MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
16 March 2000
pursuant to Rule 42(5) of the Rules of Procedure
by the following Members: Gasòliba i Böhm, Paolo Costa and Ducarme
on behalf of the ELDR Group
on Mediterranean policy
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B5-0297/2000
B5-0297/2000
Resolution on Mediterranean policy
The European Parliament,
A. whereas the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership launched in Barcelona has been delayed due to a number of factors, including the crisis in the Balkans, the instability of some countries and the three-year freeze in the Middle East peace-process,
B. whereas excessive bureaucracy and budgetary constraints have also created obstacles to the implementation of the cooperation programmes, especially as far as civil society involvement is concerned,
C. whereas expectations raised by countries which took part in the conference have so far been largely frustrated,
D. whereas the Middle-East peace process has now been revived, despite the fact that many obstacles to peace still exist,
E. whereas the UN embargo on Libya has been lifted and EU cooperation resumed,
F. whereas political changes have taken place in Algeria and in Morocco,
G. whereas this renewed activity in the region offers a unique opportunity to breathe new life into the Barcelona process,
1. Calls on the Council and the Commission to re-launch the Euro-Mediterranean partnership project agreed in Barcelona in November 1995 and estimates that the lack of progress made is a potential crisis factor in the region and undermines the EU's political role in leading the efforts aimed at achieving stability in the area;
2. Believes that special emphasis should be given to promoting the role of civil society in the Mediterranean partner countries, by facilitating private investment, university co-operation and exchange of students, supporting local NGOs and developing the independent media;
3. Calls on the Commission, therefore, to change existing rules governing application for EU funds in order to facilitate access to them from civil society groups;
4. Stresses the crucial importance of supporting education programmes, with special emphasis on women’s education, this being one of the cornerstones of the partnership between the EU and the southern and eastern Mediterranean countries;
5. Calls on the southern and eastern Mediterranean countries to step up regional cooperation and to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the Barcelona process to overcame bilateral problems;
6. Repeats its request to the Commission to submit a draft multilateral treaty, with a view to improving regional cooperation;
7. Welcomes the recent development in EU-Libya relations but stresses the need for careful monitoring of Libya's compliance with the principles established in the Barcelona Declaration;
8. Calls on the parties to speed up the process of negotiation of the Charter for Stability and Security and believes that security cooperation cannot be separated from economic and trade developments;
9. Urges the parties of the Barcelona process to work together to eradicate trafficking in illegal migrants by making their borders secure and providing adequate information to the appropriate authorities;
10. Deplores the lack of respect of the human rights clause in the new Euro-Mediterranean agreements already implemented and urges the Commission to assume its responsibility as regards invoking respect of the clause and raising the issue of respect for human rights in both multilateral and bilateral talks;
11. Stresses the crucial importance of the gradual opening of EU markets to southern and eastern Mediterranean products, this being an essential step towards the establishment of a free trade area;
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments of the signatory countries of the Barcelona Declaration.