BARCELONA DECLARATION
ADOPTED AT THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE
(27 and 28 November 1995)
The Council of the European Union, represented by its President, Mr. Javier SOLANA,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain,
The European Commission, represented by Mr. Manuel MARIN, Vice-President,
Germany, represented by Mr. Klaus KINKEL, Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Algeria, represented by Mr. Mohamed Salah DEMBRI, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Austria, represented by Mrs. Benita FERRERO-WALDNER, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs,
Belgium, represented by Mr. Erik DERYCKE, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Cyprus, represented by Mr. Alecos MICHAELIDES, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Denmark, represented by Mr. Niels Helveg PETERSEN, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Egypt, represented by Mr. Amr MOUSSA, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Spain, represented by Mr. Carlos WESTENDORP, State Secretary for Relations with the
European Community,
Finland, represented by Mrs. Tarja HALONEN, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
France, represented by Mr. Herv� de CHARETTE, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Greece, represented by Mr. K�rolos PAPOULIAS, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Ireland, represented by Mr. Dick SPRING Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign
Affairs
Israel, represented by Mr. Ehud BARAK, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Italy, represented by Mrs. Susanna AGNELLI, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Jordan, represented by Mr. Abdel-Karim KABARITI, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Lebanon, represented by Mr. Fares BOUEZ, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Luxembourg, represented by Mr. Jacques F. POOS, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Cooperation,
Malta, represented by Prof. Guido DE MARCO, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Morocco, represented by Mr. Abdellatif FILALI, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
the Netherlands, represented by Mr. Hans van MIERLO, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
for Foreign Affairs,
Portugal, represented by Mr. Jaime GAMA, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
the United Kingdom, represented by Mr. Malcolm RIFKIND QC MPI, Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,
Syria, represented by Mr. Farouk AL-SHARA-A, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Sweden, represented by Mrs. Lena HJELM-WALLEN, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Tunisia, represented by Mr. Habib Ben YAHIA, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Turkey, represented by Mr. Deniz BAYKAL, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
the Palestinian Authority, represented by Mr. Yasser ARAFAT, President of the Palestinian
Authority,
taking part in the Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Barcelona:
stressing the strategic
importance of the Mediterranean and moved by the will to give their future relations a new
dimension, based on comprehensive cooperation and solidarity, in keeping with the
privileged nature of the links forged by neighbourhood and history;
aware that the new
political, economic and social issues on both sides of the Mediterranean constitute common
challenges calling for a coordinated overall response;
resolved to establish to
that end a multilateral and lasting framework of relations based on a spirit of
partnership, with due regard for the characteristics, values and distinguishing features
peculiar to each of the participants;
regarding this
multilateral framework as the counterpart to a strengthening of bilateral relations which
it is important to safeguard, while laying stress on their specific nature;
stressing that this
Euro-Mediterranean initiative is not intended to replace the other activities and
initiatives undertaken in the interests of the peace, stability and development of the
region, but that it will contribute to their success, The participants support 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;
convinced that the
general objective of turning the Mediterranean basin into an area of dialogue, exchange
and cooperation guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity requires a strengthening of
democracy and respect for human rights, sustainable and balanced economic and social
development, measures to combat poverty and promotion of greater understanding between
cultures, which are all essential aspects of partnership,
hereby agree to establish a
comprehensive partnership among the participants - the Euro-Mediterranean partnership -
through strengthened political dialogue on a regular basis, the development of economic
and financial cooperation and greater emphasis on the social, cultural and human
dimension, these being the three aspects of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
POLITICAL AND
SECURITY PARTNERSHIP:
ESTABLISHING A COMMON AREA OF PEACE AND STABILITY
The participants express their conviction that the peace, stability and
security of the Mediterranean region are a common asset which they pledge to promote and
strengthen by all means at their disposal. To this end they agree to conduct a
strengthened political dialogue at regular intervals, based on observance of essential
principles of international law, and reaffirm a number of common objectives in matters of
internal and external stability.
