COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - PROGRESS REPORT ON THE EURO- MEDITERRANEAN PARTNERSHIP AND PREPARATIONS FOR THE SECOND CONFERENCE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS
Date: 1997-02-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Mediterranean third countries, association agreement (EU), cooperation policy, free-trade agreement, summit meeting

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  19.02 1997 
COM(97)  68  final 

COMMUNICATION  FROM THE COMMISSION 
TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

PROGRESS REPORT ON THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN 
PARTNERSHIP AND PREPARATIONS FOR THE SECOND CONFERENCE 
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS 

2-  3 

Communication from  the Commission 
to the Council  and the  European  Parliament 

PROGRESS  REPORT ON THE  EURO-MEDITERRANEAN 
PARTNERSHIP AND PREPARATIONS  FOR THE SECOND  CONFERENCE 
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS  MINISTERS 

1.  INTRODUCTION 

This  Communication  has  two  aims:  (i)  to  review  the  first  fifteen  months  of  the 
Euro-Mediterranean  Partnership  and  (ii) to  prepare  the  Union's  position  and  propose, 
within  the  Community  framework,  guidelines  for  the  conclusions  of  the  second 
Euro-Mediterranean  Conference  of Foreign Affairs  Ministers. 

1.1. The  Euro-Mediterranean  Conference  in Barcelona 

The  Euro-Mediterranean  Partnership,  established 
in  Barcelona  on  27  and 
28 November  1995,  brings  together  the  European  Union,  its  fifteen  Member  States 
and  the  twelve  Mediterranean  Partners.  The  latter  set  themselves  three  objectives  at 
the  Conference: 

- the establishment  of a common area of peace and  stability; 

-  the  creation  of  a shared  zone  of prosperity  through  the  establishment  of a free  trade 
area and a substantial  increase in financial  support from  the European  Union; 

-  the  development  of  human  resources,  the  promotion  of  understanding  between 
different  cultures and  exchanges at the level of civil society. 

The  Partnership  was  created  in a spirit  of equality,  cooperation  and  solidarity,  the aim 
being  to  bring  the  Partners  closer  together  and  so  reduce  sources  of  conflict.  On  the 
Union's  part,  the  Partnership  is a  sign  of its willingness  to  play  an  increasingly  active 
role in the region on the political, economic and social  front. 

The European  Union's  strategic approach to these activities and initiatives was  defined 
in the  context  of the  Barcelona  Process,  which  is seen  as  an  indispensable  instrument 
for the achievement  of a common area of peace and stability. 

The Ministers participating  at the Conference  adopted  the Barcelona  Declaration  and a 
work  programme  to  give  it concrete  effect.  The Declaration  provides for  a meeting  of 
Foreign  Affairs  Ministers  to  be  held  in  one  of  the  Mediterranean  Partner  countries 
during the first  half of this year. 

1.2. The objectives of the second Ministerial  Conference 

The  second  Euro-Mediterranean  Conference  of  Foreign  Affairs  Ministers  will  be  held 
It will 
in Malta  on  15 and  16 April,  seventeen  months after  the Barcelona  Conference 
provide  an  opportunity,  at  political  level,  to  carry  out  an  initial  review  of  the 
Partnership  and  to  set  the  pace  for  the  next  eighteen  months.  After  its  initial  teething 
problems, the Process should advance at a more regular and swifter  speed. 

The Commission has defined  three general objectives for the second  Conference. 

-  to build  upon  and  endorse the results already  achieved  in the framework  of the 
Euro-Mediterranean  Partnership. 

Here  it is appropriate  to  highlight  the  results  achieved  under  each  of the  Partnership's 
three  pillars  and  to  identify  any  delays  or  failures.  Consistency  in  these  results,  in 
particular  the complementarity  between  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Partnership's  bilateral 
(Association  Agreements) and regional  pillars must be established; 

-  to  confirm,  in  the  light  of the  review,  the  strategy  and  objectives  adopted  at  the 
inaugural  Conference  in  November  1995,  perhaps  modifying  certain  areas  or 
expanding others. 

