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Dublin meeting to reaffirm EU´s commitment to the Barcelona Process
IP/04/591 - Brussels, 4 May 2004


Foreign Ministers from an enlarged EU meet with their Mediterranean counterparts in Dublin on 5 and 6 May in the framework of the Barcelona Process. The meeting takes place at a crucial time in the EU´s relations with the Mediterranean region. The EU will use this occasion to underline its solidarity with its southern neighbours, and seek to develop further co-operation with a region convulsed by the volatile situations in Iraq and the Middle East.

Commenting before his departure for Dublin, Chris Patten, European Commissioner for External Affairs, said: "Despite the negative effects of the stuttering Middle East Peace Process, we still maintain our aspiration of building a common zone of peace, prosperity and progress in the Mediterranean region. Working on the basis of partnership, consultation and ownership of the reform process by modernisers in the region will give us more solid and sustainable results. Inducement not imposition is the way forward. I look forward to friendly and fruitful discussions with our partners."

Terrorist attacks in Casablanca, Istanbul and most recently in Madrid reinforce the relevance of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership as the framework for solidarity and co-operation between the EU and its Southern partners in tackling common security threats. This comprehensive package of co-operation activities, based on the principles of partnership, consensus and joint ownership, ranges from political and security issues through the promotion of economic and institutional reform, trade liberalisation, energy and transport infrastructures to culture and education.

The Barcelona Process is now approaching its tenth year and remains the framework for co-operation activities in the region. To complement the process further efforts to develop and enhance relations with Southern partners are being made through the Neighbourhood Policy. This initiative plans to build on the Barcelona Process on the basis of jointly agreed action plans with each of the partners which allow the EU offer a more intensive political dialogue and greater access for partners to EU programmes and policies including integration into the EU single market.

The meeting will emphasise that Europe is the most significant player in the Mediterranean region. The Community now spends almost €1 billion annually in the region in its promotion of political, economic and institutional reforms and supporting sustainable development. When European Investment Bank loans are added, the total is nearly €3 billion a year. The EU is also the largest trading partner for the region.

EU Ministers will argue that, despite the sombre background of violence and conflict, recent developments in the Barcelona Process offer grounds for optimism. Cooperation continues against the different shifting backgrounds and progress continues to be made.

Association Agreements have been signed by all partners except Syria with which one is being finalised; the Agadir Agreement, concluded in March 2004 and signed by Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan and Egypt, is a major step towards regional trade and economic integration; the final administrative steps are being discussed to allow the recently established Foundation for the Dialogue of Cultures become operational and Libya has recently issued a number of positive messages concerning its wish to become a full member of the Barcelona Process.

As the US and NATO separately outline their visions and strategies for the ´Greater Middle East´ region, EU Ministers will use the Dublin meeting to explain the linkages and consistencies between the European Security Strategy and the ongoing work to develop a strategic partnership with an area that extends from Morocco to Iran, the Mediterranean and the Middle East regions. The close relationship with the Mediterranean is an essential element of this strategy. It is complemented by the set of relations with the countries east of Jordan.


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