In this spirit they undertake in the following declaration of principles
to:
act in
accordance with the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
as well as other obligations under international law, in particular those arising out of
regional and international instruments to which they are party;
develop the
rule of law and democracy in their political systems, while recognizing in this framework
the right of each of them to choose and freely develop its own political, socio-cultural,
economic and judicial system;
respect human
rights and fundamental freedoms and guarantee the effective legitimate exercise of such
rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression, freedom of association for peaceful
purposes and freedom of thought, conscience and religion, both individually and together
with other members of the same group, without any discrimination on grounds of race,
nationality, language, religion or sex;
give
favourable consideration, through dialogue between the parties, to exchanges of
information on matters relating to human rights, fundamental freedoms, racism and
xenophobia;
respect and
ensure respect for diversity and pluralism in their societies, promote tolerance between
different groups in society and combat manifestations of intolerance, racism and
xenophobia. The participants stress the importance of proper education in the matter of
human rights and fundamental freedoms;
respect their
sovereign equality and all rights inherent in their sovereignty, and fulfil in good faith
the obligations they have assumed under international law;
respect the
equal rights of peoples and their right to self-determination, acting at all times in
conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and with
the relevant norms of international law, including those relating to territorial integrity
of States, as reflected in agreements between relevant parties;
refrain, in
accordance with the rules of international law, from any direct or indirect intervention
in the internal affairs of another partner; respect the territorial integrity and unity of
each of the other partners;
settle their
disputes by peaceful means, call upon all participants to renounce recourse to the threat
or use of force against the territorial integrity of another participant, including the
acquisition of territory by force, and reaffirm the right to fully exercise sovereignty by
legitimate means in accordance with the UN Charter and international law;
strengthen
their cooperation in preventing and combating terrorism, in particular by ratifying and
applying the international instruments they have signed, by acceding to such instruments
and by taking any other appropriate measure;
fight
together against the expansion and diversification of organized crime and combat the drugs
problem in all its aspects;
promote
regional security by acting, inter alia, in favour of nuclear, chemical and biological
non-proliferation through adherence to and compliance with a combination of international
and regional non-proliferation regimes, and arms control and disarmament agreements such
as NPT, CWC, BWC, CTBT and/or regional arrangements such as weapons free zones including
their verification regimes, as well as by fulfilling in good faith their commitments under
arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation conventions.
The parties
shall pursue a mutually and effectively verifiable Middle East Zone free of weapons of
mass destruction, nuclear, chemical and biological, and their delivery systems.
Furthermore
the parties will consider practical steps to prevent the proliferation of nuclear,
chemical and biological weapons as well as excessive accumulation of conventional arms.
Refrain from
developing military capacity beyond their legitimate defence requirements, at the same
time reaffirming their resolve to achieve the same degree of security and mutual
confidence with the lowest possible levels of troops and weaponry and adherence to CCW.
Promote
conditions likely to develop good-neighbourly relations among themselves and support
processes aimed at stability, security, prosperity and regional and subregional
cooperation.
consider any
confidence and security-building measures that could be taken between the parties with a
view to the creation of an "area of peace and stability in the Mediterranean",
including the long term possibility of establishing a Euro-Mediterranean pact to that end.
ECONOMIC AND
FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP:
CREATING AN AREA OF SHARED PROSPERITY
The
participants emphasize, the importance they attach to sustainable and balanced economic
and social development with a view to achieving their objective of creating an area of
shared prosperity.
The partners acknowledge the difficulties that the question of debt can
create for the economic development of the countries of the Mediterranean region. They
agree, in view of the importance of their relations, to continue the dialogue in order to
achieve progress in the competent fora.
Noting that the partners have to take up common challenges, albeit to
varying degrees, the participants set themselves the following long-term objectives:
With a view to achieving these objectives, the participants agree to
establish an economic and financial; partnership which, taking into account the different
degrees of development, will be based on:
a) Free-trade area
The free-trade area will be
established through the new Euro-Mediterranean Agreements and free-trade agreements
between partners of the European Union. The parties have set 2010 as the target date for
the gradual establishment of this area which will cover most trade with due observance of
the obligations resulting from the WTO.
