Resolution of the Committee of the Regions on "Decentralised cooperation and the role of regional and local authorities in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership"

(2000/C 156/09)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to its Opinion on Local authorities and the Euro-Mediterranean partnership (CdR 125/97 fin)(1);

having regard to its Opinion on the European Commission's communication on Strengthening the Mediterranean policy of the European Union: Proposals for implementing a Euro-Mediterranean partnership (CdR 371/95)(2),

a. considering the results of the conference of the 27 foreign ministers of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership held in Stuttgart on 15 and 16 April 1999, and in particular points 30 and 31 of the final declaration thereof,

b. considering the presidency conclusions of the Cologne European Council of 3 and 4 June 1999,

c. considering the need for a genuine Mediterranean policy to support peace and stability in a region which is of strategic importance for the EU,

d. considering the difficulties surrounding the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, especially the Meda Programme,

e. considering the urgent need to relaunch decentralised cooperation in the Mediterranean, and to involve the regions more closely in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership,

f. considering that the Med programmes, in this respect, despite the shortcomings experienced in their management, have had a considerable impact on civil society in the 12 Mediterranean partner countries,

The Committee of the Regions,

1. welcomes the fact that the conclusions of the third Euro-Mediterranean conference of foreign ministers in Stuttgart stress that regional and local authorities should be more closely involved in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and that a new impetus should be given to decentralised cooperation,

2. notes that the Cologne European Council called on "the Council and the Commission to press ahead with implementing the decisions taken in Stuttgart, in particular as regards improving intraregional cooperation in all areas of the partnership and closer involvement of players without central government,"

3. asks that the development of the Euro-Mediterranean area, and in particular the relaunch of genuine decentralised cooperation within the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, be made a priority objective of the European Commission work programme, and that the Commission allocate it the necessary human resources,

4. regrets the fact that, in the third strand of the Meda I programme, the involvement of regional and local authorities on the two sides of the Mediterranean has faced serious obstacles,

5. stresses the vital need to simplify procedures and coordination between ERDF and Meda funding,

6. reasserts that interregional or regional cooperation partnerships are instruments not only for cooperation but also for dialogue, peace and democratic growth,

7. supports the proliferation of cooperation and communication links between regions, using the existing crossborder and interregional cooperation instruments,

8. stresses the need to promote the role of civil society and NGOs in implementing the Barcelona process,

9. asks that in implementing the new Meda II programme, better use be made of the competencies of the EU's regions,

10. asks that, as part of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, the European Commission launch a framework programme of decentralised cooperation based on contributions from the regional and local authorities and their transnational organisations which have taken action and affirmed their shared commitment to play a full part in this process,

11. asks its President to forward the present resolution to the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council.

Brussels, 16 February 2000.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Jos Chabert

(1) OJ C 64, 27.2.1998, p. 59.

(2) OJ C 126, 29.4.1996, p. 12.