Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference
(22-23 April - Valencia)
Press
Centre: Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias. Prolongación Paseo de
la Alameda 48, 46023 Valencia.
On 22 and 23 April, the Spanish Presidency of the Council
of the European Union is organising the 5th Euro-Mediterranean
Conference of Ministers for Foreign Affairs, at the “Príncipe
Felipe” Science Museum in Valencia.
The Euro-Mediterranean
Partnership was launched in 1995 with the signature of the Barcelona
Declaration by 27 States: the 15 EU Member States together with
Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, the
Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.
The current
Spanish Presidency wishes to revitalise the Barcelona Process as a
framework for meetings between the two shores of the
Mediterranean.
The Barcelona Process comprises three
chapters, or areas of cooperation, geared towards achieving the main
objective of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, namely the creation
of an area of shared peace and prosperity in the Mediterranean.
Chapter I covers political and security matters, Chapter II concerns
economic matters and Chapter III deals with cooperation on social,
cultural and human matters.
Two sectoral Euro-Mediterranean
conferences have already taken place during the Spanish Presidency
of the first half of 2002: a conference of Trade Ministers in Toledo
on 19 March and a conference of Industry Ministers in Malaga on 9
and 10 April. Both tackled issues relating to Chapter II of the
Barcelona Process, making considerable progress on such matters as
rules of origin, services, technological innovation and the
promotion of private investment.
Despite the difficult
circumstances currently surrounding the peace process in the Middle
East, the Spanish Presidency hopes Valencia will provide a step
forward in all three chapters of the Barcelona Process, and in the
peace process itself.
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| Museu de les Ciències "Príncipe Felipe"
PhotoTurespaña |
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