FIRST
EURO-MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE
OF FOREIGN MINISTERS
Barcelona, 27-28 November 1995
The Council of the European Union, represented by its President,
Mr. Javier SOLANA, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain,
The European Commission, represented by Mr. Manuel MARIN, Vice-President,
Germany, represented by Mr. Klaus KINKEL, Vice-Chancellor and Minister
for Foreign Affairs,
Algeria, represented by Mr. Mohamed Salah DEMBRI, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Austria, represented by Mrs. Benita FERRERO-WALDNER, State Secretary,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Belgium, represented by Mr. Erik DERYCKE, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Cyprus, represented by Mr. Alecos MICHAELIDES, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Denmark, represented by Mr. Niels Helveg PETERSEN, Minister for
Foreign Affairs,
Egypt, represented by Mr. Amr MOUSSA, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Spain, represented by Mr. Carlos WESTENDORP, State Secretary for
Relations with the European Community,
Finland, represented by Mrs. Tarja HALONEN, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
France, represented by Mr. Hervé de CHARETTE, Minister for
Foreign Affairs,
Greece, represented by Mr. Károlos PAPOULIAS, Minister for
Foreign Affairs,
Ireland, represented by Mr. Dick SPRING Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Israel, represented by Mr. Ehud BARAK, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Italy, represented by Mrs. Susanna AGNELLI, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Jordan, represented by Mr. Abdel-Karim KABARITI, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Lebanon, represented by Mr. Fares BOUEZ, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Luxembourg, represented by Mr. Jacques F. POOS, Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Cooperation,
Malta, represented by Prof. Guido DE MARCO, Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Morocco, represented by Mr. Abdellatif FILALI, Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands, represented by Mr.
Hans van MIERLO, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Portugal, represented by Mr. Jaime GAMA, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
the United Kingdom, represented by Mr. Malcolm RIFKIND QC MPI, Secretary
of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,
Syria, represented by Mr. Farouk AL-SHARA-A, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Sweden, represented by Mrs. Lena HJELM-WALLEN, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Tunisia, represented by Mr. Habib Ben YAHIA, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Turkey, represented by Mr. Deniz BAYKAL, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
the Palestinian Authority, represented by Mr. Yasser ARAFAT, President
of the Palestinian Authority, taking part in the Euro-Mediterranean
Conference in Barcelona:
• stressing the strategic importance of the Mediterranean
and moved by the will to give their future relations a new dimension,
based on comprehensive cooperation and solidarity, in keeping with
the privileged nature of the links forged by neighbourhood and history;
• aware that the new political, economic and social issues
on both sides of the Mediterranean constitute common challenges
calling for a coordinated overall response;
• resolved to establish to that end a multilateral and lasting
framework of relations based on a spirit of partnership, with due
regard for the characteristics, values and distinguishing features
peculiar to each of the participants;
• regarding this multilateral framework as the counterpart
to a strengthening of bilateral relations which it is important
to safeguard, while laying stress on their specific nature;
• stressing that this Euro-Mediterranean initiative is not
intended to replace the other activities and initiatives undertaken
in the interests of the peace, stability and development of the
region, but that it will contribute to their success, The participants
support the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace
settlement in the Middle East based on the relevant United Nations
Security Council resolutions and principles mentioned in the letter
of invitation to the Madrid Middle East Peace Conference, including
the principle land for peace, with all that this implies;
• convinced that the general objective of turning the Mediterranean
basin into an area of dialogue, exchange and cooperation guaranteeing
peace, stability and prosperity requires a strengthening of democracy
and respect for human rights, sustainable and balanced economic
and social development, measures to combat poverty and promotion
of greater understanding between cultures, which are all essential
aspects of partnership,
• hereby agree to establish a comprehensive partnership among
the participants - the Euro-Mediterranean partnership - through
strengthened political dialogue on a regular basis, the development
of economic and financial cooperation and greater emphasis on the
social, cultural and human dimension, these being the three aspects
of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
POLITICAL AND SECURITY PARTNERSHIP:
ESTABLISHING A COMMON AREA OF PEACE AND STABILITY
The participants express their conviction that the
peace, stability and security of the Mediterranean region are a
common asset which they pledge to promote and strengthen by all
means at their disposal. To this end they agree to conduct a strengthened
political dialogue at regular intervals, based on observance of
essential principles of international law, and reaffirm a number
of common objectives in matters of internal and external stability.
