EU launches new push on Euro-Med partnership
The European Commission yesterday unveiled a wide-ranging programme of work intended to reinforce its commitment to the Euro-Med region, 10 years after the launch of the partnership initiative between the EU and its Mediterranean neighbours known as...
The European Commission yesterday unveiled a wide-ranging programme of work intended to reinforce its commitment to the Euro-Med region, 10 years after the launch of the partnership initiative between the EU and its Mediterranean neighbours known as the Barcelona process.
In a communication to the European Council and Parliament, the Commission outlined proposals for concrete progress particularly in the areas connected to education, sustainable economic growth, human rights and democracy.
One of the main initiatives of interest to Malta is the establishment of a free trade area in the Mediterranean by 2010. The Commission said that in order to push further this project, there should be an agreement as soon as possible on a roadmap towards achieving this important goal.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations, said in a statement the work programme proposed has all the ingredients to reinvigorate the Euromed partnership as it enters its second decade.
Increasing the quality of education is one of the most important areas for the Commission. In fact, according to its proposals, the Commission is aiming to increase by 50 per cent its financial assistance towards education. Among the initiatives is a scheme offering scholarships for university study in Europe, with a proportion of places reserved for women.
According to the Barcelona declaration signed in 2000, a free trade agreement between all the Euro-Med partners should be reached in five years' time. However, with only five years to go this task is looking rather difficult.
The Commission said that deepening economic integration between the EU and Mediterranean countries through liberalisation of trade in agriculture and services should be the key objective in the years to come. In fact, apart from the roadmap on a free trade area, the Commission is proposing that Euro-Med partners should launch regional negotiations on a voluntary basis on the liberalisation of services and prepare negotiations on liberalisation in the agricultural sector.
The Commission said it would submit negotiation guidelines later on this year in order to start negotiations.