Union for the Mediterranean condemns religious persecution and reinforces freedom of religion

An EPP Group delegation to the 13th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM) on 12 and 13 May 2017 in Rome garnered support for amendments "firmly condemning terrorist attacks and persecution against religious minorities” and “deeming it important to reinforce freedom of religion, protect inter-religious dialogue and religious diversity". The amendments were approved by MEPs, national MPs and by our partners from the southern shore of the Mediterranean.

Commitment to EPP Group priorities on cooperation and security

A majority of the EPP Group’s amendments were adopted and this was an excellent opportunity to reaffirm our positions and priorities as adopted at the recent EPP Congress in Malta, such as:

• ensuring peace and regional stability;
• strengthening cooperation between the EU and Mediterranean countries in the fight against terrorism;
• improving EU border controls while ensuring safe legal migration, so that the Mediterranean sea will not be associated with human tragedies anymore.

Furthermore, we underlined Europeans’ great concern about violent radicalisation and extremism, which constitutes a serious threat to people’s security and the stability of the Mediterranean countries, without the formulation of a comprehensive approach addressing its sources and based on enhanced cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

Reinforcing parliamentary cooperation with the Mediterranean

The EPP Group delegation - MEPs Santiago Fisas Ayxelà, Lorenzo Cesa and Anna Záborská - defended the creation of a permanent secretariat for the UfM PA so that it can function more efficiently and more dynamically. Thanks to our efforts, a permanent secretariat has been unanimously approved and should be created for January 2018 at the latest.

Thanks to our efforts, a permanent secretariat has been unanimously approved and should be set for January 2018 at the latest

The plenary provided an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of constructive inter-parliamentary dialogue aimed at strengthening cooperation and synergy between Mediterranean countries, with a view to improving the security, stability and development of the entire Mediterranean region.