EMPA welcomes designation of UfM Secretary-general

The Bureau of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly has welcomed the designation of a Secretary-general to the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and has urged the adoption of the statutes of the UfM Secretariat.

Following its meeting in Rabat, Morocco, under the Presidency of the Jordanian
Senate, the Bureau expressed the hope that, "the Secretary General, once confirmed, will contribute to a swift resumption of UfM activities monitored by a fully operational secretariat".

A statement called on all partners to adopt the statutes of the Secretariat "as quickly as possible in order to implement the identified UfM projects in the fields of Small and Medium sized Entreprises/Business development, transport, energy, environment, education and social affairs, to the benefit of the citizens".

The Bureau also recalled that that the EMPA, "as the legitimate parliamentary institution of the UfM, is an essential tool for the strengthening of democracy and will monitor the implementation of the UfM Working programme for 2010 and projects".

Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero on Wednesday congratulated King Abdullah II of Jordan on the designation of Jordanian diplomat Ahmad Masa'adeh as Secretary-general of the Union for the Mediterranean. 

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At its meeting on 22 January 2010 held in Rabat, Morocco, under the Presidency of the Jordanian

Senate, the Bureau of the Euro Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) recalled the EMPA

recommendation, of 12 October 2008, on the role of the Euro Mediterranean Parliamentary

Assembly within the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), as well as the EMPA Bureau statement of

20 November 2009 and adopted the following statement.

The EMPA Bureau:

- welcomes the designation of the Secretary general and urges the adoption of the statutes

of the UfM secretariat. Hopes that the Secretary General, once confirmed, will

contribute to a swift resumption of UfM activities monitored by a fully operational

secretariat;

- calls on all partners to adopt these statutes as quickly as possible in order to implement

the identified UfM projects in the fields of Small and Medium sized

Entreprises/Business development, transport, energy, environment, education and social

affairs, to the benefit of the citizens;

- recalls that the EMPA, as the legitimate parliamentary institution of the UfM, is an

essential tool for the strengthening of democracy and will monitor the implementation of

the UfM Working programme for 2010 and projects; it should therefore be regularly

informed by the Secretary General and its deputies on the activities of the future

secretariat;

- regrets the postponement of two ministerial conferences, including the Euromed

Ministers for Foreign Affairs Conference; welcomes however the holding of the

Conference of Trade Ministers, in Brussels, on 9 December 2009, where the "Euromed

Trade Road Map beyond 2010" was adopted.

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Mr. Abdel-Hadi MAJALI -

President of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly

Senator of the Jordanian Senate

Mr. Antonio D’ALI – representing Mr SCHIFANI

Vice-President of the EMPA

President of the Italian Senate 

Mr. Mustapha MANSOURI -

Vice-President of the EMPA

President of the Moroccan House of Representatives

Mr. Gianni PITELLA - representing Mr BUZEK

President of the European Parliament

Vice-President of the EMPA