Brussels, 12/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - The EPP-ED group in the European Parliament met in Cyprus on 7-8 February to discuss Mediterranean policy, particularly with regard to the Middle East, following the recent visit by group leader Joseph Daul (France).
“Everyone sees it and regrets it: the Barcelona process is not as effective as the region's political, economic and social situation requires,” Daul said. He called on the EU to “reflect on its strategy (and to) adapt it to the new realities on the ground”. Discussion, of course, focused on the French proposal for a Mediterranean Union, which has not been well received by the group, particularly by the German members. Official comment remains, however, cautious. “Our group has considered the various ways to make Europe stronger politically, not just financially, in the Mediterranean region, and this includes the French Mediterranean Union initiative,” Daul added.
Chairman of the EuroMed Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) Tokia Saïfi (EPP-ED, France) supported this point of view, noting that the Barcelona process “is more than ever the reference framework”. She also said that the process was “flagging”. Thus, “any initiative to re-launch, wherever it comes from, is welcome, notably the French plan for a Mediterranean Union which wants to bring real reform”. “Today we have to have the courage to acknowledge that results are disappointing,” but it was on these results that reforming the partnership and constructing a new project for the Mediterranean had to be built. She said she regretted that the EU had not provided sufficient funding. She said that there was a great imbalance between the support for the East and for the South. “However,” she stated, “the South is as important a challenge for the European Union as the East”. In addition, the partnership had suffered because of administrative and institutional red tape, she said. She opined that ministerial meetings were only “political fora”.
Neither did the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) find favour with her because it had failed to renew the Barcelona process. In Saïfi's view, it had even confused matters further. The ENP “is still today unclear in its approach and objectives”. International geopolitical and economic developments “make radical reform of cooperation in the Mediterranean essential”. To achieve this, there had to be an end to the chaos in the eastern Mediterranean and, above all, the creation of a Palestinian state. She then suggested that the EU “commit itself resolutely to give greater support to developing local companies and direct investment in Mediterranean partner countries” and to help set up a Mediterranean EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development). Civil society had to be involved to a greater extent and tolerance fostered. What was most important, she opined, was for the EuroMed no longer to appear to be there simply for trade agreements, but “to be vital for their own country's economic competitiveness, employment and incomes in the years to come”. (F.B.)