With a view to developing gradual free trade in this area: tariff and
non-tariff barriers to trade in manufactured products will be progressively eliminated in
accordance with timetables to be negotiated between the partners; taking as a starting
point traditional trade flows, and as far as the various agricultural policies allow and
with due respect to the results achieved within the GATT negotiations, trade in
agricultural products will be progressively liberalized through reciprocal preferential
access among the parties; trade in services including right of establishment will be
progressively liberalized having due regard to the GATS agreement. The participants decide
to facilitate the progressive establishment of this free-trade area through the adoption
of suitable measures as regard rules of origin, certification, protection of intellectual
and industrial property rights and competition;
b) Economic cooperation and concerted action
Cooperation will be
developed in particular in the areas listed below and in this respect the participants:
acknowledge
that economic development must be supported both by internal savings, the basis of
investment, and by direct foreign investment. They stress the importance of creating an
environment conducive to investment, in particular by the progressive elimination of
obstacles to such investment which could lead to the transfer of technology and increase
production and exports;
affirm that
regional cooperation on a voluntary basis, particularly with a view to developing trade
between the partners themselves, is a key factor in promoting the creation of a free-trade
area;
encourage
enterprises to enter into agreements with each other and undertake to promote such
cooperation and industrial modernization by providing a favourable environment and
regulatory framework. They consider it necessary to adopt and to implement a technical
support programme for SMEs;
emphasize
their interdependence with regard to the environment, which necessitates a regional
approach and increased cooperation, as well as better coordination of existing
multilateral programmes, while confirming their attachment to the Barcelona Convention and
the Mediterranean Action Plan. They recognize the importance of reconciling economic
development with environmental protection, of integrating environmental concerns into the
relevant aspects of economic policy and of mitigating the negative environmental
consequences which might result. They undertake to establish a short and medium-term
priority action programme, including in connection with combating desertification, and to
concentrate appropriate technical and financial support on those actions;
recognize the
key role of women in development and undertake to promote their active participation in
economic and social life and in the creation of employment;
stress the
importance of the conservation and rational management of fish stocks and of the
improvement of cooperation on research into stocks, including aquaculture, and undertake
to facilitate scientific training and research and to envisage creating joint instruments;
acknowledge
the pivotal role of the energy sector in the economic Euro-Mediterranean partnership and
decide to strengthen cooperation and intensify dialogue in the field of energy policies.
They also decide to create the appropriate framework conditions for investments and the
activities of energy companies, cooperating in creating the conditions enabling such
companies to extend energy networks and promote link-ups;
recognize
that water supply together with suitable management and development of resources are
priority issues for all Mediterranean partners and that cooperation should be developed in
these areas;
agree to
cooperate in modernizing and restructuring agriculture and in promoting integrated rural
development. This cooperation will focus in particular on technical assistance and
training, on support for policies implemented by the partners to diversify production, on
the reduction of food dependency and on the promotion of environment-friendly agriculture.
They also agree to cooperate in the eradication of illicit crops and the development of
any regions affected.
The participants also agree to cooperate in other areas and, to that
effect:
c) Financial
cooperation
The participants consider
that the creation of a free-trade area and the success the Euro-Mediterranean partnership
require a substantial increase in financial assistance, which must above all encourage
sustainable indigenous development and the mobilization of local economic operators. They
note in this connection that:
PARTNERSHIP IN SOCIAL,
CULTURAL AND HUMAN AFFAIRS:
DEVELOPING HUMAN RESOURCES, PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN CULTURES A EXCHANGES BETWEEN CIVIL SOCIETIES
The
participants recognize 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.
