Brussels, 18/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - Ahead of the annual conference of the foreign ministers of the 35 EuroMed countries to be held in Lisbon on 5-6 November, the European Commission, in a communication adopted on Wednesday, has put forward an analysis of the situation and a work programme for 2008. The most striking point in this announcement is the beginning of a change of position with regard to the French proposal for a Mediterranean Union.
The Commission says straight away that, despite the conflict in the Middle East, there has been progress since 1995, such as EuroMeSCo (a network of political studies institutes), Femise (a network of economic studies institutes) and more recently the Anna Lindh Foundation (dedicated to cultural dialogue), and also, on another level, the various steps taken towards the creation of a great free trade area. It welcomes all the initiatives which strengthen this dialogue between neighbouring countries, including the one from French President Nicolas Sarkozy, which was not well received by Brussels at the time and which northern EU member states still do not like. The Commission now sees it as a fresh opportunity to mobilise political will for stronger dialogue and it calls on the forthcoming ministerial conference to use this “excellent opportunity” to “discuss how this initiative can be articulated” and work “in synergy” with the action already undertaken by the EU (association, Barcelona Process, neighbourhood policy).
The Commission says that “2008 will be an important year” for the implementation of the principles and programmes identified since 1995, including the programme to clean up the Mediterranean by 2020. Five “major initiatives” have been announced. Firstly, there is the reinforcement of the cultural dimension which aims to bring together culture ministers and breathe new life into the Anna Lindh Foundation, the activities of which have been hindered recently by management problems which led to its head being replaced. The social dimension and employment will also be highlighted, with, once again, hopes that there will be a specific ministerial conference. The third objective is to hold a first meeting of tourism ministers from across the EuroMed area. As the fourth initiative, a meeting of health ministers is proposed. The fifth initiative will be the setting up of an exchange and secondment scheme for civil servants.
The Commission stresses, however, that the year's action will not be restricted to these five initiatives. There will also be the meeting (the second to date) of ministers with responsibility for ICT (information and communication technology), a FEMIP (the EIB's financial instrument) meeting and conferences of economy and finance, and industry ministers.
In parallel, the European Commission suggests that member states reinforce political and security dialogue and the role of the EuroMediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA). It hopes that progress will be made in setting up a counter-terrorism code of conduct and in cooperation in civil protection (working together to prevent, and providing mutual assistance). It is also hoped that advances will be made in the agriculture sector and on negotiations on liberalising the services sector. Fisheries, maritime transport, energy, industrial cooperation, statistical cooperation, education, research, the media, the role of women, immigration and the environment are other sectors where progress is expected in 2008. (F.B.)