SECOND EURO-MEDITERRANEAN
CONFERENCE
OF FOREIGN MINISTERS
Malta, 15-16 April 1997
The Council of the European Union, represented by its President,
Mr Hans van MIERLO,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands,
also representing the Netherlands,
The European Commission, represented by Mr Manuel MARIN GONZALEZ,
Vice-President,
Algeria, represented by Mr Ahmed ATTAF, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Austria, represented by Mrs Benita FERRERO-WALDNER, State Secretary,
Ministryof Foreign Affairs,
Belgium, represented by Mr Erik DERYCKE, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Cyprus, represented by Dr Ioannis KASOULIDES, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Denmark, represented by Mr Niels HELVEG PETERSEN, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Egypt, represented by Mr Amre MOUSSA, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Finland, represented by Mr Ole NORRBACK, Minister for European Affairs
and Foreign Trade,
France, represented by Mr Hervé de CHARETTE, Minister for
Foreign Affairs,
Germany, represented by Mr Klaus KINKEL, Vice-Chancellor and Minister
for Foreign Affairs,
Jordan, represented by Dr Fayez TARAWNEH, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Greece, represented by Mr George PAPANDREOU, Alternate Minister
of Foreign Affairs,
Ireland, represented by Mr Dick SPRING, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Israel, represented by Mr David LEVY, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Italy, represented by Mr Lamberto DINI, 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 Mr George VELLA, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Environment,
Morocco, represented by Mr Abdellatif FILALI, Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Portugal, represented by Mr Francisco SEIXAS DA COSTA, State Secretary
for European Affairs,
United Kingdom, represented by Baroness CHALKER OF WALLASEY, Minister
of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
Syria, represented by Mr Farouk AL-SHARAA, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Spain, represented by Mr Ramon DE MIGUEL, State Secretary for Foreign
Affairs,
Sweden, represented by Mrs Lena HJELM-WALLEN, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Tunisia, represented by Mr Abderrahim ZOUARI, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Turkey, represented by Mr Ufuk SOYLEMEZ, Minister of State for Economic
Affairs,
the Palestinian Authority, represented by Mr Yasser ARAFAT, President
of the Palestinian Authority,
taking part in the second Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Malta;
- recalling that the Declaration adopted at the first Euro-Mediterranean
Conference in Barcelona on 28th November 1995 lays the foundations
of a multilateral and lasting framework of relations through the
establishment of a comprehensive Partnership comprising three Chapters
relating to political and security affairs, economic and financial
affairs and social, cultural and human affairs;
- taking account of the progress made in implementing that Partnership,
particularly in line with the work programme annexed to the Barcelona
Declaration;
- reaffirming their commitment to the Barcelona Process, which constitutes
a fundamental political basis, and reaffirming the common principles
and objectives as enshrined in the Barcelona Declaration and in
the Work Programme;
- expressing, in this context, their deep concern about the obstacles
which are blocking the Middle East Peace Process and stressing the
need for the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace
in the Middle East within the framework of the Peace Process as
agreed in Madrid on 31 October 1991;
- reiterating that this Euro-Mediterranean initiative is not intended
to replace the other activities and initiatives undertaken in the
interest of peace, stability and development in the region, but
that it will contribute to their success and reiterating their support
for 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;
- taking note of the progress report from the European Commission
of 19th February 1997 on the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership;
- resolved to confirm and strengthen their Euro-Mediterranean Partnership,
the Participants reaffirm their wish to ensure a balanced development
of the three Chapters of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership;
agree on the following conclusions:
Substantial progress in the development of the Euro-Mediterranean
Partnership has been achieved since its establishment, despite the
uncertainties of the regional political and security situation.
The Participants are aware that they are in the process of establishing
a fully-fledged Partnership, and recognize the amount of work which
still lies ahead. They stress the importance of balanced development
of the Partnership through the gradual implementation of all three
Chapters of the Barcelona Declaration and the Work Programme, as
well as the complementary and mutually reinforcing nature of the
bilateral and multilateral dimensions. This process is achieved
in full awareness of the link which exists between stability and
the promotion of economic and social development in the region.
