MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
17 November 2003
pursuant to Rule 37(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Francesco Fiori
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on preparations for the Sixth Conference of Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers to be held in Naples on 2 and 3 December 2003
B5‑0481/2003
European Parliament resolution on preparations for the Sixth Conference of Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers to be held in Naples on 2 and 3 December 2003
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the Barcelona Declaration and the work programme of 28 November 1995 adopted at the Barcelona Conference,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on Mediterranean policy, in particular its resolution of 11 April 2003 on the Conference of Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers held in Valencia on 22 and 23 April 2002,
- having regard to the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament to prepare the Sixth Conference of Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers to be held in Naples on 2 and 3 December 2003,
- having regard to the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament of 11 March 2003 on the new strategy regarding the new frontiers of the enlarged EU,
- having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy on 'A Wider Europe - Neighbourhood: A New Framework for Relations with our Eastern and Southern Neighbours' (A5-0378/2003),
- having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy on peace and dignity in the Middle East (A5-0351/2003),
– having regard to Rule 37(2) of the Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to hamper a more harmonious development of the Barcelona Process,
B. whereas Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary dialogue initially took the form of a parliamentary forum consisting of members of parliament from both sides of the Mediterranean and whereas its transformation into a parliamentary assembly (EMPA) is on the agenda for the Sixth Conference of Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers to be held in Naples on 2 and 3 December 2003,
C. whereas the European Union's Mediterranean policy complements and underpins the new policy of neighbourhood,
D. whereas more substantial progress is needed as regards respect for democracy and human rights,
1. Reaffirms the need to ensure, by means of dialogue, mutual knowledge and understanding, the stability of the Euro-Mediterranean area with a view to improving the living conditions of the peoples in the region and maintaining peace;
2. Sincerely hopes to see a deepening of parliamentary cooperation and calls on all the Member States to contribute to the development of Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary dialogue; advocates the creation of the EMPA as the most appropriate instrument for this purpose and requests that the Ministerial Conference in Naples approve the transformation of the Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary forum into a parliamentary assembly with consultative powers;
3. Takes the view that one of the tasks of the future EMPA will be to ensure the smooth functioning of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, in addition to the tasks of promoting the proper implementation of the association agreements concluded between the European Union and the Mediterranean partner countries, and adopting recommendations to be addressed to the Interministerial Conference with a view to achieving the objectives of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership;
4. Hopes that the Naples meeting may conclude its deliberations with a positive evaluation of the measures carried out under each of the three pillars of the partnership;
5. Insists on the urgent need to put an end to the cycle of violence afflicting the Middle East and considers it extremely important for Euro-Mediterranean relations to establish a climate of trust between the Israelis, the Palestinians and the Arab countries;
6. Reiterates that each party in the Barcelona Process must endeavour, above all, to promote democracy and the rule of law, as well as respect for human rights, especially for women; stresses in particular respect for the provisions of the democratic clause contained in the Euro-Mediterranean association agreements; in this context urges all the parties to define clear and transparent mechanisms for the implementation of the democratic clause, including the establishment of regular dialogue with representatives of civil society; calls on the Commission, the Council and the partner countries to keep these issues high on the agenda during the Association Council meetings, with a view to bringing about a real step forward on the basis of annual country reports to be submitted by the Commission;
7. States its opposition to the death penalty and calls on the Mediterranean associated countries to decree a moratorium on capital punishment, and also calls on the Commission to take steps to support campaigns aimed at imposing a moratorium on capital punishment;
8. Reaffirms the need for cooperation and solidarity on both shores of the Mediterranean in the fight against terrorism and worldwide organised crime, but insists that this should in no way jeopardise respect for the rule of law and human dignity;
9. Calls on the host countries to introduce structured integration measures capable of establishing a strong link between immigration policy and cooperation and development aid policy; reiterates that priority should be given to combating illegal immigration and the mafia-type organisations which encourage it, always bearing in mind the principle of shared responsibility and solidarity between the Mediterranean partner countries; expresses in this regard its concern for the tragedies that occur almost daily in the southern Mediterranean region, specifically in the Spanish seaside region of Andalusia and in certain areas along the southern Italian coast; calls on the Mediterranean partners to improve the management of migration flows and border controls and to accept their responsibilities with regard to readmission, and calls on the EU to provide the countries of origin and transit with the necessary technical and financial assistance;
10. Urges that the Euro-Med partnership should be geared towards the implementation of a policy of economic openness and liberalisation within the partner countries, accompanied by a sustainable policy of internal development aimed at creating a productive social fabric, infrastructures which take account of the needs of the Mediterranean countries, and that the priorities of the projects should match the shared objectives and priorities of the EU and the Mediterranean partners, and not merely economic criteria based on the dynamics of an export economy; hopes that the social rights of workers will be applied in these countries as the result of using the programmes and resources of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership;
11. Asserts that it is appropriate to place civil society at the heart of the partnership and calls for the implementation of policies aimed at creating a rich social fabric that will help people not to abandon their countries of origin, in that the inhabitants should be able to choose freely between emigrating or remaining;
12. Condemns any practice linked to drug-trafficking, the exploitation of prostitution and child labour, and calls for intensified efforts to combat these horrors;
13. Requests that the section of the European Investment Bank dealing with the Mediterranean and the Middle East should be developed in order to establish a branch capable of achieving the objectives laid down in the new strategy, and with the financial assistance of other Mediterranean countries;
14. Urges the Council that action should be taken on the decisions adopted at the Ministerial Conference in Valencia about the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean Foundation to promote a dialogue of cultures and civilisations, that they should be the subject of an operational decision at the Ministerial Conference in Naples and that the necessary financial resources should allocated;
15. Reaffirms the need to encourage a generalised South-South cooperation process, following the example of the Agadir agreement, as the only means of achieving the goal of a free-trade area; reiterates, in this context, the importance of cross-border projects with a view to improving and strengthening regional cooperation;
16. Hopes that the new MEDA regulation, with its simplified procedures, will make projects more effective, reinforce decentralisation, improve expenditure both quantitatively and qualitatively and accompany better and more energetically the regional and South-South dimension of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership; calls on the Commission to ascertain, in due course, whether the review carried out meets the actual needs;
17. Hopes to see swifter ratification of the association agreements signed between individual Mediterranean countries and the EU and encourages the conclusion of the agreement with Syria as soon as possible, whilst reminding the Syrian authorities of the need to launch internal and external political reforms, and expresses the desire on the part of the national and European parliaments to participate fully in establishing the objectives and evaluating the agreements;
18. Insists that Libya and Mauritania should participate fully in the Barcelona Process and accept its principles, and calls on the Mediterranean associated countries which have so far stood aside from interparliamentary dialogue to reconsider their position; calls on the Commission to envisage implementing cooperation projects with Libya, once that country has accepted the principles of the Barcelona Process;
19. Calls on the Commission and the Council to open a debate with a view to a multi-dimensional concept of Euro-Mediterranean agriculture to promote the complementarity of agricultural products, sustainable development and the environment;
20. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Mediterranean partner countries which are signatories to the Barcelona Declaration.