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I am very pleased to participate with so many friends
in this meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary
Assembly’s Political Committee. I would also like to join you in
Cairo in March for the 2nd meeting of the Assembly, but I am
afraid that prior engagements will prevent me from doing so.
***
I have always been an enthusiastic supporter of dialogue
among parliamentarians - in particular among those from around
the shores of the Mediterranean. I am convinced that it is only
by sharing experiences that we will learn from one another and
advance further along the road towards democracy. The
Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly is, for me, the
institution which best embodies the Barcelona Process’ objective
of creating an area of political stability and democracy in the
Euro-Med area. Its inaugural session in March 2004 confirmed
that the Barcelona Process is a politically-driven process in
which our legislative bodies, the cornerstones of all democratic
systems, are willing and able to play an active role.
The European Parliament has always been a strong supporter of
the Barcelona Process, and I would like to express my gratitude
- especially to the many individual Members who are enthusiastic
supporters of Euro-Med relations - for its role as the driving
force behind the creation of the Euro-Med Parliamentary Assembly.
I believe, and I hope you will agree with me, that the role
of the Euro-Med Parliamentary Assembly should be:
To strengthen the Barcelona Process; and
To develop democracy and transparency in the
Euro-Mediterranean region.
Strengthening the Barcelona Process
The Barcelona Process is the central instrument in
Euro-Mediterranean relations and the Commission is determined to
reinforce it. One way in which we are doing that is through the
European Neighbourhood Policy. This is an ambitious new policy
designed to promote prosperity, stability, and security
throughout the Euro-Med region. Under this policy national
Action Plans to promote social, economic and political reforms
are agreed by the EU and partner countries. I would like the
implementation of these national plans to be a priority for
Parliaments in partner countries. The Neighbourhood policy
translates our common priorities into a concrete policy agenda
with specific and measurable objectives to address the
challenges facing the Mediterranean. It does not replace the
Barcelona Process, but rather enhances it - the implementation
of the Action Plans will be done through the institutional
framework of the Association Agreements. I hope this Assembly
will support these Plans as a tool for gradual modernisation and
will ensure that local stakeholders are actively involved in,
and committed to, their implementation.
Apart from your valuable contribution to the Neighbourhood
Policy, the Euro-Med Parliamentary Assembly can also play an
essential role in providing impetus to the Barcelona Process by
feeding ideas and concerns to the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial
Conferences; and also by supporting the necessary economic,
political and social reforms.
Developing Democracy and Transparency
As members of parliament, you have the honour and the
responsibility of representing the peoples and citizens of your
countries. You are therefore ideally placed to ensure that the
Euro-Mediterranean Assembly becomes a real force for promoting
the principles of representative democracy. You are also well
placed to act as a forum for open dialogue and the promotion of
political pluralism, freedom of expression, and freedom of
association in all Euro-Med countries.
***
2005 will be a year of great opportunities. It started with
elections in Palestine; in May, Luxembourg will host the VII
Barcelona Conference; and towards the end of November we will
hold the 10th Anniversary Conference of the Barcelona
Declaration.
In these ten years of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, we
have achieved a lot. Just to mention a few accomplishments: we
have concluded Association Agreements with all countries
involved; and set up regional and bilateral cooperation
programmes to help countries introduce reforms, modernise their
economic structures, and improve their economic environment for
the creation of jobs and the attraction of investment and
know-how. The building blocks of North–South free trade are
almost all in place, and South-South free trade will take a step
forward with the entry into force of the Agadir Agreement in
2005. The EU is the region’s major donor and, within that, the
Commission provides the lion’s share. We have given €7 billion
in grants to Mediterranean partners during the period 1995-2003.
Total European Investment Bank lending to the region stands at
more than €13 billion and is rapidly increasing. And the
Commission has proposed increased funding, including the
creation of a new Partnership and Neighbourhood instrument for
the period 2007-2013.
But despite this impressive record, more remains to be done.
The 10th Anniversary Conference in November should be a
forward-looking Conference; we have to agree on a realistic but
ambitious agenda for the future of the Euro-Mediterranean
Partnership. In my view, the focus of this agenda should be
twofold:
First, a strong commitment to regional stability and
democracy through regional integration and cooperation. This is
the single most important political commodity the EU can export
- and we hope to export it successfully throughout the
Mediterranean and Middle East.
Second, we should bring the partnership closer to our
citizens’ concerns. The Barcelona Process has, to a large extent,
been an inter-governmental process. It is high time that we ask
ourselves what the Euro-Med Partnership can do to meet the
concerns of the people and how we can more successfully address
issues such as education, employment, gender equality, democracy,
free circulation of people, and migrants’ rights. These are
questions that affect the day-to-day life of our citizens, and
our Partnership should address them.
***
It was John Milton who wrote that “peace has her victories,
no less renowned than war”. Let us work together to make the
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership a victory of lasting peace in the
region; a result of our shared and determined political will to
build a region of dialogue, democracy and prosperity.
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