Resolution of the committee of the regions on the VI Euro–Mediterranean conference on 2 and 3 December in Naples
Date: 2003-11-20
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: Union for the Mediterranean, cooperation policy

23.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 73/77

Resolution of the committee of the regions on the VI Euro–Mediterranean conference on 2 and
3 December in Naples

(2004/C 73/15)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament
to prepare the VI Meeting of Euro-Mediterranean Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Naples, 2 and 3 December
2003 (Barcelona VI) (1); Communication, which the European Commission has consulted on the
Committee of the Regions on 5 November 2003,

having regard to the conclusions of the Conference, initiated by the Committee of the Regions, of local
and regional representatives on 31 October 2003 in Livorno on a New Euro-Mediterranean Area;

having regard to its Opinion on the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the
European Parliament Wider Europe — Neighbourhood: A New Framework for Relations with our Eastern
and Southern Neighbours (CdR 175/2003 fin) of 9 October 2003;

having regard to its Opinion on Regional and local authorities and the European Union’s strategy for the
Mediterranean (CdR 123/2000 fin) of 20 September 2000 (2);

having regard to its Resolution on Decentralised cooperation and the role of regional and local authorities
in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership (CdR 40/2000 fin) of 16 February 2000 (3);

having regard to the request by the European Commission of 5 September 2003 to provide an exploratory
opinion assessing the progress made in the Barcelona process, analysing the functioning of the association
agreements in force with the partner Mediterranean countries and providing insights, drawn from the
experience of the CoR, on the development of cooperation between EU regions and regions of the
southern Mediterranean countries or between the southern Mediterranean countries themselves;

The Committee of the Regions adopted the following resolution unanimously at its meeting on
20 November 2003

The Committee of the Regions

1.
Strongly stresses the need to give a new impetus to the
Euro-Mediterranean partnership, considering that the econ-
omic, social and democratic development of the countries of
the Mediterranean Basin constitutes a key issue not only for
the States of the Southern side of the Mediterranean but also
for the future of the enlarged European Union itself.

Calls for a closer participation of local and regional
3.1.
authorities, since they are amongst
the main players in
realising an area of freedom, stability and prosperity in the
Mediterranean regions. This participation should be ensured
through the establishment of a body representing the local and
regional authorities within the institutional Euro-Mediterrane-
an framework.

Emphasises the particular importance of the demo-
2.1.
cratic dimension of
this partnership. Welcomes therefore
the proposed establishment of a new Euro-Mediterranean
Parliamentary Assembly.

3.2.
Furthermore, the CoR will offer to share the experience
acquired by its members as regards the contacts established
with local and regional authorities of accession countries in
the course of the enlargement process.

2.2.
Regrets the minuscule share of funding allocated to the
Mediterranean countries from the horizontal programmes
under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human
Rights (EIDHR), which has taken over from the ‘MEDA
democracy’ programmes since the introduction of MEDA II.

(1) COM(2003) 610 final, 15.10.2003.
(2) OJ C 22, 24.1.2001, p. 7.
(3) OJ C 156, 6.6.2000, p. 47.

4.1.
Recalls the conclusions from the Ministerial meeting in
Crete on 26 and 27 May 2003, which insisted on the fact that
‘the local and regional authorities could also contribute
significantly to the dialogue between cultures and civilizations
through a decentralized cooperation and through town-
twinning actions, and, in this context, be closely involved in
this mission which constitutes an essential part of the Euro-
Mediterranean partnership’.

C 73/78

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

23.3.2004

In this context, stresses the need to provide for a
4.2.
proper legal basis for ensuring support to town-twinning
actions.

4.3. Welcomes the launching of the Euro-Mediterranean
Foundation for dialogue between cultures and civilizations,
which is an essential element for the implementation of the
Euro-Mediterranean partnership, and requests to be directly
involved in its activities.

that

Requests

5.
the decentralised Euro-Mediterranean
cooperation be made one of the pillars of the Barcelona
process, and calls in this context for the establishment of
guidelines for an interregional and transnational cooperation
for regional and local authorities around the Mediterranean. In
this framework, focus should be given to specific training
programmes for administrative capacity building.

Tackling the challenge of immigration in the Mediter-
8.
ranean area requires a strong EU immigration policy, based on
social inclusion of immigrants. Furthermore, local and regional
authorities in the Mediterranean area must be enabled to
address the humanitarian issues related to the movement of
refugees and asylum seekers. As regards the promotion of
cooperation with the countries of origin together with the
coordinated fight against illegal immigration, the CoR wel-
comes in particular the Commission’s proposal on a legal
framework and increased appropriations for a new instrument
of co-operation with third countries in the area of migration (2).

9.
Considers that the citizens on both sides of the Mediter-
ranean must be made more aware of the aims of the Euro-
Mediterranean partnership. To this end, recommend that a
specific information and awareness programme be drawn up
and adopted, involving the local and regional authorities on
both sides of the Mediterranean.

6. With regard to the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean free
trade area (1), considers that the enhancing of regional and
sub-regional infrastructures in the fields of telecommunication,
transport, energy, research and education is a necessary
complement.

10.
Gives its support to the various initiatives from cities
and regions, which through their organisations, directly or
indirectly, are preparing contributions to the VI Euro-Mediter-
ranean Conference, dedicated to giving a full democratic
dimension to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.

7.
In addition, special attention should be given to social
policies with local impact especially those targeting children,
young people and women.

Calls upon the Italian Presidency to actively involve it

11.
in the VI Euro-Mediterranean Conference.

(1) The Barcelona Declaration establishes the objective to form, by
the year 2010 as a target date, a Euro-Mediterranean Free-Trade
Area.

Asks its President to forward the present resolution to

12.
the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council.

(2) COM(2003) 355 final.

Brussels, 20 November 2003.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Albert BORE