| Conclusions on Human Rights,
Environment and Trade Unions
EUROMED CIVIL FORUM
Stuttgart, 12-17 April 1999
Following are the main conclusions of the three Civil Forum Conferences
held in Stuttgart parallel to the Euromed Foreign Ministers’
Conference:
The Conference on Human Rights and Citizenship in the Mediterranean,
April 15-16.
Experts and representatives of Human Rights and Civil Society associations
from the 27 Euromed Partners reached a series of recommendations,
which basic points can be summarised as follows:
1) On the Middle East Peace Process, participants requested the
European Union to make pressure on Israel to implement all agreements
signed with the Palestinians since the Oslo Conference. Regarding
other conflicts, they expressed concern about the situation of Human
Rights in Algiers and the oppression exercised against minorities
in countries like Turkey and Iraq. Participants called for a dramatically
urgent action in favour of the Kosovo population, victim of ethnic
cleansing.
2) On the situation of Human Rights, participants called on all
Partners to work for guaranteeing that both legislation and practices
be in accordance with the Declaration, adopted by the UN in December,
1998, on the rights and responsibilities of individuals, groups
and social organisations to promote and protect Human Rights and
freedom.
3) Concerning human exchanges and fight against all forms of discrimination,
participants called upon all Partners to review their legislations
related to foreigners’ access and residence conditions in
the EU.
http://www.euromedi.org/inglese/home/partenariato/forum/1999stoccarda.asp
Regarding women’s rights, they called for the lifting of reservations
made to the Convention for the elimination of all forms of discrimination.
They also called for adapting national legislation to international
instruments to ensure real equality.
5) As for the participation of Civil Society to the Barcelona Process,
they recommended the setting up of a permanent co-operation framework
including all Civil Society fora. They also underlined the need
to reinforce the role of Civil Society in the implementation, follow-up
and evaluation of this Process.
The Conference on the Environment, April 13-15. The NGOs reaffirmed
their commitment to the objective of sustainable development called
for under the Barcelona Declaration. They recalled the Euromed Partners’
commitment to integrate environmental concerns into all policies;
underlined the crucial environmental importance of the Mediterranean
and welcomed the adoption in 1997 of the Short and Medium Term Action
Programme on the Environment (SMAP). Among other issues, they recommended
the Euromed Foreign Ministers’ Conference to:
1) Recognise in their final Declaration that a Euromed Sustainable
Development Strategy for the next 15 years should urgently be adopted.
2) Establish a Euromed Sustainable Trade Area based on economically
viable, socially equitable and environmentally positive development.
3) Promote the integration of environmental policies into all fields
of co-operation foreseen in the Barcelona Declaration as is agreed
in the Amsterdam Treaty.
4) Establish a dispute resolution mechanism for potential trade
and environment disputes arising out of the proposed Free Trade
Area.
5) Make all loans compatible with the carrying capacity of the
region and aligne lending procedures with those of other multilateral
development Banks. The European Investment Bank as a main financial
mechanism for the implementation of the Partnership should be used
as a leverage for sustainable development.
6) Consider that foreign debt of many Med Partners is a significant
constraint to their development and take the necessary measures
to convert their debt into projects promoting sustainable development.
7) Support the Commission’s efforts for environmental integration
as well as the ability of EU Delegations in the Med Partners to
inform and support local NGOs; enhance the Commission’s role
in integrating environment in the Barcelona Process; give all support
to the SMAP, and facilitate the Med NGOs’ access to the funds
available.
Conference on Economic Development, Industrial relations and the
role of Trade Unions, April 13-16. Participants adopted a five-point
resolution, summarised as follows:
1) To reinforce and structure Euromed Trade Union Co-operation:
consolidating and developing all the contents of the Barcelona Declaration,
the Euromed Partnership represents a key factor in the future of
the region. The Trade Unions’ movement expressed in this regard
deep concern about the absence of a social dimension, the burden
on the Southern Partners and the lack of genuine Trade Unions participation
at all levels. The Trade Unions aim to mobilise and structure themselves
around the Partnership to best represent the specific interests
of all workers on both sides of the Mediterranean. Participants
welcomed a proposal to establish a Euromed Trade Union Forum in
the framework of the Partnership.
2) To promote and develop a balance between social and economic
interests: whilst recognising the significant potential of the Partnership,
the conference noted that there is an imbalance in its architecture
when the social dimension is taken into account. Partners are generally
confronted with the problems of restructuring, privatisation and
adaptation without an adequate accompanying social policy.
3) To create employment and prospects for young people: dramatic
restructuring and hostile privatisation do not generate employment.
They called for the introduction of infrastructure projects in the
framework of the Partnership, notably concerning water, energy,
transport, environment and professional training. The Trade Unions’
movement also called for a clear commitment of Governments to guarantee
the full respect of basic social rights.
4) To establish genuine social dialogue at national and transitional
levels: the conference noted a general disappointment with the current
approach of the MEDA programme and called for the urgent creation
of a Euromed Social Fund, similar to that which already exists the
EU level.
5) Democratisation as a pre-condition for progress and respect
for Human Rights. Participants stated that the cancellation of the
external debt of the least well-off Partners is necessary both for
stability and economic progress.
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