In view thereof, they undertake to give, in full agreement and in
a concerted manner, priority to a number of objectives, and to monitor
progress in achieving them before the next Euro-Mediterranean Conference
of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs.
I. Political and Security Partnership: establishing a common
area of peace and stability
The Participants take note of the various activities that the Senior
Officials have undertaken in order to implement the first chapter
of the Barcelona Declaration and the corresponding chapter of the
Work Programme, included in Annex I. They take note of the results
that have been achieved so far. They take note of the assessment
by the Senior Officials that the contacts among the partners have
created a basis of trust and a new platform for political consultations
with a view to fulfilment of the common objectives in matters of
external and internal stability, inter alia the rule of law, democracy
and human rights, included in the Barcelona Declaration and the
Work Programme. They encourage the Senior Officials to continue
and deepen the political dialogue in line with the Work Programme
annexed to the Barcelona Declaration.
The Participants take note of the progress made by Senior Officials
on the draft action plan. This draft is considered, in its entirety,
a rolling document to be regularly updated by the Senior Officials
in order to sustain its function as a guide for them in their efforts
to implement the principles and common objectives of the political
and security partnership of the Barcelona process.
The Participants take note of the work carried out by the Senior
Officials on confidence and security-building measures, in particular
those already in operation or approved and included in Annex I.
They recognize that other measures at different stages of development
should be approved in a progressive way, taking duly into account
the evolution of the situation in the Mediterranean region.
The Participants take note of the work of Senior Officials on a
Charter for peace and stability in the Euro-Mediterranean region,
and instruct them to continue the preparatory work, taking due account
of the exchanged documents, in order to submit as soon as possible
an agreed text for approval at a future Ministerial Meeting when
political circumstances allow.
II. Economic and Financial Partnership: creating an area
of shared prosperity
The Participants take note of the progress made in the exploratory
talks, the negotiations, signature and ratification of Euro-Mediterranean
Association Agreements, as well as in the implementation of customs
unions and pre-accession arrangements.
They reaffirm the importance they attach to the full attribution
of the ECU 4.685 million of Community budgetary funds as agreed
at the Cannes European Council and the increased loans from the
EIB.
The Participants take note of the commitment of Community budgetary
funds in 1995 and 1996 of ECU 1.205 million in the form of grants
and the signing of ECU 1.694 million in the form of EIB loans. Furthermore
they take note of the prospects for further commitments of up to
ECU 1.002 million in grants in 1997 and the agreement by the Council
concerning EIB lending of up to ECU 2.310 million over the period
1997 to 1999.
The Participants reaffirm that the implementation of MEDA will be
carried out in a fair and even-handed way in accordance with transparent
procedures fully respecting the appropriate financial and regulatory
arrangements as well as those agreed and to be agreed with the beneficiary
countries, and the international obligations of the
beneficiary countries with the aim of improving the pace and conditions
of implementation.
The Participants welcome the regional activities which have taken
place in many sectors and which have allowed for the exchange of
knowledge and experience, the creation of fora for continuing regional
dialogue aimed at defining the key elements of sectoral policies,
and the launching of several concrete cooperation activities. A
list of these activities is attached as Annex II to these conclusions.
The Participants reiterate the importance they attach to sustainable
and balanced economic and social development in view of their objective
of creating an area of shared prosperity, taking into account the
different degrees of development. They agree to give a new impetus
to the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean free-trade area with
2010 as a target date, with due observance of the obligations resulting
from the WTO. They also agree to implement rapidly and in an efficient
and careful manner financial assistance, principally through MEDA
funds and EIB lending, as well as bilateral assistance from the
European Union Member States to the Mediterranean partners, in accordance
with the undertakings given at Barcelona.