In this spirit, the participants agree to establish a partnership in
social, cultural and human affairs. To this end:
they reaffirm
that dialogue and respect between cultures and religions are a necessary pre-condition for
bringing the peoples closer. In this connection they stress the importance of the role the
mass media can play in the reciprocal recognition and understanding of cultures as a
source of mutual enrichment;
they stress
the essential nature of the development of human resources, both as regards the education
and training of young people in particular and in the area culture. They express their
intent to promote cultural exchanges and knowledge of other languages, respecting the
cultural identity of each partner, and to implement a lasting policy of educational and
cultural programmes; in this context the partners undertake to adopt measures to
facilitate human exchanges, in particular by improving administrative procedures;
they
underline the importance of the health sector for sustainable development a express their
intention of promoting the effective participation of the community in operations to
improve health and well-being;
they
recognize the importance of social development which, in their view, must go hand in hand
with any economic development. They attach particular importance to respect for
fundamental social rights, including the right to development;
they
recognize the essential contribution civil society can make in the process of development
of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and as an essential factor for greater understanding
and closeness between peoples;
they
accordingly agree to strengthen and/or introduce the necessary instruments of
decentralized cooperation to encourage exchanges between those active in development
within the framework of national laws: leaders of political and civil society, the
cultural and religious world, universities, the research community, the media,
organizations, the trade unions and public and private enterprises;
on this
basis, they recognize the importance of encouraging contacts and exchanges between young
people in the context of programmes for decentralised cooperation;
they will
encourage actions of support for democratic institutions and for the strengthening of the
rule of law and civil society;
they
recognize that current population trends represent a priority challenge which must be
counterbalanced by appropriate policies to accelerate economic take-off,
they
acknowledge the importance of the role played by migration in their relationships. They
agree to strengthen their cooperation to reduce migratory pressures, among other things
through vocational training programmes and programmes of assistance for job creation. They
undertake to guarantee protection of all the rights recognized under existing legislation
of migrants legally resident in their respective territories;
in the area
of legal immigration they decide to establish closer cooperation. In this context, the
partners, aware of their responsibility for readmission, agree to adopt the relevant
provisions and measures, by means of bilateral agreements or arrangements, in order to
readmit their nationals who are in an illegal situation. To that end, the Member States of
the European Union take citizens to mean nationals of the Member States, as defined for
Community purposes,
they agree to
strengthen cooperation by means of various measures to prevent terrorism and fight it more
effectively together,
by the same
token they consider it necessary to fight jointly and effectively against drug
trafficking, international crime and corruption;
they
underline the importance of waging a determined campaign against racism, xenophobia and
intolerance and agree to cooperate to that end.
FOLLOW-UP TO THE
CONFERENCE
The participants:
-considering that the Barcelona Conference provides the basis for a
process, which is open and should develop; -reaffirming their will to establish a
partnership based on the principles and objectives defined in this Declaration; -resolved
to give practical expression to this Euro-Mediterranean partnership; -convinced that, in
order to achieve this objective, it is necessary to continue the comprehensive dialogue
thus initiated and to carry out a series of specific actions;
hereby
adopt the attached work programme:
The Ministers for Foreign Affairs will meet periodically in order to
monitor the application of this Declaration and define actions enabling the objectives of
the partnership to be achieved.
The various activities will be followed by ad hoc thematic meetings of
ministers, senior officials and experts, exchanges of experience and information, contacts
between those active in civil society and by any other appropriate means.
Contacts between parliamentarians, regional authorities, local
authorities and the social partners will be encouraged.
A "Euro-Mediterranean Committee for the Barcelona process" at
senior-official level, consisting of the European Union Troika and one representative of
each Mediterranean partner, will hold regular meetings to prepare the meeting of the
Ministers for Foreign Affairs, take stock of and evaluate the follow-up to the Barcelona
process and all its components and update the work programme.
Appropriate preparatory and follow-up work for the meetings resulting
from the Barcelona work programme and from the conclusions of the "Euro-Mediterranean
Committee for the Barcelona process" will be undertaken by the Commission
departments.
The next meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs will be held in
the first semester of 1997 in one of the twelve Mediterranean partners of the European
Union, to be determined through further consultations.
ANNEX
WORK PROGRAMME
I. Introduction
The aim
of this programme is to implement the objectives of the Barcelona Declaration, and to
respect its principles, through regional and multilateral actions. lt. is complementary
both to the bilateral cooperation, implemented in particular under the agreements between
the EU and its Mediterranean partners, and to the cooperation already existing in other
multilateral fora.