In this context,  one of the major  objectives  of the Partnership,  i.e. the establishment  of 
free  trade  between  the  European  Community  and  its  Mediterranean  Partners,  will  be 
accomplished  primarily  through 
the  implementation  of  the  Euro-Mediterranean 
Association  Agreements  and  the  ability  of  the  Partners  to  cope  with  the  problems 
involved  in the process of transition  to a more open  economy. 

In  the  Commission's  view,  the  Conference  should  provide  fresh  impetus  in  this 
direction  and  define  the  measures  required  to  underpin  free  trade  at  regional  and 
subregional  level.  The  general  aim  is  to  move  on  to  a  phase  where  regional 
cooperation  is  efficiently  organized  to  ensure  the  Partnership's  global  objectives  are 
achieved  and the  Euro-Mediterranean  Partners'  priorities are met; 

-  to  adopt  additional  measures  for  the  period  leading  up  to  the  next  Ministerial 
Conference. 

A  number  of  areas  of  mutual  interest  and  fields  in which  the  Mediterranean  Partners 
expect  concrete  progress  to  be  made  have  been  identified  in  the  months  since  the 
Barcelona  Conference.  At  the  next  meeting,  in  the  spirit  of  partnership  forged  in 
Barcelona,  the  Union  will be  able to  discuss with  its Mediterranean  Partners  the  areas 
in which  it  feels  that  further  progress  is possible  or  in which  other  objectives  may  be 
set. 

2. BILATERAL  ASPECTS 

2.1. The objectives of the Association  Agreements 

The  Association  Agreements  are intended  to bring the Mediterranean  Partners  and  the 
Union  closer together  through  the gradual  establishment  of free  trade,  the provision  of 
EU support for the economic transition  process, cooperation  in a whole range of areas, 
the  opening  up  of  cooperation  to  civil  society  and  the  undertakings  entered  into  with 
regard to human rights and  democracy. 

(i)  to  establish 

The  Association  Agreements  have  two  main  objectives  which  are  interdependent  and 
complimentary: 
trade  area 
throughout  the  region  and  (ii)  to  take  full  account  of  the  specific  characteristics 
of each  of the  Partners.  Priority will be given to the improvement  of competitiveness, 
economic  restructuring,  administrative  reform, 
the  establishment  of  economic 
infrastructure  or  scientific  cooperation  depending  on  the  needs  of  the  individual 
Partners. 

the  Euro-Mediterranean 

free 

In  the  economic  field,  free  trade  is  not  an  end  in  itself,  but  a  means  of  improving 
competitiveness  and integrating the Partners into international  trade thereby  improving 
living  standards.  However,  as  the  partner  countries  are  at  different  stages  of 
development,  progress towards free trade will be gradual,  and will require  programmes 
to  support  economic  transition  and  structural  adjustment  by  cushioning  any  negative 
social  effects,  speeding  up  economic  modernization  and  promoting  sustainable 
development.  The  Euro-Mediterranean  free  trade area will be established  via the Euro-
Mediterranean  Association  Agreements  and  the  free  trade  agreements  between  the 
Mediterranean  Partners.  It  will  be  a  gradual  process  and  should  be  facilitated  by 
economic adjustment  policies based on market economy principles. 

It  should  be  stressed  that,  in the  Commission's  view,  economic  modernization,  social 
progress  and  support  for  the  democratic  process  are  interdependent  of  a  closer 
relationship with the Union. 

2.2.  Negotiation  of the Association  Agreements 

Considerable  progress  has  been  made  in  the  conclusion  of  the  bilateral  association 
agreements between  the Union and the Mediterranean  Partners. 

