Overview of the 9th Euro-Med Ministerial Meeting
Lisbon, 5-6 November 2007

Going through the conclusions of the 9th EuroMed summit that took place on 5-6th November in Lisbon provides plenty of food for thought. The EU is diversifying its approach to a numerous initiatives within 3 baskets, in various sectors of society.

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Progress is noted in the Middle East peace process due to the conducive environment of 27+10 EU and Med countries. (At the Lisbon conference another two countries were welcomed to the Barcelona Process: Mauritania and Albania.)

Luís Amado, minister of State and Foreign Affairs and president of the Council of Ministers of the EU, stated that "The Middle East peace process has now entered into a crucial phase" and highlighted the Annapolis international conference and the Paris donors meeting, to be held until the end of the year. According to the Portuguese foreign Minister, the Israeli and Palestinian delegations "stated frankly, openly and cordially" their respective positions and "the general mood is filled with optimism". "The big difference in relation to the past is that today there is a solid bilateral plan of negotiation", declared Amado, referring to the regular contacts between Israel and the Palestinian Authority since last September.

In relation to the French proposal, which anticipates the creation of a Mediterranean Union, the Portuguese minister clarified at the press conference - in line with the Conclusions document - that proposed MU "will not develop in parallel with the Barcelona Process, but rather in articulation with it". Nevertheless, Mr. Amado stressed that the proposal "will develop during the next year", first during the Slovenian presidency of the EU and after during the French presidency.

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At another press conference at the end of the EU troika meeting with the Arab Maghreb Union - UMA, Luís Amado declared, that the main objective of this meeting was "to stimulate the process of economic integration of the Arab Maghreb countries" and "to resume the direct dialogue process" among these countries and the European Union.

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The 9th Euro-Med ministerial conference is fully covered at the website of Portuguese Presidency

"Agreed Conclusions" of the 9th Euro-Mediterranean Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Lisbon, 5-6 November 2007 are also available on this website