They underline the importance of:
- accelerating in a constructive manner work on negotiation and
ratification of the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements, which
are one of the essential elements of the free-trade area, with a
view to their entry into force as soon as possible;
- further developing the free-trade area, in particular through
increased intra-regional and sub-regional cooperation, facilitated
by technical assistance from the Union, for the achievement of free
trade through agreements amongst the Mediterranean Partners;
- taking a range of accompanying measures at regional level to permit
greater harmonization and greater compatibility with the Union's
internal market. Areas such as: cumulation of rules of origin, customs
cooperation, standards, intellectual property, taxation and competition
should be encouraged in particular. Appropriate initiatives in these
fields are welcomed. Training initiatives will also be encouraged.
In view of these objectives, the Participants take note of the work
of government experts on economic transition and of the Euro-Mediterranean
network of economic institutes. They agree that this work should
result in a survey which, drawn up under the auspices of the Commission
and in collaboration with the partners, will cover free-trade issues
and the impact of economic transition in the region. This survey
will be available in time for the next Euro-Mediterranean conference
of Foreign Ministers and could serve as a basis for discussion on
a future strategy.
In the context of such a strategy, the Participants further underline
the importance of:
- undertaking a more systematic and efficient approach to encourage
private investment in the region, including direct foreign investment,
in particular through the wider dissemination of information and
the removal of obstacles to investment, amongst others through the
use of measures to promote investments, to promote greater competitiveness
and private sector growth, and to create employment opportunities,
and thereby to establish favourable conditions for investment in
the Mediterranean partners;
- promoting the harmonization of rules and regulations relevant
to the creation of the Euro-Mediterranean free-trade area;
- reinforcing and concentrating activities on priority sectors where
cooperation has already been successfully started, in particular
industrial policy, including industrial modernization, SMEs, energy
policy, environment, water policy, the information society and maritime
transport. The Participants also agree to begin cooperation in such
sectors as modernizing and restructuring agriculture, the evolution
of trade in agricultural products, reducing food dependency, developing
regional infrastructure, and the transfer of technology;
- pursuing and implementing as quickly as possible measures to alleviate
the negative social consequences which may result from the adjustment
and modernization of economic and social structures;
- continuing the dialogue on debt in order to achieve progress in
the competent fora, taking note of recent operations to reduce the
external debt of Mediterranean third countries owed to certain countries
of the European Union or debt equity swaps on a voluntary and bilateral
basis, which has the effect of increasing European direct investment;
- helping the Mediterranean partners to prepare for the future evolution
of the European Union.
III. Partnership in social, cultural and human affairs:
developing human resources, promoting understanding
between cultures and exchanges between civil societies
The Participants recall 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.
The Participants welcome the progress made on regional cooperation
in some fields in the Partnership in social, cultural and human
affairs. A list of activities is attached as Annex III to these
conclusions. However the Participants note that further efforts
are needed in order to achieve the objectives of this chapter of
the partnership, in accordance with the Barcelona Declaration and
the Work Programme.
In this respect they underline their common wish to:
- adopt the regional projects currently under discussion concerning
cultural heritage, prepare a further set of such projects and widen
the scope of cooperation to cover other cultural activities, including
in the audio-visual sector. The Participants welcome the intention
to put forward a regional programme on culture and information.