The  signing  of  the  Association  Agreements  with  Tunisia,  Morocco  and  Israel  will 
enable  full  account  to  be  taken,  in the  framework  of the  Mediterranean  policy,  of  the 
specific  characteristics  and  needs  of these  three  countries.  The  Commission  welcomes 
the signature  of an Interim  Association  Agreement  on Trade  and  Cooperation  with  the 
Palestine  Liberation  Organization  for  the benefit  of the Palestinian  Authority  which will 
enter  into  force  soon,  confirming  the  Palestinians'  status  as  a  full  Mediterranean 
Partner 

Negotiations  with  Jordan,  Egypt  and  Lebanon  have  reached  their  final  stages;  the 
Commission  considers  that  the  successful  conclusion  of  these  agreements  is  now 
within  reach.  Negotiations  are  due  to  open  in  the  coming  weeks  with  Algeria.  The 
Commission  hopes  that  exploratory  talks  in  progress  with  Syria  will  prepare  the  way 
for  the early conclusion  of an Association  Agreement  with that  country. 

At the  same time,  the  customs  union  agreement  with  Turkey  entered  into  force  on 31 
December  1995.  Since  that  date,  the  customs  union  has  functioned  satisfactorily  on 
the  whole. 
In  particular,  customs  duties  and  charges  having  equivalent  effect  have 
been  abolished,  as  have  quantitative  restrictions.  Turkey  has  adopted  the  Common 
Customs Tariff as well  as an external  commercial  policy substantially  similar to that  of 
the  Community. 

The creation  of a free  trade area by the target  date of 2010,  agreed  at  Barcelona,  is an 
essential  instrument  to  further  approximation  and  to  raise  the  prosperity  level  of  the 
Partners.  Since  the  Agreements  are  crucial  in  this  perspective,  a  major  effort  will  be 
required  on  all  sides  to  ensure  that  they  are  effectively  implemented.  This  will  also 
constitute  a  strong  signal  to  foreign  private  investors  of  the  irreversibility  of  the 
process  and  will  contribute  to  increasing  their  activities  in  favour  of  Mediterranean 
partners. 

Aside from  the  actual  implementation  of the Euro-Mediterranean  bilateral  agreements, 
it  is  also  appropriate  to  underline  the  importance  of facilitating  the  free  movement  of 
goods  within  the  Euro-Mediterranean  area by adopting  appropriate  measures  on  rules 
of  origin,  certification,  the  protection  of  intellectual  property  rights  and  competition 
and by fostering  free  trade agreements between the Mediterranean  Partners. 

2.3.  Financial  instruments 

For  the  five  years  from  1995  to  1999,  the  European  Union  agreed  to  set  aside  ECU 
4,685  million  in  Community  budget  funds  for  its  Mediterranean  partners.  This  major 
increase  in  financial  assistance  to  the  Mediterranean  partners  agreed  at  the  Cannes 
European  Council  and  confirmed  at  the  Barcelona  Conference  constitutes  a  major 
instrument  to raise prosperity levels in the region. 

During  1996,  the  Commission  committed  all the  available funds  from  the  Community 
budget  on  assistance  to  the  partners,  principally  on  support  for  economic  transition, 
structural  adjustment  and  raising  the  level  of  the  socio-economic  infrastructure.  The 
Commission  will  continue  to  take  the  necessary  measures  to  fulfil  the  undertakings 
given  in the Cannes agreement  and the Barcelona Declaration. 

As agreed  at  Cannes  and  Barcelona,  EIB  (European  Investment  Bank)  lending  is  also 
an  essential  element  in the  Union's  support  for  economic  modernization  in the  region, 
and  the  EIB  should  continue  to  be  closely  involved  in  future  Euro-Mediterranean 
cooperation through  increased loans. 

Implementation  of  the  free  trade  agreements  and  a  significant  increase  in  financial 
assistance  will  not  be  enough  to  ensure the  success  of  the  Partnership  if they  are  not 
accompanied  by  a  comparable  increase  in  the  rate  of  modernization  and  economic 

structural  adjustment  in  the  Mediterranean  partner  countries.  Talks  between  the 
Mediterranean  Partners  themselves  should  be  stepped  up  and  financial  support  from 
the  Union,  whether  from  budget  funds  or  via  the  European  Investment  Bank,  should 
be  fully  exploited  by  the  Mediterranean  Partners  in  order  to  quicken  the  pace  of 
reform. 

