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CONCLUSIONS
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The Council of the European Union, represented by its
President, Mr Hans van MIERLO,
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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of
the Netherlands, also representing the Netherlands,
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The European Commission, represented by Mr Manuel MARIN
GONZALEZ, Vice-President,
-
Algeria, represented by Mr Ahmed ATTAF, Minister for
Foreign Affairs,
-
Austria, represented by Mrs Benita FERRERO-WALDNER, State
Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
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Belgium, represented by Mr Erik DERYCKE, Minister for
Foreign Affairs,
-
Cyprus, represented by Dr Ioannis KASOULIDES, Minister
for Foreign Affairs,
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Denmark, represented by Mr Niels HELVEG PETERSEN,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
-
Egypt, represented by Mr Amre MOUSSA, Minister for
Foreign Affairs,
-
Finland, represented by Mr Ole NORRBACK, Minister for
European Affairs and Foreign Trade,
-
France, represented by Mr Hervé de CHARETTE, Minister
for Foreign Affairs,
-
Germany, represented by Mr Klaus KINKEL, Vice-Chancellor
and Minister for Foreign Affairs,
-
Jordan, represented by Dr Fayez TARAWNEH, Minister for
Foreign Affairs,
-
Greece, represented by Mr George PAPANDREOU, Alternate
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
-
Ireland, represented by Mr Dick SPRING, Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs,
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Israel, represented by Mr David LEVY, Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs,
-
Italy, represented by Mr Lamberto DINI, Minister for
Foreign Affairs,
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Lebanon, represented by Mr Fares BOUEZ, Minister for
Foreign Affairs,
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Luxembourg, represented by Mr Jacques F. POOS, Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and
Cooperation,
-
Malta, represented by Mr George VELLA, Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Environment,
-
Morocco, represented by Mr Abdellatif FILALI, Prime
Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs,
-
Portugal, represented by Mr Francisco SEIXAS DA COSTA,
State Secretary for European Affairs,
-
United Kingdom, represented by Baroness CHALKER OF
WALLASEY, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
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Syria, represented by Mr Farouk AL-SHARAA, Minister for
Foreign Affairs,
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Spain, represented by Mr Ramon DE MIGUEL, State Secretary
for Foreign Affairs,
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Sweden, represented by Mrs Lena HJELM-WALLEN, Minister
for Foreign Affairs,
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Tunisia, represented by Mr Abderrahim ZOUARI, Minister
for Foreign Affairs,
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Turkey, represented by Mr Ufuk SOYLEMEZ, Minister of
State for Economic Affairs,
-
the Palestinian Authority, represented by Mr Yasser
ARAFAT, President of the Palestinian Authority,
taking part in the second Euro-Mediterranean Conference in
Malta;
recalling that the Declaration adopted at the first
Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Barcelona on 28 November 1995 lays the
foundations of a multilateral and lasting framework of relations through the
establishment of a comprehensive Partnership comprising three Chapters relating
to political and security affairs, economic and financial affairs and social,
cultural and human affairs;
taking account of the progress made in implementing that
Partnership, particularly in line with the work programme annexed to the
Barcelona Declaration;
reaffirming their commitment to the Barcelona Process, which
constitutes a fundamental political basis, and reaffirming the common principles
and objectives as enshrined in the Barcelona Declaration and in the Work
Programme;
expressing, in this context, their deep concern about the
obstacles which are blocking the Middle East Peace Process and stressing the
need for the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the
Middle East within the framework of the Peace Process as agreed in Madrid on 31 October 1991;
reiterating that this Euro-Mediterranean initiative is not
intended to replace the other activities and initiatives undertaken in the
interest of peace, stability and development in the region, but that it will
contribute to their success and reiterating their support for the realization of
a just, comprehensive and lasting peace settlement in the Middle East based on
the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and principles
mentioned in the letter of invitation to the Madrid Middle East Peace
Conference, including the principle land for peace, with all that this implies;
taking note of the progress report from the European
Commission of 19 February 1997 on the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership;
resolved to confirm and strengthen their Euro-Mediterranean
Partnership, the Participants reaffirm their wish to ensure a balanced
development of the three Chapters of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership;
agree on the following conclusions:
Substantial progress in the development of the
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership has been achieved since its establishment,
despite the uncertainties of the regional political and security situation. The
Participants are aware that they are in the process of establishing a
fully-fledged Partnership, and recognize the amount of work which still lies
ahead. They stress the importance of balanced development of the Partnership
through the gradual implementation of all three Chapters of the Barcelona
Declaration and the Work Programme, as well as the complementary and mutually
reinforcing nature of the bilateral and multilateral dimensions. This process is
achieved in full awareness of the link which exists between stability and the
promotion of economic and social development in the region. In view thereof,
they undertake to give, in full agreement and in a concerted manner, priority to
a number of objectives, and to monitor progress in achieving them before the
next Euro-Mediterranean Conference of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs.