Cultural aspects should be taken into account in other actions within
the framework of the partnership;
- actively pursue the dialogue between cultures and civilisations,
within the overall objective of improving mutual understanding and
bringing people closer together, taking account of the work already
accomplished. In this context, the Participants recall their commitment
to adopt measures likely to facilitate human exchanges, particularly
through the improvement of administrative procedures;
- consolidate the dialogue between civil societies, an example being
the Civil Forum. In this context the Participants look forward to
the relaunch of the European Union's decentralised cooperation programmes
(MED CAMPUS, MED MEDIA and MED URBS), as soon as a satisfactory
management system has been set up; they will work towards the effective
development of this cooperation, including administrative aspects;
- maintain and develop the direct involvement of civil societies,
within the framework of national legislation, among others via the
establishment of networks between NGOs;
- encourage active cooperation in the field of the prevention of
and the fight against terrorism in accordance with the Barcelona
Declaration and the Work Programme (*);
- establish programmes of activities for youth and health which
complement existing bilateral and multilateral activities in this
sphere; specific initiatives for youth will be put forward shortly;
- continue and develop education, including higher education, and
training activities;
- wage a determined campaign against racism and xenophobia and intolerance,
and agree to cooperate to that end;
- intensify, in accordance with the Barcelona Declaration and Work
Programme, the dialogue and cooperation on a Euro-Mediterranean
multilateral level;
- on migration issues and human exchanges;
- in the field of illegal immigration;
- continue the dialogue on governance, with a particular emphasis
on the relationship between civil society and administrative systems
with the aim of reinforcing the efficiency and reliability of public
administration;
- pursue actively a dialogue and cooperation on combatting organised
crime and all aspects of the illicit drugs trade.
IV. General aspects
The Participants reaffirm the role of the Euro-Mediterranean Committee
for the Barcelona Process as a central forum for providing impetus,
monitoring and following up actions and initiatives within the framework
of the Partnership. They consider in addition that the Committee
should place particular emphasis on ensuring that balance and coherence
be maintained in the follow-up to the Barcelona Process, through
an improved evaluation of the results and recommendations of the
various activities undertaken in the framework of the Partnership.
They also agree that the role of the Committee would be enhanced
by the presence of the representatives of all Member States of the
European Union.
The Participants agree on the need to increase further the visibility
of the work undertaken in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. They
note the measures undertaken by the Commission to make available
general information on the Partnership, and underline the importance
of every partner increasing its efforts to keep its own public informed.
The Participants reaffirm the importance they attach to the active
involvement of Parliaments in the Partnership. They welcome the
fact that the European Parliament has taken the initiative with
other Parliaments to begin the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary
dialogue.
The Participants also encourage the continuation of the dialogue
among social Partners.
The Participants welcome the proposal by the European Union to hold
the next meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs in Germany
in the first half of 1999.
ANNEX I
POLITICAL AND SECURITY ASPECTS
Meetings and seminars
- Meetings of Senior Officials in charge of the political and security
aspects, Brussels 26-27 March, 20-21 May, 23-24 July, 8 October,
20 November 1996, 28 January 1997 and The Hague, 12 March 1997
- Joint meeting of Senior Officials in charge of the political and
security partnership and EuroMeSco, The Hague 11 March 1997
- Information sessions for Euro-Mediterranean diplomats, Malta 28
September-6 October 1996, 15-19 March 1997
Inventory of measures
- Setting up of a network of contact points for political and security
matters Exchange of information on dherence to international human
rights instruments (completed)
- Exchange of information on adherence to international legal instruments
in the field of disarmament and arms control (replies to questionnaire)
- Exchange of information on adherence to international instruments