The preparation and the follow-up to the various actions will be
implemented in accordance with the principles and mechanisms set out in the Barcelona
Declaration.
The priority actions for further cooperation are listed below. This
does not exclude Euro-Mediterranean cooperation being extended to other actions if the
partners so agree.
The actions may apply to States, their local and regional authorities
as well as actors of their civil society.
With the agreement of the participants, other countries or
organizations may be involved in the actions contained in the work programme. The
implementation must take place in a flexible and transparent way.
With the agreement of the participants, future Euro-Mediterranean
cooperation will take account, as appropriate, of the opinions and recommendations
resulting from the relevant discussions held at various levels in the region.
The implementation of the programme should start as soon as practical
after the Barcelona Conference. It will be reviewed at the next Euro-Mediterranean
Conference on the basis of a report to be prepared by the European Commission departments,
particularly on the basis of reports from the various meetings and Groups mentioned below,
and approved by the "Euro-Mediterranean Committee for the Barcelona process" set
up by the Barcelona Declaration.
II. Political and Security
Partnership: Establishing a common area of peace and stability
With a view to contributing
to the objective of progressively creating a zone of peace, stability and security in the
Mediterranean, senior officials will meet periodically, starting within the first quarter
of 1996. They will:
III Economic and
Financial Partnership: Building a zone of shared prosperity
Meetings will take place
periodically at the level of Ministers, officials or experts, as appropriate, to promote
cooperation in the following areas. These meetings may be supplemented, where appropriate,
by conferences or seminars involving the private sector likewise.
Establishment of a
Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area
The establishment of a free
trade area in accordance with the principles contained in the Barcelona Declaration is an
essential element of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
Cooperation will focus on practical measures to facilitate the
establishment of free trade as well as its consequences, including:
-harmonizing rules and procedures in the customs field, with a view in
particular to the progressive introduction of cumulation of origin; in the meantime,
favourable consideration will be given, where appropriate, to finding ad hoc solutions in
particular cases; -harmonization of standards, including meetings arranged by the European
Standards Organisations; -elimination of unwarranted technical barriers to trade in
agricultural products and adoption of relevant measures related to plant-health and
veterinary rules as well as other legislation on foodstuffs; -cooperation among statistics
organizations with a view to providing reliable data on a harmonized basis; -possibilities
for regional and subregional cooperation (without prejudice to initiatives taken in other
existing fora). Investment
The object of cooperation will be to help create a climate favourable to the removal of
obstacles to investment, by giving greater thought to the definition of such obstacles and
to means, including in the banking sector, of promoting such investment.
Industry
Industrial modernisation and
increased competitiveness will be key factors for the success of the Euro-Mediterranean
partnership, In this context, the private sector will play a more important role in the
economic development of the region and the creation of employment. Cooperation will focus
on:
Particular attention will be
paid to means of encouraging cooperation among SMEs and creating the conditions for their
development, including the possibility of organising workshops, taking account of
experience acquired under MEDINVEST and inside the European Union.
Agriculture
While pointing out that such
matters are covered under bilateral relations in the main, cooperation in this area will
focus on:
Transport
Efficient interoperable
transport links between the EU and its Mediterranean partners, and among the partners
themselves, as well as free access to the market for services in international maritime
transport, are essential to the development of trade patterns and the smooth operation of
the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
The Transport Ministers of Western Mediterranean countries met twice in
1995 and, following the Regional Conference for the Development of Maritime Transport in
the Mediterranean, the Mediterranean Waterborne Transport Working Group adopted a
multiannual programme.
Cooperation will focus on:
Energy
A high-level Conference was
held in Tunisia in 1995 with a follow-up meeting in Athens and an Energy Conference in
Madrid on 20 November 1995. With a view to creating appropriate conditions for investment
in and activities by energy companies, future cooperation will focus, inter alia on:
With a view to developing a
modern, efficient telecommunications network, cooperation will focus on:
Intensification of
Euro-Mediterranean exchanges and access to the nascent information society will be
facilitated by more efficient information and communications infrastructures.