I. Political and Security Partnership:
establishing a common area of peace and stability
The Participants take note of the
various activities that the Senior Officials have undertaken in order to
implement the first chapter of the Barcelona Declaration and the corresponding
chapter of the Work Programme, included in Annex I. They take note of the
results that have been achieved so far. They take note of the assessment by the
Senior Officials that the contacts among the partners have created a basis of
trust and a new platform for political consultations with a view to fulfilment
of the common objectives in matters of external and internal stability, inter
alia the rule of law, democracy and human rights, included in the Barcelona
Declaration and the Work Programme. They encourage the Senior Officials to
continue and deepen the political dialogue in line with the Work Programme
annexed to the Barcelona Declaration.
The Participants take note of the progress made by Senior
Officials on the draft action plan. This draft is considered, in its entirety, a
rolling document to be regularly updated by the Senior Officials in order to
sustain its function as a guide for them in their efforts to implement the
principles and common objectives of the political and security partnership of
the Barcelona process.
The Participants take note of the work carried out by the
Senior Officials on confidence and security-building measures, in particular
those already in operation or approved and included in Annex I. They recognize
that other measures at different stages of development should be approved in a
progressive way, taking duly into account the evolution of the situation in the
Mediterranean region.
The Participants take note of the work of Senior Officials on
a Charter for peace and stability in the Euro-Mediterranean region, and instruct
them to continue the preparatory work, taking due account of the exchanged
documents, in order to submit as soon as possible an agreed text for approval at
a future Ministerial Meeting when political circumstances allow.
II. Economic and Financial Partnership: creating
an area of shared prosperity
The Participants take note of the progress made in the
exploratory talks, the negotiations, signature and ratification of
Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements, as well as in the implementation of
customs unions and pre-accession arrangements.
They reaffirm the importance they attach to the full
attribution of the ECU 4.685 million of Community budgetary funds as
agreed at the Cannes European Council and the increased loans from the EIB.
The Participants take note of the commitment of Community
budgetary funds in 1995 and 1996 of ECU 1.205 million in the form of grants
and the signing of ECU 1.694 million in the form of EIB loans. Furthermore
they take note of the prospects for further commitments of up to ECU 1.002
million in grants in 1997 and the agreement by the Council concerning EIB
lending of up to ECU 2.310 million over the period 1997 to 1999.
The Participants reaffirm that the implementation of MEDA
will be carried out in a fair and even-handed way in accordance with transparent
procedures fully respecting the appropriate financial and regulatory
arrangements as well as those agreed and to be agreed with the beneficiary
countries, and the international obligations of the beneficiary countries with
the aim of improving the pace and conditions of implementation.
The Participants welcome the regional activities which have
taken place in many sectors and which have allowed for the exchange of knowledge
and experience, the creation of fora for continuing regional dialogue aimed at
defining the key elements of sectoral policies, and the launching of several
concrete cooperation activities. A list of these activities is attached as Annex II
to these conclusions.
