mediterranean rim”. The meeting opened the road to celebrations for the 10th anniversary of the Barcelona process and will probably be crowned by an “extraordinary high level meeting” between Heads of State as the president of the Council had clearly hinted, on 27 and 28 November in the Catalan capital. In Luxembourg, Mr Asselborn said, the task was to “draw up an exhaustive report” and sketch out broad lines for the future in conclusions that are for the first time common conclusions. Mr Asselborn sees this understanding as an “essential asset for the future” of the partnership and for strengthening dialogue. “Together, with the Mediterranean partners, we have managed to consolidate our relations in a way that allowed the first plenary session of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (APEM) to be held in Cairo during March this year. This Parliamentary Assembly meets the needs of democratic legitimacy demanded by our societies and strengthens transparency of the process”, he asserted, also citing the example of the Anna Lindt Foundation which, in his view, proves there is a will to dialogue. Today, he said, “we have the proof not only that no-one is thinking of pulling out of the Barcelona process but, on the contrary, that others are thinking of joining it”. He was referring to a formal request for accession by Mauritania (signatory of the Lomé Agreement). The response will be given after “examination in relevant bodies”, Mr Asselborn said.
In order to reach these common conclusions, however, it was necessary to hold intense negotiation mainly on themes relating to the promotion of democracy, good governance and respect of human rights. This is confirmed by Mr Asselborn who states that “discussion has not been easy”, as it has been “direct and frank”. The Arab side has battled for the any reference to practical measures of a political nature to be eliminated from the joint text, mainly those that propose the creation of a “surveillance mechanism of electoral processes” and a mechanism for ensuring the correct functioning of the media. The Egyptian minister, who was spokesman for the Arab group, repeated in every possible way that political dialogue must not be transformed into interference, each country having the right to carry out reform at its own rate and in accordance with its own specific situation. “We have managed” to keep the declaration within “reasonable limits”, Ahmed Aboul Gheit said. Others did, however, express mitigated views, such as Jordan, whose minister was pleased with the text, noting: “Jordan has not waited, and it has already taken major steps toward reform”. It was finally possible to conclude the debate by imposing other time limits for the establishment of practical measures. “I am not saying we don't care what happens once we're gone but rather it is up to the United Kingdom once we're gone” as, as holder of Council presidency, it will have the task of negotiating with partner countries, Mr Asselborn commented. His sense of humour is probably not gratuitous given that London has already stated in a letter its firm intention to intensify discussion on the political chapter by the November “summit” in Barcelona. This prospect gives rise to concern in partner countries that are fighting to safeguard a “balance between the three pillars” (political, economic and social and cultural) against the predominance of a single, political pillar. The mistrust shown by the Arab group is also reflected in the concern expressed by Egypt and, to a lesser extent, by Algeria and Morocco, at seeing the EU Neighbourhood Policy (the introduction of the principle of political conditionality for granting aid) supplant the Barcelona process, despite assurances given by the European Commission. Moroccan Minister Taïeb Fassi Fihri, the MAP Agency states, hoped the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership would “not be diluted” in European Neighbourhood Policy, as the “scope of this policy covers a wider area, including the countries of Eastern Europe”. The Egyptian minister, whose country is nonetheless holding exploratory conversations, felt that the finalisation of an “action plan” for his country under Neighbourhood Policy will “require a great deal of time”. An offshoot of the debate has been coverage of the contacts that the EU intends to establish with the proscribed Islamic parties in countries taking part in the Euro-Mediterranean process. “We could admit dialogue with the Islamic parties that comply with the constitution of their countries, but not with those that brandish the Koran as their only Constitution”, it has been said. The principle of wider involvement of civil societies has been stated. The European part, moreover, was successful in opening orderly discussion on the question of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and the principle of an ad hoc meeting has been approved for exploring the way to a Mediterranean agreement on this theme, despite Israeli reserve.
Despite intense discussion on detail, the EU like its partners noted in the final text their unanimous attachment to the process, which has become a “sound framework” for relations. Generally speaking, they confirm the interest of successfully concluding the association agreements in the hope that Member States will accelerate ratification procedures if not already implemented. The European Commission restated its conviction that the Neighbourhood Policy would contribute to deepening and consolidating this decennial cooperation and all partners agreed to put an end to the slowness that sometimes affects actions in the EuroMed context and to improve common working methods. The principle of a formal meeting of foreign ministers every 18 months (and of an informal intermediary session) is approved, with the hope that there will be joint conclusions each time. The Committee of senior officials is instructed to give a closer eye on follow-up of decisions and their implementation. Emphasis was also placed on the need to contribute to the development of South-South cooperation through the Agadir agreement. All themes relating to economic cooperation (agriculture, industry, energy, transport, environment, etc.) were examined. It will be retained that the final declaration is below European expectations when it comes to the services sector. The partner countries, that accepted the principle of liberalisation for this sector in their countries, did not wish at this stage to encompass it in free trade. It was also a question of how the FEMIP (facility for investment managed by the EIB) works, with partner countries recalling the possibility of changing it into a subsidiary, an stop-gap solution before one day envisaging the creation of a EuroMed bank. Benita Ferrero-Waldner gave details of the different actions that the Commission is proposing to conduct in the five years to come if Member States give their go-ahead, placing emphasis on education and training, support for political reforms, and sustainable economic growth and employment.
Javier Solana: promoting a “Mediterranean identity”
Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, reassured the Arab side concerning the Middle East peace process, saying that, for the EU, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza should be followed by full implementation of the Roadmap. On the subject of political dialogue, he also reassures them saying that the aim is to establish a partnership between equals and saying that people are entitled to oxygen, democracy and development. What we are going to do is bring together the views expressed on both sides and not act alone, he said. In the Barcelona process (of which he was one of the initiators), dialogue, he said, is one of the answers that the EU brings to globalisation. It creates a network of sound ideas and a “laboratory of ideas” in order to conceive the region's future together on the basis of independence, mainly in the field of security, which should finally lead to the emergence of a “Mediterranean identity”.