Brussels, 10/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Barcelona Process and in order to stress its specific role in establishing Euro-Mediterranean dialogue, the Socialist Group at the European Parliament is organising, on 11 and 12 November in Barcelona, a meeting on the theme “the alliance of civilisations”, which is at the heart of the recent initiative floated by the leader of the Spanish government, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, with a view to such an alliance between Europe and the countries of the southern rim of the Mediterranean and with Arab and Muslim countries more generally. The meeting will allow the Barcelona process initiated ten years ago to be assessed. Its results show “major achievements but also failings and shortcomings”, especially when it comes to implementation and means which do not live up to expectations, according to Pasqualina Napoletano and Carlos Carnero. Speaking to the press on Tuesday, both MEPs stressed the constant commitment of European Socialists to ensure that the dialogue is a success and to make a “Euro-Mediterranean citizenship emerge” even though there is not yet a “civil society in the Arab world”. According to Spanish national Carlos Carnero, promotion of the alliance between civilisations, as conceived by the Socialists, aims to refute the predictions about a “shock of civilisations” mainly made by American reactionaries. Also, promotion is not necessarily through “dialogue between religions but a dialogue between individuals”. It is the opinion of Pasqualina Napoletano, of Italy, that involvement of the civil society is an essential element. She regrets the end of “decentralised cooperation, an exceptional experience” (abandoned further to events that had resulted in resignation of the Santer Commission).
The Socialist Group also places emphasis on the need to strengthen the third chapter of the Barcelona process - dialogue on culture, social aspects and human issues, especially immigration - which, it feels, has been too neglected. Ms Napoletano and Mr Carnero call for structured cooperation with the countries of origin and transit but totally rule out the idea that the EU could contribute to the creation of detention camps in southern rim countries, and urge for a Community policy and the refusal of any bilateral action in this field. At this point, Ms Napoletano named and shamed the Italian government for some of its practices and its “secret agreements” with Tripoli.
It is the Socialists' view that the essential element of the report on the past ten years is the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, which is to date the only joint institution in a dialogue that remains without an institutional structure. According to Ms Napoletano, institutional goals must be set for dialogue between countries whose interests are intimately linked and inter-woven in every sphere of economic, social and cultural activity.
A manifesto is to be adopted at the end of the Barcelona meeting that will be opened by the president of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, himself a Spanish Socialist; Martin Schulz, President of the PES Group; and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos. Well-known figures of the civil society from southern rim countries, such as Moroccan Finance Minister Fathallah Oualalou, will take part at the meeting and Israelis and Palestinians are also due to attend side by side.