MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
7.3.2007
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Philippe Morillon, Thierry Cornillet and Marco Cappato
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on Euro-Mediterranean relations
B6‑0080/2007
European Parliament resolution on Euro-Mediterranean relations
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the preparation of the Tampere Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Affairs Ministers Conference (COM(0620)2006),
– having regard to the conclusions of the eighth Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, held in Tampere on 27-28 November 2006,
– having regard to the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy (COM(0726)2006),
– having regard to the results of the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Trade held in Marrakesh on 24 March 2006,
– having regard to the final declaration of the Civil Forum held in Marrakesh from 4 to 7 November 2006,
– having regard to the conferences on immigration, the Euro-African conference in Rabat on 10-11 July 2006 and the conference in Tripoli on 22-23 November 2006,
– having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. having regard to the strategic importance of the Mediterranean region and the Middle East for the EU and the need for a Mediterranean policy based on solidarity to confront the numerous common challenges facing it and to achieve the objectives of establishing an area of peace, stability and shared prosperity,
B. whereas there can be no sustainable development without peace, stability, solidarity and good governance, and sustainable development must be at the heart of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership,
C. whereas the worsening of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent years has led to a serious deterioration in the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with a very negative impact on security throughout the region,
D. having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers’ decision in Tampere to hold a conference in 2007 on respect for human rights in the context of combating terrorism in accordance with international law, as a measure to implement the EuroMed Code of Conduct adopted at the Barcelona Summit in November 2005,
E. whereas the European Union does not yet have a common immigration policy and different national rules prevail in each Member State,
F. whereas illegal immigration can lead to human exploitation, forced labour and human trafficking,
G. pointing out that the integration of women in economic and social activity is essential if societies are to develop,
H. noting the negative effects of debt and trade deficits with regard to the European Union on the development of most countries on the southern side of the Mediterranean,
I. taking account of the communication from the Commission on strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which contains a series of proposals intended to significantly improve the impact of the Partnership policy, opening new possibilities for enhancing common relations, strengthening political dialogue and increasing the integration of partner countries in EU policies,
J. whereas the overall budget allocated by the EU to the southern and eastern Mediterranean countries for the period 2007-2012 must be maintained at the level of the commercial, economic and strategic weight of this region in its relations with the European Union,
K. emphasising the enormous advantages for all partners of the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean energy market, fully interconnected and integrated by the extension and integration of energy markets in the Euro-Mediterranean and sub-Saharan region, and the completion of the necessary energy infrastructure projects,
L. whereas it might be useful to establish a link between Euro-Mediterranean policy objectives, particularly the economic and financial dimension, and the EU’s objectives in its relations with member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council,
M. whereas the EMPA makes it possible to intensify social dialogue between the two regions,
1. Considers it is appropriate to strengthen the political dimension of neighbourhood towards the south, in view of the increased complexity of relations with the Mediterranean region, where the Barcelona Process represented a significant step; notes that the objective of creating a ‘circle of friends’, with which this policy was launched with the aim of establishing stable relations, based on common values shared with the new neighbours of an enlarged Europe, is still far from being achieved;
2. Considers that the development of this policy cannot be limited to updating the association and cooperation agreements with each of the countries concerned, by stressing only the bilateral dimension, and calls on all partners to relaunch and update the strategic and political objectives of the Barcelona Process, including the creation of cooperation networks and the promotion of regional integration;
3. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal of giving the ENP a thematic dimension, pursuing the reinforcement of free trade agreements and strengthening support for reforms to improve the regulatory environment and the investment climate;
4. Calls on the Commission to give more concrete expression to the relationship between the ENP and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership by adding new agreements and multilateral programmes for energy and transport and by strengthening existing programmes and agreements;
5. Reaffirms the need to relaunch the Middle East peace process, taking account of the seriousness of the political and humanitarian situation; considers that the relaunching of negotiations based on the roadmap will not suffice unless account is taken of other proposals such as the 2002 Arab plan and all players in the region take part in the negotiations;
6. Reasserts its concerns about the seriousness of the systematic destruction of natural resources and human potential caused by the various ongoing conflicts; calls for increased use of political and economic measures under the Partnership and the five-year action programme to tackle this problem;
7. Calls on the Commission to do everything possible to bring about the setting up of democracy and human rights committees with all countries signatory to the ENP action plans and calls on the partner countries to respect their undertakings in this connection, particularly with regard to individual cases; calls on the Council and Commission to work with our partners to define measures that permit the application of the human rights clause on the basis of more binding and more effective criteria;
8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that more account is taken of the promotion of women’s rights in the aid policies and Euro-Mediterranean programmes in the partner countries;
