Enhanced research synergies planned between EU and Mediterranean
Research co-operation figured high on the agenda at the fourth Euro-Mediterranean conference of foreign ministers held on 15 and 16 November in Marseilles. Ministers emphasised that particular attention should be paid to research sectors in order to develop synergies between MEDA, the EU's Mediterranean policy, and the Research and Development Framework programme. They also highlighted the advantage of initiating new regional training and institutional support projects and of developing projects relating to innovation and technologies, including information technology. Information society-based programme currently receive 45 million euro from MEDA funds. Euro-Mediterranean partnership began in 1995, following a conference between foreign affairs ministers in Barcelona. The partnership is a wide framework of political, economic and social relations between EU Member States and 12 southern Mediterranean countries.