Belgium : Euro-Med to set up 'genuine free trade area' by 2010

The upcoming 10th anniversary Euro-Mediterranean summit aims to breathe fresh life into the 35-state EuroMed co-operation framework. One specific goal is to set up a "genuine free trade area" by 2010.

The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership - also known as the Barcelona process or EuroMed - was launched by the participating countries' foreign ministers in Barcelona in November 1995. The aim of the process is to improve political dialogue, promote economic and trade relations and facilitate cultural and social ties.

The process brings together the EU-25 states as well as ten countries from the Mediterranean area: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Turkey, Tunisia and the Palestinian Authority. Libya has had observer status since 1999.

The EU has negotiated Euro-Mediterranean association agreements with each partner separately. These agreements provide the framework for bilateral relations. All these agreements with the exception of the one with Syria have already been ratified. The process also has a regional (multilateral) dimension which complements the bilateral actions.

Since 2004, the Mediterranean partners have also been included in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).

The Barcelona process also entailed the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) to complement inter-governmental and civil society co-operation among the partners. EMPA was set up in December 2003, and it is made up of 120 European deputies and 120 MPs from the participating Mediterranean states. Headed by European Parliament President Josep Borrell, EMPA plays a consultative role.

The co-operation projects are financed by the EU's MEDA programme and by the European Investment Bank's Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP). The MEDA programme is implemented by DG EuropAid.

In Amman, Jordan, representatives of economic and social councils from the Euro-Mediterranean region opened a summit on 20 November. Their aim is to promote the social consultative function of civil society and the social partners.

Issues:
The aim of the 10th anniversary summit of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership - to be held on 27-28 November in Barcelona - is to review progress and to set co-operation and development guidelines for the next five years.

The summit will also approve a code of conduct for the participating states for the fight against terrorism.

Prior to the anniversary summit, the EU's foreign ministers have authorised the Commission to open talks with the Mediterranean partners on the liberalisation of services and investment in the region. The talks - which will draw on the Istanbul Framework Protocol adopted in July 2004 - are expected to open in early 2006. This preferential process is meant to be complementary to the ongoing WTO negotiations.

In the Mediterranean countries, services account for some 60% of GDP. At the same time, these countries account for only 3.5% of the EU's total services trade. For the moment, services exports from the Mediterranean are focussed heavily on tourism but the partners see vast untapped potentials in the financial services, telecommunication, energy, environmental services and transport sectors.

The 20-21 November EMPA summit has called on the EuroMed heads of state and government to enhance the role of civil society in the process and to agree on the financial targets for the fiscal years 2007-2013.

Positions:
According to Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, the EU is ready to help the Mediterranean countries confront the economic challenges of the 21st century. The common objective is the establishment of a genuine free trade area around the Mediterranean by 2010.

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos stated that the Barcelona summit, called on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, seeks to be much more than a commemoration. It will be a moment to reflect upon the achievements and the shortcomings of this process during the first decade of its existence, but it will also be the birth of a commitment for the future.

The 2006 EMPA summit is to be hosted by Slovenia.

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