Brussels, 05/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - MEDSTAT, the body responsible for collecting and analysing statistics on the Euro-Mediterranean area, a branch of EUROSTAT and headed by EuropAid, has just published its first report on trade between countries in the region. The period covered in the report is from 1999 to 2005 and no analysis is provided, only statistical data. The report illustrates to what extent the Mediterranean is well and truly anchored in the European setup. In trade terms, all countries on the Southern and Eastern rim of the Mediterranean (including Turkey and Israel) account for 7.5% of imports from the enlarged EU and 9.5% of its exports outside the Community. The report also demonstrates the preponderant weight of the EU, especially that of its neighbouring Mediterranean countries, in the commercial life of countries from the region.
The report is not only limited to the presentation of trade data. It also highlights the economic, financial and social characteristics appertaining to the “human development” of all the countries in the region, including the old and new member states of the EU and partner countries. In terms of wealth (per capita GDP), the gap between the two sides of the Mediterranean is very pronounced: in 2005 the least prosperous country in the EU, Slovakia, boasted €7,075 per capita, well above the majority of partner countries with figures that are five to six times below this amount, except for Turkey (€4000/per capita). Only Israel has a level of prosperity that is comparable to that of countries on the Northern rim (€15,050 per capita in 2005). (fb)