Brussels, 30/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - Ferid Tounsi, the secretary general of the Agadir Agreement, the structure which brings together four of the Arab countries on the Mediterranean which are signatories of the association (and free trade) agreements with the EU, has held talks this week in Brussels with the European Commission and with members of the European Parliament and organisations which represent the private sector (BusinessEurope, Eurochambre and Euratex).
The visit had two aims. Firstly, participation (at the beginning of the week) in a specialist working group on the rules of origin mechanisms and cumulation options offered by EU partner countries in the EuroMed region. Secondly, to highlight the functions of the still recent permanent structure of the Agadir Agreement (operational since March 2007). Its creation was supported and encouraged by the EU, and it currently has four member states: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan (which is home to the permanent structure's headquarters).
Algeria, Lebanon and Syria, and in the longer term Libya, once it has concluded an agreement with the EU, are potential members. Such an agreement is one of the two conditions for accession to the structure, the other being member-status of the WTO. The Agadir Agreement aims to promote trade development between EU partner countries whose levels remain notoriously low. The development of these “horizontal” flows and the liberalisation of mutual trade is considered a vital complement to achieving the project of a major Euro-Mediterranean free-trade area, set for 2010. However, this deadline is deemed to be too close to stand a chance of being met.
Mr Tounsi expressed the intention of doubling efforts to involve the private sector in the four member states more closely in the development efforts. Various seminars and workshops are held almost every month in one of the member states, with the aid of the European Commission, to explain the new rules to facilitate trade and procedures (the pan-EuroMed rules of origin system); a major, high level seminar will be held on 8 April 2008 in Brussels to highlight the contribution made by the development of commercial trade to the dynamisation of investment flows. (F.B.)