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Introduction

The present cooperation between EU and Mediterranean countries is founded on the Barcelona Process, launched in 1995. The Euro-Mediterranean partnership was renewed by the "Union for the Mediterranean", an initiative by the French President Nicholas Sarkozy and officially inaugurated on 13 July 2008 at the Paris Summit for the Mediterranean.

By this initiative, the Barcelona Process, a broad framework of political, economic and social relations between the European Union and the Partners of the Southern Mediterranean, introduced three simple but essential principles: a political mobilisation at the highest level through Summits of Heads of State and Government every two years; a governance on an equal footing, in the form of a North-South co-presidency and a permanent secretariat with equal representation; a prioritising of concrete projects with a regional dimension that create de facto solidarity.

Besides the Summits of Heads of State and Government and the Ministerial Conferences, the parliamentary dimension is represented by the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA).

EMPA is presently composed by 260 Members, among them 130 European Members (81 from national Parliaments and 49 from European Parliament) and 130 from Mediterranean countries. As the largest Group in the European Parliament, EPP Group is represented by 17 Members in EMPA.

The creation of EMPA was a major political breakthrough to reinforce the democratic character and political dialogue of the Barcelona process. The creation of this Assembly was a long standing goal of the EPP Group. The Group right from the beginning attached the highest political importance to the work of this Assembly to promote political dialogue, to monitor the implementation of the Association Agreements and to give the relations between countries of both sides of the Mediterranean a democratic dimension. The EPP Group believes that organised parliamentary forces within the EMPA can give rise to common strategies that lead to effective resolutions and recommendations to the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference. With a trans-national political network the aims of the Barcelona Declaration can be efficiently transposed.

The EPP Group furthermore aims to enhance the political dialogue between the members of the Partnership, especially in areas such as politic dialogue, economic cooperation and technical assistance. At the same time, the EPP Group sees the necessity to support economic growth in the Mediterranean partner countries not just with financing and trade but also with educational programmes. In its dialogue with Islam the EPP Group moreover seeks the peaceful cohabitation of Muslim and non-Muslim populations throughout the world.

After the EU enlargement, the creation of a focal point in the Mediterranean zone will represent an opportunity to develop and to stabilise the region. In addition to the agreements of partnership, to which we give priority, the EPP Group considers the development of an advanced neighbourhood policy as fundamental, which would contribute to a better understanding between the two parties. To this end, the EPP Group promotes specific initiatives.

We invite you to use our website to read more about our members involved in EMPA.

Vito Bonsignore MEP
Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group