The Participants reiterate the importance they attach to
sustainable and balanced economic and social development in view of their
objective of creating an area of shared prosperity, taking into account the
different degrees of development. They agree to give a new impetus to the
establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean free-trade area with 2010 as a target
date, with due observance of the obligations resulting from the WTO. They also
agree to implement rapidly and in an efficient and careful manner financial
assistance, principally through MEDA funds and EIB lending, as well as bilateral
assistance from the European Union Member States to the Mediterranean partners,
in accordance with the undertakings given at Barcelona. They underline the
importance of:
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accelerating in a constructive manner work on negotiation
and ratification of the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements, which are
one of the essential elements of the free-trade area, with a view to their
entry into force as soon as possible;
-
further developing the free-trade area, in particular
through increased intra-regional and sub-regional cooperation, facilitated
by technical assistance from the Union, for the achievement of free trade
through agreements amongst the Mediterranean Partners;
-
taking a range of accompanying measures at regional level
to permit greater harmonization 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. Appropriate initiatives in these fields
are welcomed. Training initiatives will also be encouraged.
In view of these objectives, the Participants take note of
the work of government experts on economic transition and of the
Euro-Mediterranean network of economic institutes. They agree that this work
should result in a survey which, drawn up under the auspices of the Commission
and in collaboration with the partners, will cover free-trade issues and the
impact of economic transition in the region. This survey will be available in
time for the next Euro-Mediterranean conference of Foreign Ministers and could
serve as a basis for discussion on a future strategy.
In the context of such a strategy, the Participants further
underline the importance of:
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undertaking a more systematic and efficient approach to
encourage private investment in the region, including direct foreign
investment, in particular through the wider dissemination of information and
the removal of obstacles to investment, amongst others through the use of
measures to promote investments, to promote greater competitiveness and
private sector growth, and to create employment opportunities, and thereby
to establish favourable conditions for investment in the Mediterranean
partners;
-
promoting the harmonization
of rules and regulations relevant to the creation of the Euro-Mediterranean
free-trade area;
-
reinforcing and concentrating activities on priority
sectors where cooperation has already been successfully started, in
particular industrial policy, including industrial modernization, SMEs,
energy policy, environment, water policy, the information society and
maritime transport. The Participants also agree to begin cooperation in such
sectors as modernizing and restructuring agriculture, the evolution of trade
in agricultural products, reducing food dependency, developing regional
infrastructure, and the transfer of technology;
-
pursuing and implementing as quickly as possible measures
to alleviate the negative social consequences which may result from the
adjustment and modernization of economic and social structures;
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continuing the dialogue on debt in order to achieve
progress in the competent fora, taking note of recent operations to reduce
the external debt of Mediterranean third countries owed to certain countries
of the European Union or debt equity swaps on a voluntary and bilateral
basis, which has the effect of increasing European direct investment;
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helping the Mediterranean partners to prepare for the
future evolution of the European Union.
III. Partnership in social, cultural and human
affairs: developing human resources, promoting understanding between cultures
and exchanges between civil societies
The Participants recall that the traditions of culture and
civilization throughout the Mediterranean region, dialogue between these
cultures and exchanges at human, scientific and technological level are an
essential factor in bringing their peoples closer, promoting understanding
between them and improving their perception of each other.
