EU-LDC Themes - Regional Focus - Policy
The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership/Barcelona Process
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The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership/Barcelona
Process
The Barcelona process, that started in 1995,
followed after 20 years of bilateral trade and development
co-operation between the EU, its member states and 12 Mediterranean
countries (Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Malta,
Morocco, The Palestinian Authority, Tunisia (Maghreb), Turkey and
Syria (Mashrek).
In 1972 the EEC had formulated its Global
Mediterranean Policy (GMP). The GMP agreements mainly consisted of
commercial co-operation (preferential trade agreements), financial
and economic co-operation (aid) and social co-operation (directed
towards immigrants). In 1990 the EU adopted the Renovated
Mediterranean Policy, which increased the budget for financial
co-operation. In November 1995 the foreign ministers of the 15 EU
member states and of the 12 Mediterranean partner countries signed
the Barcelona Declaration, which includes the principle of the
creation of a Euro-Mediterranean free trade economic zone.
The key objectives listed in the Barcelona
Declaration are the following:
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To establish a common Euro-Mediterranean area of
peace and stability based on fundamental principles (political
and security partnership);
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To create an area of shared prosperity through
the progressive establishment of a free-trade area between the
EU and its partners and among the Mediterranean partners (a
Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area), accompanied by substantial
EU financial support for economic transition and for the social
and economic consequences in the partner countries (economic and
financial partnership);
-
To develop human resources, promote
understanding between cultures and develop free and flourishing
civil society (social, cultural and human partnership).
The Barcelona Process consists of both bilateral and
multilateral (regional) relations. The bilateral relations between
the EU and each of the 12 Mediterranean partners are now covered by:
-
first generation Association Agreements (with
Cyprus (1973) and Malta (1970));
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1970s Co-operation Agreements (with Algeria
(1976), Lebanon (1977), Syria (1977), Egypt (1977,association
agreement signed but not ratified));
-
1990s Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements
(with Israel (2000), Jordan (1997), Morocco (2000), Tunisia
(1998) and Palestinian Authority/Territories (interim, in 1997);
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a Customs Union (Turkey (1996)).
The negotiation of Euro-Mediterranean Association
Agreements that replace the 1970s co-operation agreements is an
essential element in the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean
Partnership. While the Association Agreements have different
provisions and contents, they have certain aspects in common:
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political dialogue;
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establishment of WTO-compatible free trade (with
a transition period of up to 12 years);
-
Provisions related to intellectual property,
services, public procurement, competition rules, state aid and
monopolies;
-
Economic co-operation in a broad range of
sectors;
-
Respect for human rights and democracy;
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Co-operation in the field of social affairs and
migration;
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Cultural co-operation.
Bilateral relations have, until now, been vertical
(i.e. it concerns relations between the EU and one of the
Mediterranean partners). The Mediterranean partners are also
committed to implement free trade among themselves. The completion
of the Euro Mediterranean free trade area depends on the
implementation of these South-South agreements.
Next to the bilateral relations, the Barcelona
Process includes multilateral relations (regional co-operation).
This regional co-operation is implemented in the form of
multilateral conferences and regional programmes. These conferences
and programmes take place in all three areas of the
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: political and security partnership
(training, exchange of information, dialogues etc.), economic and
financial partnership (conferences relating to various sectors) and
social, cultural and human partnership (cultural heritage, youth
exchange etc.).
Further details
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