in the field of prevention of and fight against terrorism (replies
to questionnaire)
- Convening of diplomatic seminars (Malta) (Egypt)
- Establishment of EuroMesco network of foreign policy institutes
ANNEX II
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL ASPECTS
Statistics Cooperation
- Seminar of Directors General of Statistics and Regional Programme
for Cooperation in Statistics, on 11-13 December 1995 in Valence
- Seminar of Directors General of Statistics and Regional Programme
for Cooperation in Statistics, on 18-20 June 1996 in Naples
Customs cooperation
- Meeting of Officials on rules of origin, on 28-29 March 1996 in
Brussels
- Meeting of Officials on rules of origin, on 28-29 May 1996 in
Brussels
- Meeting of Officials on rules of origin, on 7-8 October 1996 in
Cairo
Information Society
- Workshop on Research (preparatory workshop to the Ministerial
Conference on Information Society), on 1-2 April 1996 in Sofia Antipolis
- Workshop on Education and Training (preparatory workshop to the
Ministerial Conference on Information Society), on 2-3 May 1996
in Brussels
- Workshop on the Regulatory Framework (preparatory workshop to
the Ministerial Conference on Information Society), on 6-7 May 1996
in Palermo
- Ministerial Conference on Information Society, on 30-31 May 1996
in Rome
- Conference on MARIS (Maritime Information Society), on 7 June
1996 in Malta
Tourism
- Ministerial Conference on Tourism, on 10-11 May 1996 in Naples
Private Investment and Industry
- Industrial Federations Conference, on 13-14 May 1996 in Malta
- Meeting of Industry Ministers, on 20-21 May 1996 in Brussels
- Workshop on SMEs, on 4-5 June 1996 in Milan
- Working Group on Service centres and industrial zones, on 24-25
June 1996 in Rome
- Workshop on contracting services in the Mediterranean, on 17-18
October 1996 in Istanbul
- Euro-Mediterranean Summit of industrial federations, on 5-6 December
1996 in Marrakech
- Conference on Private Investment, on 6-7 March 1997 in London
- Experts Meeting on Economic Transition, on 20-21 March in Brussels
- Working Group on Development of the Industrial and Entrepreneurial
Fabric, on 24 March 1997 in Brussels
- Meeting of Economic Institutes, on 24-25 March 1997 in Marseilles
Energy
- Meeting in margins of the Solar Summit, on 22 May 1996 in Malta
(preparatory meeting to the Conference of Energy Ministers)
- Conference of Energy Ministers, on 7-9 June 1996 in Trieste
- Meeting on the European Energy Charter, on 21-22 November 1996
in Brussels
Environment
- Experts Meeting on the protection of wetlands in the Mediterranean
area, on 5-6 June 1996 in Venice
Transport
- Meeting of Experts on the implementation of the multi-annual Programme
on maritime transport in the Mediterranean, on 14-15 October 1996
in Cyprus
Water
- Conference on the water local management, on 25-26 November 1996
in Marseilles
Fishing
- Experts preparatory Meeting on fish stocks management in the Mediterranean,
on 4-5 July 1996 in Brussels
- 2nd Diplomatic Conference on fish stocks management in the Mediterranean,
from 27 to 29 November 1996 in Venice
Science and Technology
- 2nd meeting of the Monitoring Committee on Science and Technology,
on 2-3 May 1996 in Capri
- 3rd meeting of the Monitoring Committee on Science and Technology,
on 12-13 December 1996 in Cyprus
ANNEX III
SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND HUMAN AFFAIRS
Dialogue among Cultures and Civilisations
- Workshop on the conservation of cultural heritage (preparatory
workshop to the Bologna Conference on cultural heritage), on 9-10
February 1996 in Arles
- Workshop on the access to cultural heritage (preparatory workshop
to the Bologna Conference on cultural heritage), on 23-24 February
1996 in Berlin
- Workshop on the heritage as a factor in sustainable development
(preparatory workshop to the Bologna conference on the cultural
heritage), on 22-23 March 1996 in Amman
- Ministerial Conference on cultural heritage, on 22-23 April 1996
in Bologna
- Conference on relations between the Islamic world and Europe,
on 10-13 June 1996 in Amman
- Conference on contemporary Islam, on 17-18 June 1996 in Copenhagen
Social development
- Tripartite Conference on the euro-mediterranean social area: work,
enterprise, training, on 24-25 May 1996 in Catania
- Conference on Governance in the Euro-Mediterranean Region, on
17-18 March in The Hague
Dialogue on Human Rights
- Workshop on the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, on 10-11
January 1997 in Copenhagen
Fight against Drug and organized crime
- Officials Meeting on drug trafficking and organized crime, on
11-12 June 1996 in Taormina
Summits of Economic and Social Committees
- On 12-13 December 1995 in Madrid, on 26-27 November 1996 in Paris
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