The Participants welcome the progress made on regional
cooperation in some fields in the Partnership in social, cultural and human
affairs. A list of activities is attached as Annex III to these
conclusions. However the Participants note that further efforts are needed in
order to achieve the objectives of this chapter of the partnership, in
accordance with the Barcelona Declaration and the Work Programme. In this
respect they underline their common wish to:
-
adopt the regional projects currently under discussion
concerning cultural heritage, prepare a further set of such projects and
widen the scope of cooperation to cover other cultural activities, including
in the audio-visual sector. The Participants welcome the intention to put
forward a regional programme on culture and information. Cultural aspects
should be taken into account in other actions within the framework of the
partnership;
-
actively pursue the dialogue between cultures and
civilisations, within the overall objective of improving mutual
understanding and bringing people closer together, taking account of the
work already accomplished. In this context, the Participants recall their
commitment to adopt measures likely to facilitate human exchanges,
particularly through the improvement of administrative procedures;
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consolidate the dialogue between civil societies, an
example being the Civil Forum. In this context the Participants look forward
to the relaunch of the European Union's decentralised cooperation programmes
(MED CAMPUS, MED MEDIA and MED URBS), as soon as a satisfactory management
system has been set up; they will work towards the effective development of
this cooperation, including administrative aspects;
-
maintain and develop the direct involvement of civil
societies, within the framework of national legislation, among others via
the establishment of networks between NGOs;
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encourage active cooperation in the field of the
prevention of and the fight against terrorism in accordance with the
Barcelona Declaration and the Work Programme; (*)
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establish programmes of activities for youth and health
which complement existing bilateral and multilateral activities in this
sphere; specific initiatives for youth will be put forward shortly;
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continue and develop education, including higher
education, and training activities;
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wage a determined campaign against racism and xenophobia
and intolerance, and agree to cooperate to that end;
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intensify, in accordance with the Barcelona Declaration
and Work Programme, the dialogue and cooperation on a Euro-Mediterranean
multilateral level,
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on migration issues and human exchanges;
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in the field of illegal immigration;
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continue the dialogue on governance, with a particular
emphasis on the relationship between civil society and administrative
systems with the aim of reinforcing the efficiency and reliability of public
administration;
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pursue actively a dialogue and cooperation on combatting
organised crime and all aspects of the illicit drugs trade.
IV. General aspects
The Participants reaffirm the role of the Euro-Mediterranean
Committee for the Barcelona Process as a central forum for providing impetus,
monitoring and following up actions and initiatives within the framework of the
Partnership. They consider in addition that the Committee should place
particular emphasis on ensuring that balance and coherence be maintained in the
follow-up to the Barcelona Process, through an improved evaluation of the
results and recommendations of the various activities undertaken in the
framework of the Partnership. They also agree that the role of the Committee
would be enhanced by the presence of the representatives of all Member States of
the European Union.
The Participants agree on the need to increase further the
visibility of the work undertaken in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. They
note the measures undertaken by the Commission to make available general
information on the Partnership, and underline the importance of every partner
increasing its efforts to keep its own public informed.
The Participants reaffirm the importance they attach to the
active involvement of Parliaments in the Partnership. They welcome the fact that
the European Parliament has taken the initiative with other Parliaments to begin
the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary dialogue.
The Participants also encourage the continuation of the
dialogue among social Partners.
The Participants welcome the proposal by the European Union
to hold the next meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs in Germany in the
first half of 1999.
ANNEX I - POLITICAL AND SECURITY ASPECTS
MEETINGS AND SEMINARS
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Meetings of Senior Officials
in charge of the political and security aspects, Brussels 26-27 March,
20-21 May, 23-24 July, 8 October, 20 November 1996, 28 January 1997
and The Hague, 12 March 1997
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Joint meeting of Senior
Officials in charge of the political and security partnership and EuroMeSco,
The Hague 11 March 1997
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Information sessions for
