Commitment to make Euro-Med work 'still present'

Despite the low turnout of heads of state from the Mediterranean countries, the recent 10th anniversary summit meeting in Barcelona demonstrated the commitment that continued to exist to make the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP) work, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said.

He was delivering the keynote opening address at the XIX Euro-Mediterranean Information and Training Seminar, held by the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, of the University of Malta, together with the European Commission.

The minister said the commitment he referred to was highlighted by the two very important documents agreed upon at the summit, namely the Five-Year Work Programme and the Code of Conduct on Terrorism. The five-year work programme provided a framework upon which specific initiatives could be taken to further cooperation in the political, economic and socio-cultural sectors. The Code of Conduct on Terrorism was the first time such a clear message to the world against terrorism had been agreed upon by the Euro-Mediterranean countries.

Dr Frendo said it was important to stress that progress was still being registered through the Euro-Med partnership. What was lacking was the "Spirit of Barcelona" that was present at the launching of the partnership 10 years ago and it was therefore essential that new ideas were explored on how a new dynamism could be injected into the EMP.

The Spanish proposal of considering the setting up of a Euro-Med Secretariat to coordinate Euro-Med affairs more closely and the suggestion of appointing a Euro-Med spokesman were interesting ideas that could go some way to strengthening the notion of co-ownership in the process, he said.

Dr Frendo said the main challenge facing EMP states was to find a way to facilitate the involvement of political movements in emerging political debates across the Mediterranean. Creating space for the inclusion of such political engagement was essential. Adopting the alternative policy of political exclusion would only contribute to a further fuelling of extremism. The Euro-Med Partnership should focus on developing a policy platform that would allow for a constructive engagement to take place between different political forces across the Mediterranean area.

Providing protection to those most vulnerable sectors of society through effective health and educational policies was also essential, otherwise society would have no choice but to turn to extremists for coverage.

The state had a responsibility to provide a social security net as this was one of the important building blocks that would contribute to the goal of nurturing a Euro-Mediterranean region of peace and stability. Elites had to become aware that the price of not introducing democratic reforms was higher than the price of a democratic way forward.