In this spirit they undertake in the following declaration of principles
to:
• act in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as other obligations
under international law, in particular those arising out of regional
and international instruments to which they are party;
• develop the rule of law and democracy in their political
systems, while recognizing in this framework the right of each of
them to choose and freely develop its own political, socio-cultural,
economic and judicial system;
• respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and guarantee
the effective legitimate exercise of such rights and freedoms, including
freedom of expression, freedom of association for peaceful purposes
and freedom of thought, conscience and religion, both individually
and together with other members of the same group, without any discrimination
on grounds of race, nationality, language, religion or sex;
• give favourable consideration, through dialogue between
the parties, to exchanges of information on matters relating to
human rights, fundamental freedoms, racism and xenophobia;
• respect and ensure respect for diversity and pluralism in
their societies, promote tolerance between different groups in society
and combat manifestations of intolerance, racism and xenophobia.
The participants stress the importance of proper education
in the matter of human rights and fundamental freedoms:
• respect their sovereign equality and all rights inherent
in their sovereignty, and fulfil in good faith the obligations they
have assumed under international law;
• respect the equal rights of peoples and their right to self-determination,
acting at all times in conformity with the purposes and principles
of the Charter of the United Nations and with the relevant norms
of international law, including those relating to territorial integrity
of States, as reflected in agreements between relevant parties;
• refrain, in accordance with the rules of international law,
from any direct or indirect intervention in the internal affairs
of another partner; respect the territorial integrity and unity
of each of the other partners;
• settle their disputes by peaceful means, call upon all participants
to renounce recourse to the threat or use of force against the territorial
integrity of another participant, including the acquisition of territory
by force, and reaffirm the right to fully exercise sovereignty by
legitimate means in accordance with the UN Charter and international
law;
• strengthen their cooperation in preventing and combating
terrorism, in particular by ratifying and applying the international
instruments they have signed, by acceding to such instruments and
by taking any other appropriate measure;
• fight together against the expansion and diversification
of organized crime and combat the drugs problem in all its aspects;
• promote regional security by acting, inter alia, in favour
of nuclear, chemical and biological non-proliferation through adherence
to and compliance with a combination of international and regional
non-proliferation regimes, and arms control and disarmament agreements
such as NPT, CWC, BWC, CTBT and/or regional arrangements such as
weapons free zones including their verification regimes, as well
as by fulfilling in good faith their commitments under arms control,
disarmament and non-proliferation conventions.
The parties shall pursue a mutually and effectively verifiable Middle
East Zone free of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, chemical
and biological, and their delivery systems.
Furthermore the parties will consider practical steps to prevent
the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons as
well as excessive accumulation of conventional arms.
• Refrain from developing military capacity beyond their legitimate
defence requirements, at the same time reaffirming their resolve
to achieve the same degree of security and mutual confidence with
the lowest possible levels of troops and weaponry and adherence
to CCW.
• Promote conditions likely to develop good-neighbourly relations
among themselves and support processes aimed at stability, security,
prosperity and regional and subregional cooperation.
• Consider any confidence and security-building measures that
could be taken between the parties with a view to the creation of
an "area of peace and stability in the Mediterranean",
including the long term possibility of establishing a Euro-Mediterranean
pact to that end.
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP:
CREATING AN AREA OF SHARED PROSPERITY
The participants emphasize, the importance they attach
to sustainable and balanced economic and social development with
a view to achieving their objective of creating an area of shared
prosperity.
The partners acknowledge the difficulties that the question of debt
can create for the economic development of the countries of the
Mediterranean region. They agree, in view of the importance of their
relations, to continue the dialogue in order to achieve progress
in the competent fora.
Noting that the partners have to take up common challenges, albeit
to varying degrees, the participants set themselves the following
long-term objectives:
• acceleration of the pace of sustainable socio-economic development;
• improvement of the living conditions of their populations,
increase in the employment level and reduction in the development
gap in the Euro-Mediterranean region;
• encouragement of regional cooperation and integration.
