MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
28.5.2008
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Joseph Daul, Vito Bonsignore, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Tokia Saïfi, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou and Edward McMillan-Scott
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0281/2008
B6‑0291/2008
European Parliament resolution on the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Barcelona Declaration adopted at the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of 27-28 November 1995, establishing a Euro-Mediterranean Partnership with a detailed work programme,
– having regard to the communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean (COM(2008)319),
– having regard to the endorsement by the European Council of 13-14 March 2008 of the principle concerning the establishment of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean,
– having regard to the Final Declaration of the Presidency of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA), as well as to the recommendations adopted by the EMPA at its fourth plenary session in Athens on 28 March 2008,
– having regard to the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament on strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) (COM(2006)726),
– having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. stressing the strategic importance of the Mediterranean region and the Middle East to the EU and the need for a Mediterranean policy based on solidarity, dialogue, cooperation and exchange, with a view to overcoming common challenges and achieving the aim of creating an area of peace, stability and shared prosperity,
B. whereas, at the constituent summit of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean on 13 July 2008 in Paris, clear guidelines should be set for enhancing the multilateral relations of the EU with its Mediterranean partners, including by strengthening working methods and through greater sharing of responsibilities,
1. Welcomes the recent communication from the Commission on the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean and shares the aim of this new initiative to give fresh political and practical impetus to the multilateral relations of the EU with its Mediterranean partners by upgrading the political level of relations, through greater co-partnership and enhanced sharing of responsibilities, as well as by developing regional projects responding to the needs of citizens in the region;
2. Strongly supports the aim to inject further momentum into the Barcelona Process in order to take new, important steps towards establishing a Union for the Mediterranean;
3. Shares the view as to the need for a re-invigorated Barcelona Process, which should remain the central element of EU cooperation with the Mediterranean region as the only forum of which all its Mediterranean partners are members; regards the Barcelona Declaration, its objectives and areas of cooperation as a milestone in those relations; hopes that the new initiative builds on the achievements of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, bringing added value to the process;
4. Gives an assurance as to its readiness to cooperate on setting up a revised institutional framework for the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean; states that, as one arm of the budgetary authority of the EU, it will ensure the necessary budgetary resources to make the new framework and its projects a success;
5. Welcomes the Commission proposal to establish a co-presidency of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean at head of state and of foreign minister level, appreciating that it will enhance joint ownership of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation; stresses that the Mediterranean arm of the presidency should be appointed by consensus among the Mediterranean partners and that the country holding the presidency should invite all the states participating in the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean to summits and ministerial meetings;
6. Welcomes the Commission proposal to establish a Joint Permanent Committee of appointed representatives from all the participants in the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean, which might have an important role in improving institutional governance;
7. Considers that the new proposed secretariat should be composed of officials seconded from all participants in the process and should bring added value to existing structures so as to strengthen the administrative capacity to support the overall political process and monitor regional projects responding to the needs of citizens in the region;
8. Considers that the new proposed secretariat should make the new Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean more visible on the ground and that it should resolutely concentrate on regional projects and should also be able to take responsibility for whole series of tasks, with a view to good governance of the political project;
9. Calls on the Commission to present an evaluation of the new proposed institutional framework for the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean, its institutional implications in relation to the Lisbon Treaty, the role of EU institutions and relations with the new bodies;
10. Shares the view that the present institutional structures of the Barcelona Process should be preserved and bolstered and that the political, economic and cultural dialogues which are the fundamental features of Euro-Mediterranean relations should be further enhanced;
11. Calls on the Commission and the Council to ensure that the EMPA becomes an integral part of the institutional framework of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean as its parliamentary dimension; states that, during this new phase of development of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, enhancement of democratic legitimacy is a necessary step, as is strengthening of the role of the EMPA, the only parliamentary assembly uniting the 27 EU Member States and all the parties involved in the Middle East peace process; accordingly stresses the importance of further formalising the role of the EMPA as a consultative body having the right to make proposals and assessments;
12. Firmly supports the development of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean as a consolidation of the Euro-Mediterranean area based on democratic principles, respect for the rule of law and human rights, which should lead to a strong partnership;
13. Reiterates that the development of democracy, one of the main objectives of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, must be achieved by promoting political reforms with the support of civil society and of political groups that reject the use of violence;
14. Underlines the need for increased EU support for Mediterranean partner state programmes to develop social policies which can create new jobs, mainly targeting young people; states that, in this respect, FEMIP support should be enhanced;
15. Underlines the need for greater involvement in regional programmes and better use of the ENPI by more EU countries and for sustained promotion of the high investment potential of the Mediterranean region within the European Union;
16. Points to the importance of continuing to pursue the objective of establishing a Euro-Mediterranean free-trade area by 2010; states that that will also contribute to greater economic integration of the EU's Mediterranean neighbours;
17. Welcomes the substantial progress made by the Mediterranean partners in achieving macroeconomic stability, notes that the liberalisation of trade in goods is improving greatly and hopes that further similar results would be also obtained as regards liberalisation of services; states that these are important steps towards the creation of an area of shared prosperity, which is a central objective of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, with a view to reducing poverty in the region and bridging the north-south social and economic gap;
18. Welcomes the fresh impetus proposed by the Commission in the communication on the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean for further developing regional programmes with the Mediterranean partners, and agrees that it is important to closely pursue the objectives of increasing regional cohesion, economic integration and developing infrastructure; states that in this respect a broader infrastructure plan for stepping up South-North and South-South exchanges should be implemented as a future priority;
19. Stresses the need for projects under the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean to be open to all EU states and Mediterranean partners interested in taking part, especially if they are stakeholders in specific projects or fields;
20. Considers that a fourth chapter of cooperation – on Migration, Social Integration, Justice and Security – should be included and added to the three chapters in the Barcelona Declaration, which provides for Political Dialogue, Economic Cooperation and Free Trade, and Human, Social and Cultural Dialogue, which are the backbone of Euro-Mediterranean relations;
21. Notes the role of migrants in the development of their home countries and of the EU; calls at the same time for stepped-up cooperation between EU and third countries in order to fully implement the EU plan on legal migration; considers that the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean should take this dimension into account in order to create an area of freedom and security;
22. Calls on the Commission to inform Parliament and the EMPA on a regular basis about how these regional projects are developing and to consider the proposals and evaluations submitted at parliamentary level with a view to raising the profile of the process and increasing take-up capacity and added value for citizens in the region;
23. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, the EU Member States and the governments and parliaments of the partner countries.