Euro-Mediterranean diplomats, Malta 28 September-6 October 1996, 15-19
March 1997
INVENTORY OF MEASURES
Setting up of a network of
contact points for political and security matters
Exchange of information on
adherence to international human rights instruments (completed)
Exchange of information on
adherence to international legal instruments in the field of disarmament and
arms control (replies to questionnaire)
Exchange of information on
adherence to international instruments in the field of prevention of and fight
against terrorism (replies to questionnaire)
Convening of diplomatic
seminars (Malta) (Egypt)
Establishment of EuroMesco
network of foreign policy institutes
ANNEX II - ECONOMIC
AND FINANCIAL ASPECTS
Statistics Cooperation:
-
Seminar of Directors General
of Statistics and Regional Programme for Cooperation in Statistics, on 11-13
December 1995, in Valence
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Seminar of Directors General
of Statistics and Regional Programme for Cooperation in Statistics, on 18-20
June 1996, in Naples
Customs cooperation:
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Meeting of Officials on rules
of origin, on 28-29 March 1996, in Brussels
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Meeting of Officials on rules
of origin, on 28-29 May 1996, in Brussels
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Meeting of Officials on rules
of origin, on 7-8 October 1996, in Cairo
Information Society:
-
Workshop on Research
(preparatory workshop to the Ministerial Conference on Information Society),
on 1-2 April 1996 in Sofia Antipolis
-
Workshop on Education and
Training (preparatory workshop to the Ministerial Conference on Information
Society), on 2-3 May 1996 in Brussels
-
Workshop on the Regulatory
Framework (preparatory workshop to the Ministerial Conference on Information
Society), on 6-7 May 1996 in Palermo
-
Ministerial Conference on
Information Society, on 30-31 May 1996 in Rome
-
Conference on MARIS (Maritime
Information Society), on 7 June 1996, in Malta
Tourism:
Private Investment and
Industry:
-
Industrial Federations
Conference, on 13-14 May 1996 in Malta
-
Meeting of Industry
Ministers, on 20-21 May 1996 in Brussels
-
Workshop on SMEs, on 4-5 June
1996 in Milan
-
Working Group on Service
centres and industrial zones, on 24-25 June 1996 in Rome
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Workshop on contracting
services in the Mediterranean, on 17-18 October 1996 in Istambul
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Euro-Mediterranean Summit of
industrial federations, on 5-6 December 1996 in Marrakesh
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Conference on Private
Investment, on 6-7 March 1997, in London
-
Experts Meeting on Economic
Transition, on 20-21 March, in Brussels
-
Working Group on Development
of the Industrial and Entrepreneurial Fabric, on 24 March 1997, in
Brussels
-
Meeting of Economic Institutes, on 24-25 March 1997, in
Marseilles
Energy:
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Meeting in margins of the
Solar Summit, on 22 May 1996 in Malta (preparatory meeting to the Conference
of Energy Ministers)
-
Conference of Energy
Ministers, on 7-9 June 1996 in Trieste
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Meeting on the European
Energy Charter, on 21-22 November 1996 in Brussels
Environment:
Transport:
Water:
Fishing:
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Experts preparatory Meeting
on fish stocks management in the Mediterranean, on 4-5 July 1996
in Brussels
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2nd Diplomatic Conference on
fish stocks management in the Mediterranean, from 27 to 29 November
1996 in Venice
Science and
Technology:
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2nd meeting of the Monitoring
Committee on Science and Technology, on 2-3 May 1996 in Capri
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3rd meeting of the Monitoring
Committee on Science and Technology, on 12-13 December 1996 in
Cyprus
ANNEX III - SOCIAL,
CULTURAL AND HUMAN AFFAIRS
Dialogue among
Cultures and Civilisations:
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Workshop on the conservation
of cultural heritage (preparatory workshop to the Bologna Conference on
cultural heritage), on 9-10 February 1996 in Arles
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Workshop on the access to
cultural heritage (preparatory workshop to the Bologna Conference on
cultural heritage), on 23-24 February 1996 in Berlin
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Workshop on the heritage as a
factor in sustainable development (preparatory workshop to the Bologna
Conference on the cultural heritage), on 22-23 March 1996 in Amman
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Ministerial Conference on
cultural heritage, on 22-23 April 1996 in Bologna
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Conference on relations
between the Islamic world and Europe, on 10-13 June 1996 in Amman
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Conference on contemporary
Islam, on 17-18 June 1996 in Copenhagen
Social development:
-
Tripartite Conference on the
euro-mediterranean social area: work, enterprise, training, on 24-25 May
1996 in Catania
-
Conference on Governance in
the Euro-Mediterranean Region, on 17-18 March, in The Hague
Dialogue on Human
Rights
Fight against Drug and
organized crime
Summits of Economic
and Social Committees
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on 12-13 December 1995, in
Madrid
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on 26-27 November 1996, in
Paris
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