3.  REGIONAL ASPECTS 

3.1. Political and security  partnership 

3.1.1.  Review 

Five  meetings  were  held  in  1996  in  the  context  of  political  and  security  dialogue. 
Progress was steady despite the many political  problems. The results are still  somewhat 
tenuous  but  the  dialogue  has  become  an  unequalled  forum  for  the  discussion  of 
political  and strategic problems between the whole of the region and the Union. 

Progress has been achieved  in three areas: 

-  a  list  of  confidence-building  measures,  many  of  which  are  already  operational  or 
have been  formally  approved  for  implementation,  has been  drawn  up.  Tangible  results 
are  expected  on  two  fronts  this  year:  the  network  of  foreign  policy  institutes 
(EuroMesCo) will produce an independent  analysis of the political  and security  aspects 
of  the  region  and  a  mechanism  for  cooperation  in  the  event  of  natural  and  human 
disasters  will  be  set  up  to  ensure  there  is  effective  liaison  between  the  disaster 
prevention  and  relief services in the  region.  The establishment  of a network  of  defence 
institutes  and  the  organization  of  a  seminar  on  the  deployment  of  armed  forces  for 
humanitarian  work  will also be discussed; 

-  a  regularly  updated  Action  Plan  will  serve  as  a  blueprint  for  the  group's  work. 
Drawn up on the basis of a progressive working method, the Plan will be discussed  and 
appear  on  the  agenda  of  each  meeting.  It  will  cover  six  sectors  of  activity: 
strengthening  of  democracy,  preventive  diplomacy,  security  and  confidence-building 
measures, disarmament, terrorism  and organized crime; 

-  work  has  begun  on  a  Euro-Mediterranean  Charter  for  Peace  and  Stability,  an 
institutional  mechanism  for  dialogue  and  crisis  prevention.  The  draft  charter  is  now 
seen as the cornerstone of the Partnership's political and security pillar. 

Two  meetings  have  been  organized  in  Malta,  one  in  October  1996  and  the  other  in 
March  this  year,  to  disseminate  information  to  the  diplomats  of  the  27  partner 
countries  and  to  help them  get  to know  each  other.  They have resulted  in the  creation 
of  a  "Euromed  Internet  Forum",  a  site  where  all  documents  relating  to  the 
Euro-Mediterranean  Partnership are available for  consultation. 

3.1.2.  Strategy 

The  political  and  security  dialogue  launched  in  Barcelona  is  one  of  the  Partnership's 
most  promising projects:  it represents an entirely new area of cooperation  between  the 
European  Union and its Mediterranean  Partners, providing a forum  for  discussion long 
sought-after  by the states concerned. Within a matter of months it was working well in 
terms of both content and organization. 

The  Commission  sees  the  Conference  of  Foreign  Affairs  Ministers  in  Malta  as  an 
opportunity  to  endorse the  achievements  of the political  dialogue,  in particular  the  list 
of confidence-building  measures and guidelines for  the Charter for  Peace  and  Stability. 
If  a  document  is  signed  by  Ministers  there  must  also  be  a  commitment  to  gradually 
deepen  its  content.  In  this  context,  the  European  Union  should  confirm  its  practical 
support  for  existing and future  confidence-building  measures. 

It should  also be noted  that the political  dialogue covers, inter alia,  respect  for  human 
rights and fundamental  freedoms,  which is at the heart  of the EU's international  policy. 
The  Union  feels  that  the adoption  and  implementation  of international  standards  in the 
field  of  human  rights  are  essential  for  lasting  social  and  political  stability.  In  this 
context,  all  the  Mediterranean  Partners  should  be  encouraged  to  sign  all  international 
instruments relating to human rights and to implement them  fully. 

