Euro-Med to set up 'genuine free trade area' by 2010
23 Nov '05
4 min read
The upcoming 10th anniversary Euro-Mediterranean summit aims to breathe fresh life into the 35-state EuroMed co-operation framework. One specific goal is to set up a "genuine free trade area" by 2010.
The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership - also known as the Barcelona process or EuroMed - was launched by the participating countries' foreign ministers in Barcelona in November 1995. The aim of the process is to improve political dialogue, promote economic and trade relations and facilitate cultural and social ties.
The process brings together the EU-25 states as well as ten countries from the Mediterranean area: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Turkey, Tunisia and the Palestinian Authority. Libya has had observer status since 1999.
The EU has negotiated Euro-Mediterranean association agreements with each partner separately. These agreements provide the framework for bilateral relations. All these agreements with the exception of the one with Syria have already been ratified. The process also has a regional (multilateral) dimension which complements the bilateral actions.
Since 2004, the Mediterranean partners have also been included in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).
The Barcelona process also entailed the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) to complement inter-governmental and civil society co-operation among the partners. EMPA was set up in December 2003, and it is made up of 120 European deputies and 120 MPs from the participating Mediterranean states. Headed by European Parliament President Josep Borrell, EMPA plays a consultative role.
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