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 of 20 May 2008 on the Barcelona process: a Union for the Mediterranean,

–  having regard to the endorsement by the European Council of 13-14 March 2008, of the principle of establishing 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 the EMPA recommendations adopted at its fourth plenary session (Athens), 28 March 2008,

–  having regard to the conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Foreign Ministers (Lisbon) of 5-6 November 2007,

–  having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council and European Parliament on strengthening the European neighbourhood policy (ENP) (COM (2006) 0726),

–  having regard to the Communication from the Commission on a European agenda for culture in a globalising world (COM (2007) 0242) and the resolution adopted by the European Parliament (P6_TA (2008) 0124),

–  having regard to the conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean Summit held on the tenth anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Association in Barcelona on 27-28 November 2005,

–  having regard to the conclusions of the Conference of Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers (Naples) of 2-3 December 2003,

–  having regard to its previous revolutions on European Union Mediterranean policy,

–  having regard to Rule 103 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.   stressing the strategic importance of the Mediterranean and Middle East for the EU and the need for a Mediterranean policy based on solidarity, dialogue, cooperation and exchange in order to meet common challenges and achieve the objectives of establishing peace, stability and shared prosperity within the region,

B.  whereas, at the constituent summit of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean of 13 July 2008 (Paris), clear guidelines should be given on enhancement of the EU’s multilateral relations with its Mediterranean partners, accompanied by improvements in working methods and the widening of shared responsibilities,

C.  whereas events marking 2008 as ‘European Year of Cultural Dialogue’ should prompt the EU to step up its efforts to promote cooperation and cultural exchange as a means of preventing conflict,

1.   Welcomes the recent communication from the Commission on the Barcelona process: Union for the Mediterranean and endorses its objective of providing fresh political and practical stimulus for the EU’s multilateral relations with its Mediterranean partners through the consolidation of political relations, greater mutual adaptation and wider sharing of responsibilities, as well as the development of regional policies meeting the needs of the people within the region;

2.   Reiterates its position on the strategic importance of the Mediterranean region for the European Union, the importance of mutual links and the urgent need to address common challenges;

3.   Agrees on the need to reinvigorate the Barcelona Process, which should remain the cornerstone of EU cooperation with the Mediterranean region. The Barcelona Declaration, its objectives and its areas of cooperation are, and continue to be, central to relations between the countries concerned. The new initiative should be based on Euro-Mediterranean partnership projects endowing the process with added value;

4.  Stresses that the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean is parallel to, and separate from, the EU accession negotiations currently under way;

5.  Reaffirms its willingness to cooperate in establishing a revised institutional framework for the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean. As representative of the EU budgetary authority, it will provide the necessary funding for the success of the institution and related projects;

6.  Whereas the secretariat proposed for the purposes of this consolidated partnership should not involve additional bureaucracy or the duplication of existing structures;

7.   Welcomes the Commission proposal to establish a Joint Permanent Committee based in Brussels made up of representatives designated by all participants in the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean;

8.  Welcomes the Commission proposal to establish a Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean Co-Presidency responsible for organising meetings of Heads of State and Foreign Ministers; stresses that the holder of the Presidency representing the southern partner countries should be appointed by consensus and that the country holding the Presidency should invite all countries involved in the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean to attend summits and ministerial meetings;

9.  Agrees that the current institutional structures of the Barcelona Process should be preserved and strengthened and that political, economic and cultural dialogue, which is fundamental to Euro-Mediterranean relations, should be further enhanced;

10.   Welcomes the Commission proposal to strengthen political relations with our Mediterranean partners through the organisation of summits every two years as part of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean, with the aim of adopting political declarations and reaching decisions on the principal programmes and projects to be developed at regional level;

11.  Calls on the Commission and Council to ensure that the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) becomes an integral part of the institutional framework of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean, adding its own parliamentary dimension. In this new phase of development of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, consolidation of its democratic credentials is essential and will be achieved through underpinning the role of the EMPA, the only parliamentary assembly encompassing the 27 EU Member States and all other parties; stresses the importance of endowing the EMPA with an official status as a consultative body called upon to make recommendations and carry out assessments;

