Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-04-10-Speech-3-046"
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"en.20020410.2.3-046"2
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". – Mr President, firstly I would like to congratulate Mr Esteve on his excellent report, as many others have done in this debate. It clearly shows the importance that Parliament gives to the Mediterranean region. I noted Mr Swoboda's remark about his being the only non-Mediterranean participant in the debate – there is in fact more than one, but it can be looked upon as a strength of this Parliament that we have such commitment to and identification with an issue like this.
So what is the way ahead? How can we raise the profile of the partnership? How can it better be used to guarantee a common area of peace and stability?
Politically, we must pursue and reinforce our support for the Barcelona Process as a tool for promoting understanding and political dialogue. The road is well-paved, despite some potholes on its way. A clear example of this dialogue is the senior officials' meeting on terrorism just held on 27 March.
By the same token, the 27 partners have been able to come a long way towards an agreement around a set of priority actions on an issue as sensitive as Justice and Home Affairs. We hope to reach a final consensus in Valencia. Based on these priorities the Commission will launch this year a regional programme on judicial cooperation, the fight against terrorism and organised crime, and migration. This success marks a milestone for the partnership and demonstrates its political capabilities and potential. In particular, as far as migration issues are concerned, several of the requests by Parliament (observatory on migration flows, network of contacts) will be included in the coming regional programme.
At an institutional level, further efforts need to be made in order to promote the "co-ownership" of the Barcelona Process. A feeling that the EU "imposes its agenda" exists among the southern partners and needs to be alleviated. In this sense your proposal of launching a Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly is more than welcome.
Economically, signs are encouraging. The grid of association agreements is almost completed; South/South trade integration progresses, notably in the framework of the Agadir Process – even if not as fast as we would like. The Meda programme has dramatically improved its delivery – though given the starting point one might say that improvement had to happen – but still, it is happening with a ratio of payments to commitments of 53% in 2001 compared to a mere 26% for the 1995-1999 period. We are catching up.
Yet the economic situation of the region remains uncertain and demands supplementary efforts from everybody. I am glad that Parliament supports our proposals to further this process, in particular in areas such as investments, environment, transport, infrastructures and energy.
As you know, the idea of launching a Euro-Mediterranean Bank did not receive the full assent of the Member States at the Barcelona European Council. Nonetheless, a new European Investment Bank facility will be launched and a representative office of the EIB in the region will be created.
Finally, the social and human aspects of the partnership show today, more than ever, its relevance, creating bridges across the Mediterranean and promoting a better understanding of each other’s cultures and societies. I noted that this aspect was given prominence in many of the contributions in the debate here today. The Barcelona Process allows a unique and structured framework that allows this social and cultural dialogue at regional level – not only North/South, but also South/South and indeed South/North.
The European Commission has put forward a set of new proposals. I am happy to see that they are very well taken by Parliament, in particular the Euromed Foundation and the cooperation between universities (the Tempus programme).
As regards the launching of a new Euromed Foundation, the Commission is persuaded that it would contribute to the enhancement of the partnership. However, some Member States do not seem to be as convinced as we are. Some efforts of political persuasion will be required in the coming weeks. The Commission has also proposed the enlargement of the Tempus programme on university cooperation to the Mediterranean. The approval of this extension will be obtained at the Council of Education Ministers on 30 May. Moreover, all existing regional programmes in this area (heritage, audiovisual, youth) will be pursued in the near future.
From the outset, let me just reiterate, if need be, the strategic importance of the Mediterranean for the EU. On the eve of the next enlargement and in the face of the developing political situation this is truer than ever.
After a careful reading I must confess my satisfaction with the convergent approach between this report and the Commission’s communication. More has to be done, but the Commission and Parliament are in broad agreement on the way we understand our political, economic and social relations with our southern neighbours.
Despite the serious political setbacks in the region – the current dramatic situation in the Middle East being one of them – and a certain scepticism at the end of the 1990s as to whether the Barcelona Process constituted the right means to make the Euro-Mediterranean partnership move forward, the process has stood the test of time.
We cannot ignore the implications for the process of the tragic development of the situation in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. This is not the occasion today to debate Europe’s role in bringing an end to that conflict but the situation as it is, and the continuation of this dreadful violence, stresses even further the need to continue with the development of the Barcelona Process as a means for Europe to make its contribution to the peace, stability and prosperity of the region. One can always discuss how strong an instrument the Barcelona Process really is, but it is beyond discussion that this process is part of the solution and definitely not part of the problem, so we had better strengthen it.
In substance, substantial progress has been accomplished since 1996. All Euro-Mediterranean partners are now used to having a permanent dialogue and to working together. The Barcelona Process is the only place where we can hold a 27-member discussion and, more importantly, where the 12 Mediterranean partners can regularly discuss and meet. In the present circumstances, this is a meaningful indication of the resilience of the process.
We have also made substantial progress towards introducing a free trade area. Most of the association agreements are already ratified, signed or initialled. Intra-regional agreements, such as the Agadir Process, are being negotiated. Yet, although our Euro-Mediterranean trade relations are progressing steadily in North/South terms, South/South trade is still stagnating at a mere 5% of Mediterranean trade.
Macroeconomic stabilisation has indeed taken place successfully in most Mediterranean countries, but reforms related to the business environment are not progressing at a sufficient pace. The challenge for the Mediterranean partners is to unleash the full potential of their economic forces, and in this regard the Barcelona Process has become the framework of reference for all international donors to relate to and further pursue.
In the cultural sphere, substantial work has been accomplished. Some hundreds of regional projects have been financed and have promoted a dense network of human exchanges."@en1
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