With a view to achieving these objectives, the participants agree
to establish an economic and financial; partnership which, taking
into account the different degrees of development, will be based
on:
• the progressive establishment of a free-trade area;
• the implementation of appropriate economic cooperation and
concerted action in the relevant areas;
• a substancial increase in the European Union's financial
assistance to its partners.
a) Free-trade area
The free-trade area will be established through the new Euro-Mediterranean
Agreements and free-trade agreements between partners of the European
Union. The parties have set 2010 as the target date for the gradual
establishment of this area which will cover most trade with due
observance of the obligations resulting from the WTO.
With a view to developing gradual free trade in this area: tariff
and non-tariff barriers to trade in manufactured products will be
progressively eliminated in accordance with timetables to be negotiated
between the partners; taking as a starting point traditional trade
flows, and as far as the various agricultural policies allow and
with due respect to the results achieved within the GATT negotiations,
trade in agricultural products will be progressively liberalized
through reciprocal preferential access among the parties; trade
in services including right of establishment will be progressively
liberalized having due regard to the GATS agreement.
The participants decide to facilitate the progressive establishment
of this free-trade area through the adoption of suitable measures
as regard rules of origin, certification, protection of intellectual
and industrial property rights and competition:
• the pursuit and the development of policies based on the
principles of market economy and the integration of their economies
taking into account their respective needs and levels of development;
• the adjustment and modernization of economic and social
structures, giving priority to the promotion and development of
the private sector, to the upgrading of the productive sector and
to the establishment of an appropriate institutional and regulatory
framework for a market economy. They will likewise endeavour to
mitigate the negative social consequences which may result from
this adjustment, by promoting programmes for the benefit of the
neediest populations;
• the promotion of mechanisms to foster transfers of technology.
b) Economic cooperation and concerted action
Cooperation will be developed in particular in the areas listed
below and in this respect the participants:
• acknowledge that economic development must be supported
both by internal savings, the basis of investment, and by direct
foreign investment. They stress the importance of creating an environment
conducive to investment, in particular by the progressive elimination
of obstacles to such investment which could lead to the transfer
of technology and increase production and exports;
• affirm that regional cooperation on a voluntary basis, particularly
with a view to developing trade between the partners themselves,
is a key factor in promoting the creation of a free-trade area;
• encourage enterprises to enter into agreements with each
other and undertake to promote such cooperation and industrial modernization
by providing a favourable environment and regulatory framework.
They consider it necessary to adopt and to implement a technical
support programme for SMEs;
• emphasize their interdependence with regard to the environment,
which necessitates a regional approach and increased cooperation,
as well as better coordination of existing multilateral programmes,
while confirming their attachment to the Barcelona Convention and
the Mediterranean Action Plan. They recognize the importance of
reconciling economic development with environmental protection,
of integrating environmental concerns into the relevant aspects
of economic policy and of mitigating the negative environmental
consequences which might result. They undertake to establish a short
and medium-term priority action programme, including in connection
with combating desertification, and to concentrate appropriate technical
and financial support on those actions;
• recognize the key role of women in development and undertake
to promote their active participation in economic and social life
and in the creation of employment;
• stress the importance of the conservation and rational management
of fish stocks and of the improvement of cooperation on research
into stocks, including aquaculture, and undertake to facilitate
scientific training and research and to envisage creating joint
instruments;
• acknowledge the pivotal role of the energy sector in the
economic Euro-Mediterranean partnership and decide to strengthen
cooperation and intensify dialogue in the field of energy policies.
They also decide to create the appropriate framework conditions
for investments and the activities of energy companies, cooperating
in creating the conditions enabling such companies to extend energy
networks and promote link-ups;
• recognize that water supply together with suitable management
and development of resources are priority issues for all Mediterranean
partners and that cooperation should be developed in these areas;
• agree to cooperate in modernizing and restructuring agriculture
and in promoting integrated rural development. This cooperation
will focus in particular on technical assistance and training, on
support for policies implemented by the partners to diversify production,
on the reduction of food dependency and on the promotion of environment-friendly
agriculture. They also agree to cooperate in the eradication of
illicit crops and the development of any regions affected.
