Saint George Bay/Malta, 04/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday in Malta, the EPP-ED will open its “study days” event, which focuses on three priority themes for the Mediterranean zone: the EuroMed process and its Middle Eastern context, the challenge of illegal immigration, and maritime policy in the double perspective of transport and energy. This final theme includes, as the Maltese prime minister, Lawrence Gonzi, explained, one of the original elements the future of the Union is founded on - its relationship with its neighbours, just as coal and steel had been at the beginning of the European Community. Simon Busatil MEP from Malta and coordinator of his group on Mediterranean policy highlighted this theme. Another Maltese speaker, former President of the Maltese Republic Guido de Marco, was keen to demonstrate that on both sides of the Mediterranean, there was a community working towards its destiny through sealing a pact on the Mediterranean. De Marco was the only EPP speaker to refer to the Mediterranean Union project launched by president Sarkozy. He said that there should be no more institutions but rather, concentric circles. Vito Bonsignore, EPP-ED vice president, mentioned the urgency of the situation in the Middle East and indicated that the EPP intended to organise in the region in the next few weeks. Patrick Child, speaking on behalf of the European commissioner for external relations, went into this theme in more detail and criticised the EU for “not having done enough”. He said that the EU had been too slow, done too little and had been too lacklustre in the face of Israeli practices on the ground (wall, etc). He stated, however, that the question was one of what the situation would have been for the Palestinians if they had done nothing. He then pointed out what had been done and positively noted the Israeli decision to pass on the Palestinian taxes that had been had paid. He also said that the TIM (Temporary International Mechanism) would not be enough to assure President Abbas the support he needed or to guarantee vital aid to the population in Gaza.
At the opening of the meeting, EPP-ED President Joseph Daul from France focused on the problem of immigration and gave his full support to the Maltese government. He said that EU27 solidarity action was needed, adding: “There is also a duty to work closely and practically with migration countries”. He considered that immigration, the fight against terrorism and Euro-Mediterranean cooperation were subjects that needed to be tackled urgently: “We are calling for a Mediterranean policy of solidarity”. He failed to make any reference to the project of the president of this country and therefore confirmed the reservations expressed by the EPP-ED about an initiative that would compete with the Barcelona Process and not involve all EU member states. French MEP, Tokia Saifi, the president of the EuroMed Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) Political Committee said that the parliamentary dimension had to be highlighted more by making EMPA a “force for proposals” contributing to peace and stability, and that resolutions from this body should be made binding. She called for an international conference to be held on the Middle East and the sending of a peace keeping force like the one sent to Lebanon (UNIFIL). Ms Saifi also appealed for active solidarity between “emerging democratic forces” in the southern Mediterranean because these were “capable of launching necessary reforms”. She pointed out, however, that the EU was finding it difficult to establish contact with this rising generation. (fb)