9. Reaffirms the importance of a social policy that creates jobs, especially for young people, particularly by the establishment of a favourable climate for an increase in direct foreign investment and an encouragement to young people to create new businesses at local level by means of appropriate instruments such as microcredits;
10. Calls on the EU institutions and the institutions of the partner Mediterranean countries to ensure that their strategic, political and economic principles take account of the objectives of the Lisbon and Göteborg Strategy on sustainable development and the objectives of the Mediterranean Strategy for sustainable development, while also taking account of the need to reduce inequalities and disparities between the two sides of the Mediterranean;
11. Calls on the Council and Commission and the governments of the partner countries to give prime importance to environmental problems and in particular to tackle the consequences of urban concentration and industrial and commercial activities on both sides of the Mediterranean;
12. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote respect for social and trade union rights when implementing financial and technical aid to the partner countries; calls on the Commission to implement a regional programme for the construction of a Euro-Mediterranean social area, based on social dialogue between all partners, with employment as a priority objective;
13. Calls for a major development of investments in the region as part of the European strategy with regard to financial policies and resources in the regional and intra-regional dimension of the Partnership, which would constitute value added for this strategy; calls on the Commission, as was decided when the EU budget for 2007 was adopted, to ensure that, when strategy documents and related programmes are drawn up, the overall resources for regional and multilateral measures are kept at their 2000-2006 level, in view of the fact that, according to the Commission, this level is equivalent to 20% of all resources;
14. Stresses that immigration is an important part of Euro-Mediterranean relations and recalls the need for reinforced cooperation and constructive dialogue between the EU Member States and between the EU Member States and the Mediterranean countries of origin and transit so that this is a shared responsibility; urges the setting up of operational cooperation and technical assistance between the Member States’ border control services and an increase in the funding allocated to Frontex and projects relating to immigration policy in the Mediterranean area;
15. Stresses the need for a common European immigration and asylum policy and to strengthen the management of migratory flows in a comprehensive and balanced manner beneficial to the peoples in the Mediterranean region; stresses the importance, in a spirit of partnership and on the basis of the Barcelona five-year work programme, of opening effective channels of legal immigration while combating illegal immigration and of protecting the fundamental rights of immigrants and asylum seekers; calls for the combating of exploitation and human trafficking;
16. Firmly insists on the setting up of an effective integration policy and implementation of migrants’ civil rights; advocates the elaboration of codes of conduct for ethical recruitment and decent work and that European companies should assume their responsibilities;
17. Calls for the conclusion of fair readmission agreements and the setting up of an effective return policy, in particular by implementing the provisions of Article 13 of the Cotonou Agreement and the relevant provisions in Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements and Neighbourhood Plans; considers it important to study and address the ‘push factors’ that lead people to leave their countries and suggests the elaboration of clear plans for development aid and investment in the Mediterranean countries of origin and transit and suggests organising information campaigns on immigration and asylum; calls for the elaboration of a development saving instrument and of a guarantee fund;
18. Calls for the geographic division of external aid under the Community budget between the various regional groupings to take particular account of the EU’s economic, commercial and security interests, so the European strategy towards the other partners is in no way contrary to its undertakings to develop closer links with its Mediterranean partners;
19. Welcomes the positive results of the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) in the framework of the European Investment Bank;
20. Stresses the importance of strengthening support for FEMIP in the private sector, particularly with regard to SMEs and considers that in the medium to long term the establishment of institutions bringing together the countries of the Mediterranean region, such as a Euro-Mediterranean Development Bank, would constitute the best guarantee of peace and sustainable human development; calls on the EU Member States to do everything possible to create such institutions, rather than seeking to conclude bilateral agreements:
21. Calls on the Commission and Council to launch a proposal to establish the possibility of cooperation, particularly in the financial and economic fields, between all partner countries and the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council;
22. Calls on the Commission and Council to concentrate their efforts on the implementation of initiatives already confirmed at the Marrakesh Euro-Mediterranean conference: negotiations on liberalisation of trade in services and the right of establishment, negotiations on increased agricultural liberalisation, establishment of a mechanism for conflict regulation and regulatory convergence;
23. Calls on the Council, Commission and partner countries to continue to work towards gradual integration of the Euro-Mediterranean energy markets, to establish energy programmes of common interest and to develop sustainable energy sources, in accordance with national plans and programmes;
24. Stresses the need to strengthen cooperation on security of energy supply in the Mediterranean region by measures involving the diversification of energy resources, the promotion of energy efficiency, conservation methods, the development of new technologies, research and development activities and the strengthening of financial options for energy projects of common interest;
25. Calls on the Council to reserve an active place for the EMPA among the guests at EuroMed meetings and ministerial conferences;
26. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Secretary-General of the Arab League and the governments and parliaments taking part in the Barcelona Process.