The participants also agree to cooperate in other areas
and, to that effect:
• stress the importance of developing and improving infrastructures,
including through the establishment of an efficient transport system,
the development information technologies and the modernization of
telecommunications. They agree to draw up a programme of priorities
for that purpose;
• undertake to respect the principles of international maritime
law, in particular freedom to provide services in international
transport and free access to international cargoes. The results
of the ongoing multilateral trade negotiation on maritime transport
services being conducted within the WTO will be taken into account
when agreed;
• undertake to encourage cooperation between local authorities
and in support regional planning;
• recognizing that science and technology have a significant
influence on socio-economic development, agree to strengthen scientific
research capacity and development, contribute to the training of
scientific and technical staff a promote participation in joint
research projects based on the creation of scientific networks;
• agree to promote cooperation on statistics in order to harmonize
methods an exchange data.
c) Financial cooperation
The participants consider that the creation of a free-trade area
and the success the Euro-Mediterranean partnership require a substantial
increase in financial assistance, which must above all encourage
sustainable indigenous development and the mobilization of local
economic operators. They note in this connection that:
• the Cannes European Council agreed to set aside ECU 4 685
million for this financial assistance in the form of available Community
budget funds for the period 1995-1999. This will be supplemented
by EIB assistance in the form of increased loans and the bilateral
financial contributions from the Member States;
• effective financial; cooperation managed in the framework
of a multiannual programme, taking into account the special characteristics
of each of the partners is necessary;
• sound macro-economic management is of fundamental importance
in ensuring the success of the partnership. To this end they agree
to promote dialogue on their respective economic policies and on
the method of optimizing financial cooperation.
PARTNERSHIP IN SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND HUMAN
AFFAIRS:
DEVELOPING HUMAN RESOURCES, PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN CULTURES A EXCHANGES BETWEEN CIVIL SOCIETIES
The participants recognize that the traditions of
culture and civilization throughout the Mediterranean region, dialogue
between these cultures and exchanges at human, scientific and technological
level are an essential factor in bringing their peoples closer,
promoting understanding between them and improving their perception
of each other.
In this spirit, the participants agree to establish a partnership
in social, cultural and human affairs. To this end:
• they reaffirm that dialogue and respect between cultures
and religions are a necessary pre-condition for bringing the peoples
closer. In this connection they stress the importance of the role
the mass media can play in the reciprocal recognition and understanding
of cultures as a source of mutual enrichment;
• they stress the essential nature of the development of human
resources, both as regards the education and training of young people
in particular and in the area culture. They express their intent
to promote cultural exchanges and knowledge of other languages,
respecting the cultural identity of each partner, and to implement
a lasting policy of educational and cultural programmes; in this
context the partners undertake to adopt measures to facilitate human
exchanges, in particular by improving administrative procedures;
• they underline the importance of the health sector for sustainable
development a express their intention of promoting the effective
participation of the community in operations to improve health and
well-being;
• they recognize the importance of social development which,
in their view, must go hand in hand with any economic development.
They attach particular importance to respect for fundamental social
rights, including the right to development;
• they recognize the essential contribution civil society
can make in the process of development of the Euro-Mediterranean
partnership and as an essential factor for greater understanding
and closeness between peoples;
• they accordingly agree to strengthen and/or introduce the
necessary instruments of decentralized cooperation to encourage
exchanges between those active in development within the framework
of national laws: leaders of political and civil society, the cultural
and religious world, universities, the research community, the media,
organizations, the trade unions and public and private enterprises;
• on this basis, they recognize the importance of encouraging
contacts and exchanges between young people in the context of programmes
for decentralised cooperation;
• they will encourage actions of support for democratic institutions
and for the strengthening of the rule of law and civil society;
• they recognize that current population trends represent
a priority challenge which must be counterbalanced by appropriate
policies to accelerate economic take-off,
• they acknowledge the importance of the role played by migration
in their relationships.
They agree to strengthen their cooperation to reduce migratory pressures,
among other things through vocational training programmes and programmes
of assistance for job creation. They undertake to guarantee protection
of all the rights recognized under existing legislation of migrants
legally resident in their respective territories; in the area of
legal immigration they decide to establish closer cooperation.
In this context, the partners, aware of their responsibility for
readmission, agree to adopt the relevant provisions and measures,
by means of bilateral agreements or arrangements, in order to readmit
their nationals who are in an illegal situation. To that end, the
Member States of the European Union take
• citizens to mean nationals of the Member States,
as defined for Community purposes,
• they agree to strengthen cooperation by means of various
measures to prevent terrorism and fight it more effectively together,
• by the same token they consider it necessary to fight jointly
and effectively against drug trafficking, international crime and
corruption;
• they underline the importance of waging a determined campaign
against racism, xenophobia and intolerance and agree to cooperate
to that end.