The  Union  should  also  point  out  that  it  supports  the  efforts  made  by  the  Partners  to 
establish  a  civil  society  based  on  the  rule  of  law,  in  accordance  with  the  declarations 
and  action  programmes  of the world  conferences  on  human  rights,  population,  social 
development  and  women,  which  the  Union  and  the  Mediterranean  Partners  helped  to 
organize. 

The risk  of the proliferation  of weapons  of mass destruction  is a factor  of instability in 
the region.  Joint  reflection  could  be initiated  on the implementation  of the  international 
non-proliferation  arrangements  pertaining  to  nuclear,  balistic,  chemical  and  biological 
weapons. Consideration  could also be given to adapting these arrangements at regional 
level. 

In this  context,  it  would  be  appropriate  to  improve  the visibility  of  national  efforts  to 
control  the export  of sensitive products through  the exchange of  information. 

Finally,  the  Partners  should  be  encouraged  to  step  up  their  efforts  to  to  prevent  and 
combat  terrorism  within the Euro-Mediterranean  framework,  in particular  by  acceding 
to international  conventions in the field. 

3.2.  Economic and financial partnership 

3.2.1.  Review 

There  has  been  intensive  government  and  private  sector  activity  under  the  economic 
pillar  of  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Partnership.  Participation  by  the  Mediterranean 
Partners  has  been  extremely  good,  regular  and  at  a  high  level.  In  the  Union's  case, 

ministerial  participation  has been  more  difficult  to  achieve:  the  prolusion  of  meetings 
led  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Committee  to  impose  a  limit  of  seven  per  six-month 
period  (two  ministerial  meetings and  five  at  expert  level) from  April  1996  in  an  effort 
to  improve  efficiency.  Priorities  have  not,  however,  been  properly  focused  and  the 
content of the dialogue has proved difficult  to  define. 

At  government  level,  the  method  used  to  implement  the  Barcelona  Declaration  has 
involved  facilitating  the  harmonization  of  sectoral  policies,  organizing  exchanges  of 
know-how  and  helping  identify  the  common  policies  required  for  the  creation  of  the 
Euro-Mediterranean  economic  area.  Six  sectoral  ministerial  meetings  were  held  in 
1996  as  well  as expert  meetings.  Each  of these  meetings  culminated  in  some  form  of 
agreement  on  common  sectoral  policy  principles.  This  has  been  a  considerable 
achievement  in terms of economic rapprochement  and  modernization,  especially  in  the 
following  fields:  industry  and  SMEs,  energy,  water  management,  the  information 
society,  tourism,  fisheries,  and  sea  transport.  The  meeting  of  Ministers  of  Tourism 
emphasised  the importance  of strengthening  cooperation  in this sector  and  of carrying 
out  a  series  of joint  actions  in  the  future.  Activities  in  these  fields  have  launched  a 
process of significant  convergence between the Partners. 

Similarly,  the  regional  statistical  cooperation  programme,  MEDSTAT,  is  aimed  at 
consolidating  the  Partners'  statistical  systems  and  harmonizing  the  statistics  gathered 
by the Union and its Partners. 

In  the  private  sector,  meetings  were  also  organized,  at  the  initiative  of  economic 
operators,  between  comparable  bodies  from  the  various  partner  countries  (industrial 
federations,  banks,  chambers  of  commerce,  economic  institutes,  trade  fairs,  etc.). 
Mutual  recognition,  institutional  capacity building and the transfer  of know-how  have 
been facilitated  in every case. 

3.2.2.  Strategy 

The next few  months should see the completion of negotiations for the association 
agreements.  The  Partners'  fundamental  objective  should  then  be  to  set  up  the 
Euro-Mediterranean  economic area, chiefly  through  regional operations. 

All activities must  be conducted  with  a view to  guaranteeing  interaction  and  synergies 
between  bilateral  and  regional  schemes.  Care  must  be  taken  to  ensure  that  the 
Partnership  develops evenly, which will in particular  involve gauging  its economic and 
social impact on the region. 

