Brussels, 02/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - In its plenary in Brussels on Thursday 5 June 2008, the European Parliament will examine a joint motion for a resolution on the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) formalising the EP's opinion ahead of the 13 July 2008 constitutive summit of the UfM in Paris. The draft motion is based on analysis of the communication to the Council of 20 May 2008, and precedes examination by the upcoming European Council in June 2008. The main political groups have suggested similar versions, and a joint motion for a resolution, agreed upon at a meeting at the end of last week, summarises the main points, but agreement will not be formally reached until the day before the Brussels mini-plenary.
The main issue of importance is satisfaction that both the European Commission and the member states note the importance of the parliamentary dimension. The MEPs suggest that the EuroMed Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) should be designated as the sole institution to cover the parliamentary dimension. Overall, the common position echoes the consensual European attitude to analysis of the outcome of the Barcelona process and the prudent approach required for the new stage, the Union for the Mediterranean (fine-tuning the process's governance through the creation - approved in the draft resolution - of a joint committee, the need for light structures, suitable funding).
Overall, the MEPs give unreserved applause to the position expressed by the European Commission on 20 May 2008. A single issue, however, calls for particular attention and clarification that will probably be provided during the plenary, namely the question of co-presidencies. The European Commission's idea of the southern Mediterranean countries providing a joint chair is agreed upon (the need for appointment by consensus and an obligation for the candidate to come from a country able to host all partner countries for meetings - alluding to Israel), the EP's political groups undid the direct link established by the European Commission between the appointment of a European co-president (joint chair) and the Lisbon Treaty measures (for a rotating 6-month term of office or for a two period as mooted by France, which initiated the process). The Greens included this obligation in their initial draft and now back the joint position. Our sources suggest that the EPP does not want the issue to be decided yet. Reference is, however, made to the Lisbon Treaty in one paragraph but the connection is vague, leaving the issue to be discussed and decided upon by the plenary, or failing that, EU heads of state.
In an amendment, the EPP group calls for the Secretariat to have the option of making the process more visible. The Greens want the country of the co-presidency and the country where the Secretariat will be based (Tunis in Tunisia and Rabat in Morocco are both candidates) to be considered as acceptable in terms of respect of human rights. This attitude seems to argue for the 3rd candidate country, Malta, or Belgium (Brussels). The EPP, PES and ALDE are insisting on the need to encourage democratic practices in the region. The ALDE and PES groups want summits to be held every two years. The Socialists are the only party calling, in an amendment, for the creation of a regional development bank. (F.B.)