FOLLOW-UP TO THE CONFERENCE
The participants:
-considering that the Barcelona Conference provides the basis for
a process, which is open and should develop;
-reaffirming their will to establish a partnership based on the
principles and objectives defined in this Declaration;
-resolved to give practical expression to this Euro-Mediterranean
partnership;
-convinced that, in order to achieve this objective, it is necessary
to continue the comprehensive dialogue thus initiated and to carry
out a series of specific actions.
Thereby adopt the attached work programme:
The Ministers for Foreign Affairs will meet periodically in order
to monitor the application of this Declaration and define actions
enabling the objectives of the partnership to be achieved.
The various activities will be followed by ad hoc thematic meetings
of ministers, senior officials and experts, exchanges of experience
and information, contacts between those active in civil society
and by any other appropriate means.
Contacts between parliamentarians, regional authorities, local authorities
and the social partners will be encouraged.
A "Euro-Mediterranean Committee for the Barcelona process"
at senior-official level, consisting of the European Union Troika
and one representative of each Mediterranean partner, will hold
regular meetings to prepare the meeting of the Ministers for Foreign
Affairs, take stock of and evaluate the follow-up to the Barcelona
process and all its components and update the work programme.
Appropriate preparatory and follow-up work for the meetings resulting
from the Barcelona work programme and from the conclusions of the
"Euro-Mediterranean Committee for the Barcelona process"
will be undertaken by the Commission departments.
The next meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs will be held
in the first semester of 1997 in one of the twelve Mediterranean
partners of the European Union, to be determined through further
consultations.
ANNEX
WORK PROGRAMME
I. Introduction
The aim of this programme is to implement the objectives of the
Barcelona Declaration, and to respect its principles, through regional
and multilateral actions. lt. is complementary both to the bilateral
cooperation, implemented in particular under the agreements between
the EU and its Mediterranean partners, and to the cooperation already
existing in other multilateral fora.
The preparation and the follow-up to the various actions will be
implemented in accordance with the principles and mechanisms set
out in the Barcelona Declaration.
The priority actions for further cooperation are listed below. This
does not exclude Euro-Mediterranean cooperation being extended to
other actions if the partners so agree.
The actions may apply to States, their local and regional authorities
as well as actors of their civil society.
With the agreement of the participants, other countries or organizations
may be
involved in the actions contained in the work programme. The implementation
must take place in a flexible and transparent way.
With the agreement of the participants, future Euro-Mediterranean
cooperation will take account, as appropriate, of the opinions and
recommendations resulting from the relevant discussions held at
various levels in the region.
The implementation of the programme should start as soon as practical
after the Barcelona Conference. It will be reviewed at the next
Euro-Mediterranean Conference on the basis of a report to be prepared
by the European Commission departments, particularly on the basis
of reports from the various meetings and Groups mentioned below,
and approved by the "Euro-Mediterranean Committee for the Barcelona
process" set up by the Barcelona Declaration.
II. Political and Security Partnership: Establishing
a common area of peace and stability
With a view to contributing to the objective of progressively creating
a zone of peace, stability and security in the Mediterranean, senior
officials will meet periodically, starting within the first quarter
of 1996. They will:
• conduct a political dialogue to examine the most appropriate
means and methods of implementing the principles adopted by the
Barcelona Declaration, and
• submit practical proposals in due time for the next Euro-Mediterranean
Meeting of Foreign Ministers. Foreign policy institutes in the Euro-Mediterranean
region will be encouraged to establish a network for more intensive
cooperation which could become operational as of 1996.
III Economic and Financial Partnership: Building a zone
of shared prosperity
Meetings will take place periodically at the level of Ministers,
officials or experts, as appropriate, to promote cooperation in
the following areas. These meetings may be supplemented, where appropriate,
by conferences or seminars involving the private sector likewise.
Establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean Free
Trade Area
The establishment of a free trade area in accordance with the principles
contained in the Barcelona Declaration is an essential element of
the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
Cooperation will focus on practical measures to facilitate the establishment
of free trade as well as its consequences, including:
-harmonizing rules and procedures in the customs field, with a view
in particular to the progressive introduction of cumulation of origin;
in the meantime, favourable consideration will be given, where appropriate,
to finding ad hoc solutions in particular cases; -harmonization
of standards, including meetings arranged by the European Standards
Organisations; -elimination of unwarranted technical barriers to
trade in agricultural products and adoption of relevant measures
related to plant-health and veterinary rules as well as other legislation
on foodstuffs; -cooperation among statistics organizations with
a view to providing reliable data on a harmonized basis; -possibilities
for regional and subregional cooperation (without prejudice to initiatives
taken in other existing fora).
Investment
The object of cooperation will be to help create a climate favourable
to the removal of obstacles to investment, by giving greater thought
to the definition of such obstacles and to means, including in the
banking sector, of promoting such investment.
Industry
Industrial modernisation and increased competitiveness will be key
factors for the success of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, In
this context, the private sector will play a more important role
in the economic development of the region and the creation of employment.
Cooperation will focus on:
• the adaptation of the industrial fabric to the changing
international environment, in particular to the emergence of the
information society;
• the framework for and the preparation of the modernisation
and restructuring of existing enterprises, especially in the public
sector, including privatisation;
• the use of international or European standards and the upgrading
of conformity testing, certification, accreditation and quality
standards.
Particular attention will be paid to means of encouraging cooperation
among SMEs and creating the conditions for their development, including
the possibility of organising workshops, taking account of experience
acquired under MEDINVEST and inside the European Union.
Agriculture
While pointing out that such matters are covered under bilateral
relations in the main, cooperation in this area will focus on:
• support for policies implemented by them to diversify production;
-reduction of food dependency; -promotion of environment-friendly
agriculture; -closer relations between businesses, groups and organizations
representing trades and professions in the partner States on a voluntary
basis; -support for privatization; -technical assistance and training;
-harmonization of plant-health and veterinary standards; - integrated
rural development, including improvement of basic services and the
development of associated economic activities;
• cooperation among rural regions, exchange of experience
and know-how concerning rural development;
• development of regions affected by the eradication of illicit
crops.
Transport
Efficient interoperable transport links between the EU and its Mediterranean
partners, and among the partners themselves, as well as free access
to the market for services in international maritime transport,
are essential to the development of trade patterns and the smooth
operation of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
The Transport Ministers of Western Mediterranean countries met twice
in 1995 and, following the Regional Conference for the Development
of Maritime Transport in the Mediterranean, the Mediterranean Waterborne
Transport Working Group adopted a multiannual programme.
Cooperation will focus on:
• development of an efficient Trans-Mediterranean multimodal
combined sea and air transport system, through the improvement and
modernization of ports and airports, the suppression of unwarranted
restrictions, the simplification of procedures, the improvement
of maritime and air safety, the harmonization of environmental standards
at a high level including more efficient monitoring of maritime
pollution, and the development of harmonized traffic management
systems;
• development of east-west land links on the southern and
eastern shores of the Mediterranean, and
• connection of Mediterranean transport networks to the Trans-European
Network in order to ensure their interoperability.
Energy
A high-level Conference was held in Tunisia in 1995 with a follow-up
meeting in Athens and an Energy Conference in Madrid on 20 November
1995. With a view to creating appropriate conditions for investment
in and activities by energy companies, future cooperation will focus,
inter alia on:
• fostering the association of Mediterranean countries with
the Treaty on the European Energy Charter;
• energy planning;
• encouraging producer-consumer dialogue;
• oil and gas exploration, refining, transportation, distribution,
and regional and trans-regional trade;
• coal production and handling;
• generation and transmission of power and interconnection
and development of networks;
• energy efficiency;
• new and renewable sources of energy;
• energy-related environmental issues;
• development of joint research programmes;
• training and information activities in the energy sector.
Telecommunications and information technology
With a view to developing a modern, efficient telecommunications
network, cooperation will focus on:
• information and telecommunications infrastructures (minimum
regulatory framework, standards, conformity testing, network interoperability,
etc.);
• regional infrastructures including links with European networks;
and access to services new services in priority fields of application.
Intensification of Euro-Mediterranean exchanges and access to the
nascent information society will be facilitated by more efficient
information and communications infrastructures.
A regional conference is planned for 1996 with the aim of paving
the way for pilot projects to show the concrete benefits of the
information society.
