Rabat, 23/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - The president-in-office of the EU Council, Dimitrij Rupel, accompanied by Benita Ferrero-Waldner, met the executive of the Arab Maghreb Union (Union du Maghreb Arabe, UMA) and the five foreign ministers of the countries that make up this organisation (Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, the latter currently holding UMA presidency).
The aim of the meeting was to explore means of cooperation between the EU and UMA. The intention to do so was announced last November on the sidelines of the ministerial EuroMed session. In a declaration, Mr Rupel stressed the importance of cooperation between the EU and the southern Mediterranean rim countries within the framework of the Barcelona process, the aim of which is to improve the economic situation of the region and reduce poverty there. Cooperation on energy matters and in counter-terrorism is also envisaged. Mr Rupel believes that a “successful, stable and democratic Maghreb” is in the interest of the European Union. He asserted that, during the period of Slovenian presidency of the EU, there will be three conferences - one on the information society, in Egypt, one on tourism, in Morocco, and one on culture and intercultural dialogue, in Greece. He stressed the importance of intercultural dialogue, on which the European Union intends to focus during 2008. He also spoke of the Slovenian initiative to establish a Mediterranean university in Piran as, he said, this will be an excellent occasion to bring the Arab language and cultures closer to Europe. He invited the Maghreb countries to take part in this initiative.
Evoking the French initiative of Mediterranean Union (UM), Mr Rupel pointed out that an informal meeting of foreign ministers of EU member states bordering on the Mediterranean took place last week in Cyprus (under the name of “Olive Group”). It dealt with this point, affirming that the UM should group all EU member states. “The Slovenian EU presidency awaits documents from France to introduce discussion on this project”, Mr Rupel said.
The main subjects discussed during the second day of the informal meeting of foreign ministers of the Mediterranean EU member states, the Olive Group held in Cyprus, included the phenomenon of illegal immigration, Kosovo and European cooperation for relief in the event of natural disasters. According to unofficial indications, the meeting brought together the foreign ministers (or those representing them) from Slovenia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Malta, Bulgaria, Romania, France and Cyprus. This informal meeting, the fifth of its kind, was held in Paphos. (F.B.)