MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
28.5.2008
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Pasqualina Napoletano, Carlos Carnero González and Véronique De Keyser
on behalf of the PSE Group
on the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0281/2008
B6‑0288/2008
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 and establishing a Euro-Mediterranean Partnership,
– 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 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 to the recommendations adopted by the EMPA at its fourth plenary session in Athens on 28 March 2008,
– having regard to the conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of 2-3 December 2003 in Naples and 5-6 November 2007 in Lisbon,
– having regard to the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament on strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) [COM] (2006)0726),
– having regard to the conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean Summit held in Barcelona on 27-28 November 2005, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership,
– having regard to its earlier resolutions on the Mediterranean policy of the European Union, in particular the resolution of 15 March 2007,
– having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the Mediterranean region and the Middle East are of strategic importance to the EU and whereas there is a 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 strengthening working methods and greater sharing of responsibilities,
1. Welcomes the 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-ownership and enhanced sharing of responsibilities, as well as by developing regional projects responding to the needs of citizens in the region;
2. Shares the view as to the need for a reinvigorated Barcelona Process, which should remain the central element of EU cooperation with the Mediterranean region as the only forum of which all the EU's Mediterranean partners are members; regards the Barcelona Declaration, its objectives and areas of cooperation as the core of those relations; hopes that the new initiative builds on the achievements of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, bringing added value to the process;
3. Firmly supports the proposed development of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean as a consolidation of the Euro-Mediterranean area based on democratic principles and respect for the rule of law, which should lead to a strong partnership in foreign and security policy, on tackling terrorism and on contributing to a solution in the Middle East conflict;
4. Gives an assurance as to its readiness to cooperate on setting up an institutional framework for the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean; insists, as one arm of the budgetary authority of the EU, on being involved in order to ensure that the new framework and its projects are 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 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; considers that the proposed secretariat for the enhanced partnership should neither be a new bureaucracy nor duplicate existing structures;
6. Calls on the Council and Commission to make an urgent assessment of the institutional and legal implications of this important new initiative, notably in relation to the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty, enhanced cooperation and the establishment of an EU external service;
7. 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;
8. Welcomes the Commission proposal to strengthen relations with the EU's Mediterranean partners at political level by organising summit meetings every two years, Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean, with a view to adopting political declarations and decisions on the main programmes and projects to be developed at regional level;
9. Welcomes the Commission proposal to establish a Joint Permanent Committee, based in Brussels, 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;
10. Welcomes the Commission proposal regarding the role of the EMPA, which should become an integral part of the institutional framework of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean as its parliamentary dimension; underlines the fact that enhancement of democratic legitimacy is necessary, 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; considers that the EMPA, as a consultative body, should have the right to make proposals and assessments;
11. Reiterates that the development of democracy must be achieved by supporting political reforms and stresses that the credibility of the European policy of democratisation and promotion of human rights depends on strong and visible support for civil societies and democratic political organisations on the southern shore of the Mediterranean; calls for strong involvement of civil society and social partners' representatives in the institutional framework of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean; reiterates its call on the Commission to strengthen efforts to set up 'democracy and human rights subcommittees' with all Mediterranean partners, under the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements, and calls also on partner countries to observe their commitments in this respect, especially concerning individual cases, and to implement the human rights clause;
12. Reaffirms that the relaunch of the EU-Mediterranean partnership is a political necessity in order to build a strategic alliance and stresses that it would be opportune to observe the principles of participation, equal partnership and concerted action in dealing with achievements in all fields of cooperation;
13. Points out that the scope of EU-Mediterranean cooperation must also extend to the other Mediterranean coastal states and stresses that the entire Mediterranean identity needs to be fully recognised;
14. Underlines the fact that the EU-Mediterranean partnership cannot focus solely on economic and trade issues; points out that the three Barcelona pillars are closely linked; points out that the third pillar intended to contribute to 'peace, stability and prosperity', and the projected Charter for Peace and Stability have not made significant progress; stresses that the objective of creating a free-trade area and the liberalisation of trade are not goals in themselves, but have to be accompanied by a strengthening of regional cooperation as well as of social and environmental integration;
15. Points out that economic policies must be assessed not only in terms of their contribution to growth, but also in terms of the number of jobs they are creating, their contribution to poverty reduction and their contribution to the development of poor areas;
16. Underlines in this context the need for increased EU support for Mediterranean partner states programmes with the aim of facilitating the establishment of a favourable climate for increased investment and for encouraging young people to set up small businesses, including facilitating access to microcredit; considers, in this respect, that FEMIP support should be enhanced, including information campaigns;
17. Points to its proposal for the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Development Bank capable of attracting direct foreign investment, which the EU-Mediterranean region is lacking, and points out that participation by the Gulf States, as the first investors in the region, could contribute to realising this objective;
18. Affirms the importance of socioeconomic convergence, both at south-south level and between the two shores of the Mediterranean, as well as of regional economic integration as a prerequisite for attracting more investment and for securing the full benefit from the economic, industrial and institutional cooperation to which the Euro-Mediterranean partners have committed themselves;
19. Underlines the need for greater involvement in regional programmes and better use of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) by more EU countries and for sustained promotion of the high-investment potential of the Mediterranean region within the European Union;
20. Underlines the fact that agriculture plays a central role in improving living conditions for rural populations, in protecting the environment, and in reducing the rural exodus and immigration; urges in this respect that a proposal be made for an integrated EU-Mediterranean agricultural policy based on the complementarity of its production and distribution chain and on a viable water policy and focusing on food sovereignty needs;
21. In view of the problem of sustainable development, in particular as the countries of the southern and eastern Mediterranean are undergoing a process of rapid and dynamic growth, insists that investment be stimulated to assist projects which prioritise renewable energies and energy efficiency, permitting a reduction in greenhouse gases, that a contribution be made to improving access to drinking water and that pollution of the Mediterranean be combated effectively;
22. Recognises the role of migrants in the development of their home countries and calls for investment by them in those countries to be facilitated and the cost of transfers to be reduced; stresses the importance of promoting the opportunities for legal immigration, and of facilitating legal movement, as this constitutes an opportunity for economic growth and a means of improving trade between countries on both shores; calls for stepped-up cooperation between the countries concerned, with the participation of the European institutions, in particular the Commission, in order to achieve the highest possible level of convergence between pension schemes, access to health care and other social entitlements for immigrant workers;
23. Reaffirms the need to boost the status of women in the Mediterranean region through policies which give them a major role in their societies and by promoting gender equality; stresses that there does not have to be respect for traditions and customs to the detriment of their fundamental rights;
24. Stresses that culture should be also recognised as an economic factor and as an instrument of social integration and underlines the importance of developing, alongside the economic projects already envisaged, cultural cooperation projects and, in particular, stepped-up exchange programmes for young people in the region;
25. Underlines the need to propose an interesting range of cultural cooperation programmes to the EU's Mediterranean partners through better use of ERASMUS MUNDUS, the instrument of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Euromed Audiovisual II (2006-2008), which should be stepped-up and extended;
26. Underlines the important conflict prevention aspects of cultural cooperation and exchange, as well as the importance of dialogue between cultures and civilisations for building bridges and fostering the necessary conditions for peace and stability where conflicts exist; considers that the acquis represented by the Alliance of Civilisations under the auspices of the United Nations could help strengthen common and universal values;
27. 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; agrees that it is important to closely pursue the objectives of increasing regional cohesion, economic integration and developing infrastructure;
28. 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;
29. Calls on the Commission to inform Parliament and the EMPA on a regular basis about how these regional projects are developed 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;
30. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the EU Member States, and the governments and parliaments of the Barcelona Process states.