Regional Planning
Co-operation will focus on: - defining a regional planning strategy
for the Euro-Mediterranean area commensurate with the countries'
requirements and special features; - promoting cross-border cooperation
in areas of mutual interest.
Tourism
The Ministers for Tourism, meeting in Casablanca, adopted the Mediterranean
Tourism Charter in 1995. The cooperation actions to be initiated
will relate in particular to information, promotion and training.
Environment
Co-operation will focus on:
• assessing environmental problems in the Mediterranean region
and defining, where appropriate, the initiatives to be taken;
• making proposals to establish and subsequently update a
short and medium-term priority environmental action programme for
intervention coordinated by the European Commission and supplemented
by long-term actions; it should include among the main areas for
action, the following: integrated management of water, soil and
coastal areas; management of waste; preventing and combating air
pollution and pollution in the Mediterranean sea; natural heritage,
landscapes and site conservation and management; Mediterranean forest
protection, conservation and restoration, in particular through
the prevention and control of erosion, soil degradation,
• forest fires and combating desertification; transfer of
Community experience in financing techniques, legislation and environmental
monitoring; integration of environmental concerns in all policies;
• setting up a regular dialogue to monitor the implementation
of the action programme;
• reinforcing regional and subregional cooperation and strengthening
coordination with the Mediterranean Action Plan;
• stimulating coordination of investments from various sources,
and implementation of relevant international conventions;
• promoting the adoption and implementation of legislation
and regulatory measures when required, especially preventive measures
and appropriate high standards.
Science and Technology
Cooperation will focus on:
• promoting research and development and tackling the problem
of the widening gap in scientific achievement, taking account of
the principle of mutual advantage;
• stepping up exchanges of experience in the scientific sectors
and policies which might best enable the Mediterranean partners
to reduce the gap between them and their European neighbours and
to promote the transfer of technology.
• helping train scientific and technical staff by increasing
participation in joint research projects.
Following the Ministerial meeting at Sophia Antipolis in March 1995,
a Monitoring Committee was set up; this Committee will meet for
the first time immediately after the Barcelona Conference. It will
focus on making recommendations for the joint implementation of
the policy priorities agreed at Ministerial level.
Water
The Mediterranean Water Charter was adopted in Rome in 1992.
Water is a priority issue for all the Mediterranean partners and
will gain in importance as water scarcity becomes more pressing.
The purpose of cooperation in this area will be as follows:
• to take stock of the situation taking into account current
and future needs;
• to identify ways of reinforcing regional cooperation;
• to make proposals for rationalising the planning and management
of water resources, where appropriate on a joint basis;
• to contribute towards the creation of new sources of water.
Fisheries
In view of the importance of conservation and rational management
of Mediterranean fish stocks, cooperation in the framework of the
General Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean will be reinforced.
Following the Ministerial Fisheries Conference held in Heraklion
in 1994, appropriate follow-up action will be taken in the legal
sphere through meetings to take place in 1996.
Cooperation will be improved on research into fish stocks, including
aquaculture, as well as into training and scientific research.
IV. Partnership in Social, Cultural and Human
affairs : Developing Human Resources, Promoting Understanding between
Cultures and Exchanges between Civil Societies
Development of human resources
The Euro-Mediterranean partnership must contribute to enhancing
educational levels throughout the region, whilst laying special
emphasis on the Mediterranean partners. To this end, a regular dialogue
on educational policies will take place, initially focusing on vocational
training, technology in education, the universities and other higher-education
establishments and research. In this context as well as in other
areas, particular attention will be paid to the role of women. The
Euro-Arab Business School in Granada and the European Foundation
in Turin will also contribute to this cooperation.
A meeting of representatives of the vocational training sector (policy
makers, academics, trainers, etc) will be organised with the aim
of sharing modern management approaches.
A meeting will be held of representatives of universities and higher-education
establishments. The European Commission will strengthen its ongoing
MED-Campus programme.
A meeting will also be called on the subject of technology in education.
Municipalities and Regions
Municipalities and regional authorities need to be closely involved
in the operation of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. City and
regional representatives will be encouraged to meet each year to
take stock of their common challenges and exchange experiences.
This will be organised by the European Commission and will take
account of previous experience.
