Launch of Euro-Mediterranean partnership A new chapter in the history of relations between the European Union and the countries of the eastern and western Mediterranean was opened, at the end of 1995, by a major ministerial conference held in Barcelona, Spain on 27-28 November 1995. After two days of intense discuss... A new chapter in the history of relations between the European Union and the countries of the eastern and western Mediterranean was opened, at the end of 1995, by a major ministerial conference held in Barcelona, Spain on 27-28 November 1995. After two days of intense discussion and negotiation, the 15 Members of the European Union (EU), 11 Mediterranean nations and the Palestinian Authority launched a process of political and economic cooperation with ambitious development and trade objectives. The "Med12" includes Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, the Palestinian autonomous territories, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta. The conference achieved virtually all of its major objectives, from targeting a free trade area between the 27 nations by 2010, to new pledges of cooperation across a broad range of political, social and economic fields. One of the most remarkable features of the conference was the new-found spirit of cooperation between former enemies in the Mediterranean group. They endorsed a Declaration pledging to promote peace and stability in their region, to respect the right to self-determination, to settle their disputes by peaceful means and to strengthen their cooperation in preventing and combating terrorism. The conference fixed three long-term objectives for the Mediterranean region: - To speed up the pace of lasting social and economic development; - To improve peoples' living conditions, notably by raising employment and closing the development gap in the Euro-Mediterranean region; - To promote cooperation and regional integration. The main vehicle for progress in these directions will be the gradual establishment of a free trade area between the EU and the "Med12" by 2010. This will involve the progressive elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers on manufactured products and a progressive liberalization of trade in farm products and in services. The Declaration also refers to a "substantial increase" in the financial assistance to be provided by the EU and its partners. Last June, the European Council in Cannes agreed that ECU 4,685 million should be provided from the EU budget between 1995 and 1999. In addition, European Investment Bank loans will be available to the "Med12" together with bilateral assistance from the Member States of the Union. The Barcelona conference agreed that a key factor in developing free trade will be cooperation and the growth of trade between the "Med12" themselves. Participants decided that they would encourage companies to make cross-border agreements and to give a high priority to improving and protecting the environment. It was also decided to increase cooperation in the energy field and in modernizing and restructuring agriculture. Foreign Ministers from the 27 nations will meet periodically to review progress in implementing the Barcelona Declaration and to agree on actions which will achieve its objectives. Their first meeting will be in the first half of 1997 in a Mediterranean Member State of the Union. Various sectoral meetings at ministerial level will also be organized, together with a number of ad hoc conferences. The overall tasks of coordination, management of the work programme and preparation of the next Conference of Foreign Ministers will be handled by senior officials on a "Euro-Mediterranean Committee for the Barcelona Process". For its part, the European Commission will take charge of preparing and following up on meetings connected with the work programme and with the conclusions of the Process Committee.