A regional conference is planned for 1996 with the aim of paving the
way for pilot projects to show the concrete benefits of the information society.
Regional Planning
Co-operation will focus on:
- defining a regional planning strategy for the Euro-Mediterranean area commensurate with
the countries' requirements and special features; - promoting cross-border cooperation in
areas of mutual interest.
Tourism
The Ministers for Tourism,
meeting in Casablanca, adopted the Mediterranean Tourism Charter in 1995. The cooperation
actions to be initiated will relate in particular to information, promotion and training.
Environment
Co-operation will focus on:
- assessing environmental
problems in the Mediterranean region and defining, where appropriate, the initiatives to
be taken;
- making proposals to establish
and subsequently update a short and medium-term priority environmental action programme
for intervention coordinated by the European Commission and supplemented by long-term
actions; it should include among the main areas for action, the following: integrated
management of water, soil and coastal areas; management of waste; preventing and combating
air pollution and pollution in the Mediterranean sea; natural heritage, landscapes and
site conservation and management; Mediterranean forest protection, conservation and
restoration, in particular through the prevention and control of erosion, soil
degradation,
- forest fires and combating
desertification; transfer of Community experience in financing techniques, legislation and
environmental monitoring; integration of environmental concerns in all policies;
- setting up a regular dialogue
to monitor the implementation of the action programme;
- reinforcing regional and
subregional cooperation and strengthening coordination with the Mediterranean Action Plan;
- stimulating coordination of
investments from various sources, and implementation of relevant international
conventions;
- promoting the adoption and
implementation of legislation and regulatory measures when required, especially preventive
measures and appropriate high standards.
Science and Technology
Cooperation will focus on:
Following
the Ministerial meeting at Sophia Antipolis in March 1995, a Monitoring Committee was set
up; this Committee will meet for the first time immediately after the Barcelona
Conference. It will focus on making recommendations for the joint implementation of the
policy priorities agreed at Ministerial level.
Water
The Mediterranean Water
Charter was adopted in Rome in 1992.
Water is a priority issue for all the Mediterranean partners and will
gain in importance as water scarcity becomes more pressing. The purpose of cooperation in
this area will be as follows:
Fisheries
In view of the importance of
conservation and rational management of Mediterranean fish stocks, cooperation in the
framework of the General Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean will be reinforced.
Following the Ministerial Fisheries Conference held in Heraklion in
1994, appropriate follow-up action will be taken in the legal sphere through meetings to
take place in 1996.
Cooperation will be improved on research into fish stocks, including
aquaculture, as well as into training and scientific research.
IV. Partnership in Social, Cultural and Human affairs :
Developing Human Resources, Promoting Understanding between Cultures and Exchanges between
Civil Societies
Development of human
resources
The Euro-Mediterranean
partnership must contribute to enhancing educational levels throughout the region, whilst
laying special emphasis on the Mediterranean partners. To this end, a regular dialogue on
educational policies will take place, initially focusing on vocational training,
technology in education, the universities and other higher-education establishments and
research. In this context as well as in other areas, particular attention will be paid to
the role of women. The Euro-Arab Business School in Granada and the European Foundation in
Turin will also contribute to this cooperation.
A meeting of representatives of the vocational training sector (policy
makers, academics, trainers, etc) will be organised with the aim of sharing modern
management approaches.
A meeting will be held of representatives of universities and
higher-education establishments. The European Commission will strengthen its ongoing
MED-Campus programme.
A meeting will also be called on the subject of technology in
education.
Municipalities and
Regions
Municipalities and regional
authorities need to be closely involved in the operation of the Euro-Mediterranean
Partnership. City and regional representatives will be encouraged to meet each year to
take stock of their common challenges and exchange experiences. This will be organised by
the European Commission and will take account of previous experience.
