Brussels, 19/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 18 February in Brussels, the European Parliament discussed the report on the “Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean” drawn up by Pasqualina Napoletano (PES, Italy). It seems there was broad consensus on the principles, objectives and precautions to be taken so that the same mistakes are not made in the context of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) as those that led to blocking the Barcelona Process (read also EUROPE 9842). Adopting the Napoletano report by an overwhelming majority (521 for, 44 against and 13 abstentions), the European Parliament approves the UfM but warns against any rejection of what has been achieved since 1995 (Declaration of Barcelona). It also underlines the need for MEPs, civil society and local authorities to be more actively involved. The Parliament also again takes a stance in favour of creating a Euro-Mediterranean bank.
At the opening of the session, the rapporteur gave a succinct presentation of the forms of cooperation based on the “will to strengthen dialogue” in every field, placing emphasis on the role that the EMPA (Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly) should play in order to address the “delicate situation” that has lead to the process breaking down. Parliamentary structures must, Ms Napoletano says, “help to overcome the impasse” but “it all depends in fact on the Israeli government”. On the subject of the role given to the European institutions, Ms Napoletano hopes that implementation of the Lisbon Treaty will allow ambiguity to be dispelled. She counts on Sweden, which is to hold the EU Council Presidency during the second half of this year, to “to take on board the sensitivity” shown by the Czech Republic.
The current EU presidency's commitment to a sustainable re-launch of the EuroMed process was immediately confirmed by Alexandr Vondra, Czech Deputy Prime Minister, without once citing France, which is the de facto co-president of the UfM, absent from the debates as was the EMPA president. Mr Vondra said that the Czech Republic has made this a priority and calls for cooperation geared to regional projects. He went on to specify that, from his country's point of view, the UfM “is not the only mechanism for cooperation” with the region. He also cited the European neighbourhood policy based on bilateral relations and which “encourages reform within individual countries”, with the advantage of also comprising an “eastern dimension”. Mr Vondra said: “We very much welcome the parallel development of this policy”, which looks to the east as well as to the south. He spoke of the blocking caused by the political situation in the region and affirmed his will to contribute to bringing the situation out of deadlock. The EU is willing to play an active role during the donors' conference in early March in Egypt, for the reconstruction of Gaza, he said.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, External Relations Commissioner, followed suit, welcoming the “positive contribution” made by the Napoletano report and its contribution to the “definition of a coherent Euro-Mediterranean policy” that respects the “achievements of the Barcelona process” and strengthens the joint nature of dialogue. She also placed emphasis on the duty for the European party within the UfM to “respect Community methods” of decision-making, pointing out the different forms of cooperation that she is keen on but which cannot be deployed in a “political vacuum” caused by the Gaza crisis. The representatives of the different political groups, except the GUE/NGL group, gave their support to the report, albeit with a few observations especially from the ALDE which said the UfM should not be made an alternative to Turkey's accession. Nearly all those who took the floor spoke of the UfM's mission for peace and the contribution that it will make to the stability and prosperity of the Euro-Mediterranean region.
In response to MEPs, Mr Vondra reiterated his hope that work would resume in March with sector-specific conferences. “We have the resources. We are ready”, he said, adding that they must get over the final hurdle as “Gaza is a reality”. Ms Ferrero-Waldner devoted her final speech to a point that will no doubt give rise to comments. She replaced the UfM “in the context of neighbourhood policy” which, as she pointed out, comprises chapters on cooperation with the Black Sea and the Baltic. This would allow equal treatment between all these regions of European proximity. She also affirmed the primacy of the European institutions in decision-making in the context of UfM, the future secretariat having a role in project management and in the search for partners for carrying the projects out. She announced the forthcoming setting in place of a committee to draw up the statutes of the secretariat. (F.B./transl.jl)