The  Commission  feels  that  the  first  objective  of  the  Conference  of  Foreign  Affairs 
Ministers  should  be  to  emphasize  the will  and  desire  of  the  27  Partners  to  set  up 
an area of shared  prosperity and to give firm impetus to the establishment  of free 
trade in order to improve living standards and reduce inequalities by 2010. 

A range  of accompanying  measures  should  be agreed upon  at  regional  level to  permit 
greater  harmonisation  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 
Training initiatives will also be encouraged. 

A second  objective  should  be the adoption  of a targeted  approach  to  intensify  the 
harmonization  of  policies  in  areas  crucial  to  the  objective  of  setting  up  a  joint 
economic  area.  In  the  light  of  progress  achieved  to  date,  cooperation  will  be 
concentrated  in the first  instance on areas earmarked  as priorities by the Mediterranean 
Partners  and  where  cooperation  has been  successful  in the  past:  industrial  policy  and 
SMEs,  energy  policy,  environment  and  water  policy,  information  society,  sea 
transport.  Action will be taken in other areas in due course. 

Support  should  be  given  to  the  establishment  of  Euro-Mediterranean  networks  of 
similar  economic  organizations.  Such  networks  will  enable  those  organizations  which 
are  interested 
to  develop  ongoing  work  programmes  and  to  make  a  crucial 
non-governmental  contribution  to the establishment  of an area of shared  prosperity. 

A third  objective  should  consist  of actively  preparing the  Mediterranean  Partners 
for  the  changes  under way  in  the  Union, to  enable them,  as our  Partners,  to  adjust 
their economic policies accordingly,  should they so wish, and to air their views. 

The economic dimension  of the Euro-Mediterranean  Partnership  is taking  shape 
at a time when  the  European  Union  itself is undergoing  a further  transformation 
with  enlargement  to  the  east,  the  introduction  of  the  Euro  and  the  setting-up  of  the 
European  Central  Bank.  This  transformation  will  have  a  considerable  impact  on  the 
Mediterranean  Partners,  as  most  of  their  trade  is  with  the  EU  and  the  Union  also 
provides most of their private investment. 

This preparation  could  take the form  of meetings  and  exchanges between  government 
representatives,  private  operators,  university  and  cultural  circles,  etc.,  and  would 
require  support  from  the  MEDA  programme.  The  Commission  also  proposes  to 
support  those Mediterranean  Partners wishing to  initiate  or  strengthen  their  trade  and 
financial  links with the countries of Central  and Eastern  Europe. 

A  systematic  effort  should  be  made  to  promote  European  private  investment  in 
the region, over and  above initiatives already taken  (business centres, cooperation  and 
information  networks  and  conferences  for  small  businesses,  computerized  networks). 
Action  in  this  area  should  be  undertaken  primarily  by  European  and  Mediterranean 
private  operators  with  the  support  of the MEDA  Programme.  Business  financing  will 
depend  on the effective  use of risk capital to prime the pump. 

The  introduction  of  modern  instruments  in  this  area  will  be  a  major  priority.  The 
London  conference  on  private  investment  on  6 March  must  give  renewed  impetus  to 
these activities. 

11 

The fourth  objective  which the Union should  propose to its Mediterranean  Partners at 
the  Conference  is the  implementation  of  a  policy  to  strengthen  intraregional  and 
subregional  cooperation  and  integration  The experience  of the  Regional  Economic 
Development  Working  Group  (REDWG)  will  prove  useful  here.  The  Commission 
wishes  to  see the  Union  offer  support  for  a whole  range  of  measures; this  would  take 
the form  of technical  support  for  the negotiation  of intraregional  economic  agreements 
on  trade-related  measures  and  the  incentive  provided  by  regional  cumulation  of  rules 
of origin. 

