Brussels, 25/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - France and Egypt, joint presidents of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) invited several environment ministers from the Euro-Mediterranean region to Paris on Thursday 25 June to discuss sustainable development in the Mediterranean region. This informal meeting - a Council of EU Environment Ministers took place the same day and in Luxembourg on Friday - was to allow four major dossiers to be tackled in specialised workshops in Paris: - water and the environment, transport, energy (and the “solar plan” in particular), and urban development. These themes coincide with the main projects envisaged within the UfM framework for which France holds joint presidency for the European side until end June in principle.
The session was presented in Paris as the beginning of work rekindled within the UfM since work was halted after the invasion of Gaza.
In mid-June, the Arab group decided to no longer refrain from attending sectoral or informal meetings but to continue to abstain from taking part in official meetings of a political nature. This stance must, however, be confirmed, given the fluctuating attitude on the part of Arab partners within the UfM. Various so-called “technical” meetings have been held mainly for non-decisive discussion on the status of the future secretariat and Spain, which is to host the joint structure. (F.B./transl.jl)