Dialogue between cultures
and civilizations
Given the importance of
improving mutual understanding by promoting cultural exchanges and knowledge of languages,
officials and experts will meet in order to make concrete proposals for action, inter
alia, in the following fields: cultural and creative heritage, cultural and artistic
events, co-productions (theatre and cinema), translations and other means of cultural
dissemination, training.
Greater understanding among the major religions present in the
Euro-Mediterranean region will facilitate greater mutual tolerance and cooperation.
Support will be given to periodic meetings of representatives of religions and religious
institutions as well as theologians, academics and others concerned, with the aim of
breaking down prejudice, ignorance and fanaticism and fostering cooperation at grass-roots
level. The conferences held in Stockholm (1 5/17.6.1995) and Toledo (4/7.11.1995) may
serve as examples in this context.
Media
Close interaction between
the media will work in favour of better cultural understanding. The European Union will
actively promote such interaction, in particular through the ongoing MED-Media programme.
An annual meeting of representatives of the media will be organised in this context.
Youth
Youth exchanges should be
the means to prepare future generations for a closer cooperation between the
Euro-Mediterranean partners. A Euro-Mediterranean youth exchange programme should
therefore be established based on experience acquired in Europe and taking account of the
partners' needs; this programme should take account of the importance of vocational
training, particularly for those without qualifications, and of the training of organizers
and social workers in the youth field. The European Commission will make the necessary
proposals before the next meeting of Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers.
Exchanges between Civil
Societies
Senior officials will meet
periodically to discuss measures likely to facilitate human exchanges resulting from the
Euro-Mediterranean partnership, especially those involving officials, scientists,
academics, businessmen, students and sportsmen, including the improvement and
simplification of administrative procedures, particularly where unnecessary administrative
obstacles might exist. Social Development
The Euro-Mediterranean partnership must contribute to improving the living and working
conditions and increasing the employment level of the population in the Mediterranean
partner States, in particular of women and the neediest strata of the population. In this context the partners attach particular importance to the respect and
promotion of basic social rights. To that end, actors in social policies will meet
periodically at the appropriate level.
Health
The partners agree to
concentrate cooperation in this area on:
Migration
Given the importance of the
issue of migration for Euro-Mediterranean relations, meetings will be encouraged in order
to make proposals concerning migration flows and pressures. These meetings will take
account of experience acquired, inter alia, under the MED-Migration programme,
particularly as regards improving the living conditions of migrants legally established in
the Union.
Terrorism
Drug Trafficking,
Organised crime
Fighting terrorism will
have to be a priority for all the parties. To that end, officials will meet periodically
with the aim of strengthening cooperation among police, judicial and other authorities. In
this context, consideration will be given, in particular, to stepping up exchanges of
information and improving extradition procedures.
Officials will meet periodically to discuss practical measures which
can be taken to improve cooperation among police, judicial, customs, administrative and
other authorities in order to combat, in particular, drug trafficking and organised crime,
including smuggling. Al these meetings will be organised with due regard for the need for
a differentiated approach that takes into account the diversity of the situation in each
country.
Illegal Immigration
Officials will meet
periodically to discuss practical measures which can be taken to improve cooperation among
police, judicial, customs, administrative and other authorities in order to combat illegal
immigration.
These meetings will be organized with due regard for the need for a
differentiated approach that takes into account the diversity of the situation in each
country.
V. Institutional contacts
Euro-Mediterranean
Parliamentary Dialogue
An Inter-Parliamentary
Conference on Security and Cooperation in the Mediterranean was held in Valletta from 1 to
4 November 1995. The European Parliament is invited to take the
initiative with other parliaments concerning the future Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary
Dialogue, which could enable the elected representatives of the partners to exchange ideas
on a wide range of issues.
Other institutional
contacts
Regular contacts among other
European organs, in particular the Economic and Social Committee of the European
Community, and their Mediterranean counterparts, would contribute to a better
understanding of the major issues relevant in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
To this end, the Economic and Social Committee is invited to take the
initiative in establishing links with its Mediterranean counterparts and equivalent
bodies. In this context, a Euro-Mediterranean meeting of Economic and Social Committees
and equivalent bodies will take place in Madrid on 12 and 13 December.
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