12.  Reiterates that in order to be effective Euro-Mediterranean policy needs a budget matching its ambitions. In particular, the EMPA as a democratic, representative and parliamentary structure, must have the necessary resources and the administrative structures to function effectively;

13.  Firmly supports the development of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean based on the principles of democracy and legality, establishing a solid partnership in the area of foreign policy and security, taking measures to combat terrorism and contributing to the resolution of the conflict in the Middle East;

14.  Recalls the need for greater involvement and genuine commitment by the EU in cooperation with its Mediterranean partners in seeking to resolve the various ongoing conflicts within the region. The EU must assume a leading role in conflict resolution by securing the confidence of all parties involved;

15.   Reiterates that the development of democracy, one of the principal objectives of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, must be achieved by encouraging political reform with the support of civil society and political groups which reject the use of violence;

16.  Considers that it is of great importance for political dialogue to be accompanied by enhanced cultural and social cooperation, with particular emphasis on studies by the southern partner countries setting out their points of view; stresses the essential contribution made by the Anna Lindh Foundation to intercultural dialogue;

17.  Agrees that improved relations between the EU and its Mediterranean partners must reflect the strength of the bonds between us and the depth of our cultural and historic relations;

18.  Specifies that culture should be better integrated into EU external policy as an important means of stepping up cooperation with our partners;

19.  Stresses that culture may be a factor in economic development and an instrument for social integration and considers that universities from the Mediterranean countries should accordingly be encouraged to participate in exchange programmes encouraging intercultural dialogue, such as Erasmus Mundus; once more stresses the need to provide these countries with clear and transparent information on all cultural and educational programmes;

20.  Thanks the Slovene Presidency for its initiative in promoting the setting up a Euro-Mediterranean University (Piran) as a major step forward through the creation of a network of cooperation between existing universities and calls on the Council and Mediterranean countries to take urgent measures for the introduction of a budgetary heading earmarked for measures to promote the development of the Euro-Mediterranean University;

21.  Recalls that one of the principal objectives of Euro-Mediterranean policy is to encourage democratisation, pluralism, the rule of law and greater respect for human rights;

22.  Stresses the need for greater European Union support for programmes by the Mediterranean partner countries to develop social policies able to generate fresh employment, particularly for the young generation, create a favourable climate for greater investment and encourage the creation of small undertakings by facilitating access to microcredit; in this connection reiterates its request for the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) to be transformed into a Euro-Mediterranean development bank;

23.  Recognises that the EU’s new and deeper relations with its Mediterranean partners must respect the interdependence of the three areas of cooperation: political dialogue, trade and communication between individuals;

24.  Stresses the importance of socio-economic convergence between the two shores of the Mediterranean and of regional economic integration;

25.  Stresses that project funding under the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean must come from the Community, its partner countries and private sources;

26.   Stresses the importance of continuing efforts to achieve a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area by 2010 in order to provide free market access in the Community for products from Mediterranean countries. This will also help to achieve greater economic integration with our southern neighbours;

27.  Stresses the progress achieved by its Mediterranean partners in securing economic stability; notes that trade liberalisation is proceeding better in respect of goods and hopes that similar results will also be achieved in the services sector;

28.  Supports initiatives proposed by the Commission such as maritime motorways, the linking up of the Arab Maghreb motorway, depollution of the Mediterranean, civil defence and the Mediterranean Solar Programme; expresses its interest in the opportunities offered by the location of a solar energy thermal generator in the North African desert and recommends that priority be given to discussion of this during the initial meetings of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean; also supports other objectives such as desalination of sea water, a major concern in numerous Mediterranean countries;

29.  Urges that Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean projects remain open to all EU Member States and their Mediterranean partners and calls on the Commission to keep the European Parliament and the EMPA regularly informed on progress made by regional projects;

30.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the President of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the EU Member States and the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean partner countries.