The strengthening  of links between the Mediterranean  Partners themselves through  the 
establishment  of  free  trade  should  be  regarded  as  a  top  priority.  Progress  is  largely 
contingent  upon  the  willingness  of  the  Mediterranean  Partners  themselves  but  it  is 
essential  that the European  Union reaffirm  the importance it attaches to  such  progress. 
Regional  and  subregional  economic  integration  and  rapprochement  are  the  key 
catalysts  for  growth  in  the  region,  in  particular  when  it  comes  to  expanding  markets 
and attracting private investment from  abroad. 

3.3.  Social, cultural and human  partnership 

3.3.1.  Review 

This  dimension  of  the  Barcelona  Declaration  is  intended  to  develop  human  resources 
and  to  promote  understanding  between  different  cultures  and  exchanges  between  civil 
societies. 

The  ambitious  objectives  set  out  in  the  work  programme  concern  more  than  ten 
sectors  of  activity  in  this  field.  Some  had  already  been  developed  through  the  MED 
decentralized  cooperation  programmes,  while  others  are  entirely  new.  It  has  proved 
impossible  to  deal  with  all  of  the  topics  during  the  first  fifteen  months,  despite 
numerous  proposals  by the  Partners,  and joint  action  was  undertaken  in the  following 
areas: 

-  cultural  heritage:  a  ministerial  meeting  was  held  in  April  1996  leading  to  the 
establishment  of  common  principles.  These  principles  were  put  into  effect  at  expert 
level  where  agreement  was  reached  on  an  initial  list  of  17  projects  of joint  interest 
involving both the architectural  and intellectual  heritage; 

-  a  first  meeting  of  high-level  officials  was  held  in  June  on  the  subject  of  drugs  and 
organized  crime.  A draft  agenda for  a ministerial meeting was  also  proposed,  but  the 
parties failed  to finalize the items to be included; 

-  two  meetings  of  the  Economic  and  Social  Councils  (or  the  bodies  represented 
therein) have taken  place, the first in Madrid in December  1995 and the second  in Paris 
in  November  1996,  along  with  a meeting,  in Catania,  of ministers  and  senior  officials 
responsible for  social  affairs; 

- in the field  of youth,  senior officials  responsible for youth work and representatives of 
specialized  NGOs  attended  a  conference  in  Amman  in  June  1996  for  the  purpose  of 

12 

establishing  a  coherent,  decentralized  operational  framework 
programme for young people. 

for  an  exchange 

Other initiatives taken concerned the dialogue between  cultures and religions. 

3.3.2.  Strategy 

the 
The  Commission  proposes  a  more  systematic  and  proactive  approach  to 
development  of  these  activities.  The  promotion  of  mutual  understanding  between  the 
peoples  of  the  region  is  one  of  the  cornerstones  of  the  Barcelona  Declaration.  The 
events  which  have  unfolded  in  the  Euro-Mediterranean  region  since  November  1995 
only  serve  to  highlight  its  importance.  This  is  why  the  Union  should  encourage  the 
Mediterranean  Partners to deepen and intensify  action in this area.. 

The  Commission  plans  to  recommend  six  concrete  measures  to  the  Partners  at  the 
second  Ministerial  Conference: 

-  to pursue  and  intensify  activities  in  the field of cultural  heritage  by adopting  an 
initial  set  of  regional  projects,  and  subsequently  expanding  on  the  range  of  projects 
covered.  Other  cultural  matters  should  also  be  dealt  with  in  the  context  of  the 
Euro-Mediterranean  Partnership and more joint cultural events organized; 

- to strengthen  the dialogue  between  cultures, in particular through  the  organization 
of a public conference  to review the work  carried out in this area since  1995; 

-  to  intensify  the  Euro-Mediterranean  dialogue  on  human  rights,  by  setting  up  a 
group  of eminent  persons to  promote  better  mutual  understanding  in this crucial  area. 
The work  of this group  should  build  on existing achievements within  the framework  of 
the  Conference  on  Good  Governance  in  the  Euro-Mediterranean  region  (March  this 
year) and the EU's MEDA democracy  programme; 

