The European Commission intends to strengthen the partnership between Europe and its Mediterranean neighbours with the aim of creating a regional single market, Commissioner Antonio Tajani said yesterday.

The idea was discussed at the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Meeting on Industrial Cooperation held in Malta yesterday, with Commissioner Tajani describing the proposal as “a good solution against illegal migration, piracy and terrorism”.

He was speaking to the media at the end of the two-day conference which approved a number of projects aimed at enhancing entrepreneurial activity towards stabilisation, growth and jobs in Europe’s Mediterranean neighbours.

Mr Tajani, the European Commissioner for industry and entrepreneurship, said the EU had to give a clear signal that strong industrial cooperation and the creation of a favourable environment for small and medium sized enterprises would be of mutual benefit to the two sides of the Mediterranean. Further economic development and job creation were essential for political and economic stability in the region. There was also the need for more cooperation in other areas such as tourism, the extraction of raw materials, technology and innovation, which he described as the most important factor that would make the difference and help Europe compete with countries such as the US, China, India, Russia and Brazil.

Delegates at the meeting discussed the establishment in Malta of a new centre for excellence on SMEs in the Mediterranean region as well as joint ventures between SMEs and micro enterprises.

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said the meeting approved a work programme that would push enterprise and funding in a region which at present was experiencing economic instability.

There was a clear commitment, he said, to strengthen the partnership between the EU and its Mediterranean neighbours through the promotion of SMEs, new technologies and investment. It was hoped that this cooperation would lead to job creation and stability in the region.