Dialogue between cultures and civilizations
Given the importance of improving mutual understanding by promoting
cultural exchanges and knowledge of languages, officials and experts
will meet in order to make concrete proposals for action, inter
alia, in the following fields: cultural and creative heritage, cultural
and artistic events, co-productions (theatre and cinema), translations
and other means of cultural dissemination, training.
Greater understanding among the major religions present in the Euro-Mediterranean
region will facilitate greater mutual tolerance and cooperation.
Support will be given to periodic meetings of representatives of
religions and religious institutions as well as theologians, academics
and others concerned, with the aim of breaking down prejudice, ignorance
and fanaticism and fostering cooperation at grass-roots level. The
conferences held in Stockholm (15/17.6.1995) and Toledo (4/7.11.1995)
may serve as examples in this context.
Media
Close interaction between the media will work in favour of better
cultural understanding. The European Union will actively promote
such interaction, in particular through the ongoing MED-Media programme.
An annual meeting of representatives of the media will be organised
in this context.
Youth
Youth exchanges should be the means to prepare future generations
for a closer cooperation between the Euro-Mediterranean partners.
A Euro-Mediterranean youth exchange programme should therefore be
established based on experience acquired in Europe and taking account
of the partners' needs; this programme should take account of the
importance of vocational training, particularly for those without
qualifications, and of the training of organizers and social workers
in the youth field. The European Commission will make the necessary
proposals before the next meeting of Euro-Mediterranean Foreign
Ministers.
Exchanges between Civil Societies
Senior officials will meet periodically to discuss measures likely
to facilitate human exchanges resulting from the Euro-Mediterranean
partnership, especially those involving officials, scientists, academics,
businessmen, students and sportsmen, including the improvement and
simplification of administrative procedures, particularly where
unnecessary administrative obstacles might exist. Social Development
The Euro-Mediterranean partnership must contribute to improving
the living and working conditions and increasing the employment
level of the population in the Mediterranean partner States, in
particular of women and the neediest strata of the population. In
this context the partners attach particular importance to the respect
and promotion of basic social rights. To that end, actors in social
policies will meet periodically at the appropriate level.
Health
The partners agree to concentrate cooperation in this area
on:
• action on raising awareness, information and prevention;
• development of public health services, in particular health
care, primary health centres, maternal; and child health care services,
family planning, epidemiological supervision systems and measures
to control communicable diseases;
• training of health and health-administration personnel;
• medical cooperation in the event of natural disasters.
Migration
Given the importance of the issue of migration for Euro-Mediterranean
relations, meetings will be encouraged in order to make proposals
concerning migration flows and pressures. These meetings will take
account of experience acquired, inter alia, under the MED-Migration
programme, particularly as regards improving the living conditions
of migrants legally established in the Union.
Terrorism
Drug Trafficking, Organised crime
Fighting terrorism will have to be a priority for all the parties.
To that end, officials will meet periodically with the aim of strengthening
cooperation among police, judicial and other authorities. In this
context, consideration will be given, in particular, to stepping
up exchanges of information and improving extradition procedures.
Officials will meet periodically to discuss practical measures which
can be taken to improve cooperation among police, judicial, customs,
administrative and other authorities in order to combat, in particular,
drug trafficking and organised crime, including smuggling. Al these
meetings will be organised with due regard for the need for a differentiated
approach that takes into account the diversity of the situation
in each country.
Illegal Immigration
Officials will meet periodically to discuss practical measures which
can be taken to improve cooperation among police, judicial, customs,
administrative and other authorities in order to combat illegal
immigration.
These meetings will be organized with due regard for the need for
a differentiated approach that takes into account the diversity
of the situation in each country.
V. Institutional contacts
Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Dialogue
An Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Security and Cooperation in
the Mediterranean was held in Valletta from 1 to 4 November 1995.
The European Parliament is invited to take the initiative with other
parliaments concerning the future Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary
Dialogue, which could enable the elected representatives of the
partners to exchange ideas on a wide range of issues.
Other institutional contacts
Regular contacts among other European organs, in particular the
Economic and Social Committee of the European Community, and their
Mediterranean counterparts, would contribute to a better understanding
of the major issues relevant in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
To this end, the Economic and Social Committee is
invited to take the initiative in establishing links with its Mediterranean
counterparts and equivalent bodies. In this context, a Euro-Mediterranean
meeting of Economic and Social Committees and equivalent bodies
will take place in Madrid on 12 and 13 December.
|