-  to  continue  the  dialogue  between  civil  societies,  which  has  found  particular 
expression  through  the  EU's  decentralized  cooperation  programmes  and  a  large 
number  of  Euro-Mediterranean  conferences,  notably  the  civil forum  held  in  Barcelona 
in November  1995. A regular Euro-Mediterranean  civil forum  would  provide a channel 
for  lasting  dialogue between  civil  societies; the Union  should  declare  its willingness  to 
provide  technical  and  financial  support  for  any  initiative  taken  by  one  or  more  of  its 
Mediterranean  Partners.  The  continuation  of  the  MED  decentralized  cooperation 
programmes  once the current  evaluation  exercise  has been  completed  would  also  help 
strengthen  this dialogue; 

-  to  submit  as soon  as  possible  to  the  ministers  responsible  for  youth  a  practical 
proposal  for  Euro-Mediterranean  cooperation  embracing  youth  schemes  (other 
than  school  and  university  exchanges)  and  voluntary  service  within  a  decentralized 
operational  framework; 

-  to  continue  and  step  up  education  and  training  activities,  developing  and 
strengthening  cooperation  under  the  MEDA  programme  in  particular,  which  could 
draw, inter alia,  on the Union's experience; 

n 

- to continue  the dialogue on organized  crime, drugs and  migration, for  which  the 
Partners  are  pressing,  in  order  to  encourage  cooperation  between  the  responsible 
authorities.  The European  Union should also give thought to the matter with a view to 
submitting proposals, both on the issues to be dealt with  and the scope of the measures 
to  be  agreed.  Issues  raised  by the  Partners,  in particular  exchanges  of persons,  should 
also be examined. 

4.  INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS AND  INFORMATION 

The  Euro-Mediterranean  Committee  for 
the  Barcelona  Process,  consisting  of 
representatives  of  the  EU  Troika  and  of  the  Mediterranean  Partners,  was  given  the 
task  of preparing the  next  meeting  of Ministers  of Foreign  Affairs,  taking  stock  of and 
evaluating  the follow-up  to  the  Barcelona  process  and  all its  aspects  and  updating  the 
work  programme. 

The  Commission  is  prepared  to  continue  in  the  role  assigned  to  it  at  Barcelona  of 
carrying  out  preparatory  and  follow-up  work  for  the  meetings.  The  Commission 
suggests  that  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Committee  for  the  Barcelona  process  carry  out 
regular  orientation  discussions  on the  activities  of the Partnership  and  that  it  monitors 
carefully  the periodicity of the meetings and the subjects  covered. 

The  involvement  of  Parliaments  in  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Partnership  remains  an 
essential  component  of  the  project.  Direct  dialogue  between  elected  representatives 
will  be  fundamental  in  helping  bring  peoples  closer  together.  No  moves  have  been 
made  in  this  direction  since  the  Barcelona  Conference  and  the  Commission  strongly 
urges the  European  Parliament  to take the initiative.  Dialogue between  social  partners 
should  also be encouraged. 

Finally,  the  success  of  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Partnership  depends  on  the  general 
public's  understanding  of the  project.  This  is particularly  important  in the  light  of  the 
misconceptions  which  frequently  circulate between  Europe  and  the  Mediterranean.  As 
far  as general  information  is concerned,  the Commission  has already  launched  a  series 
of measures (monthly publication  of an information  note for  the governments of the 27 
Partners,  electronic  information  sites,  preparation  of  brochures  in  printed  and 
electronic  form,  the distribution  of information  packs for  television  and  radio,  support 
for  cultural  reviews,  etc.).  Community financing  has also been  given  to  help  set up  the 
Arabic  service  of the  Euronews  TV  channel  due to  go  on  the  air  in the  spring  of this 
year.  The Commission  urges the Member  States to do more to  inform  the public about 
the Partnership  and to make it more visible. 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(97) 68 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

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Catalogue number  : CB-CO-97-065-EN-C 

ISBN 92-78-16219-1 

Office  for Official  Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembourg