The European Movement (Malta) joined European and Arab civil society organisations in Algiers this weekend for the Euro-Mediterranean Congress, which is meeting there between Friday and today.

The Congress was the first major gathering of what has been described by the European Movement International as the "Malta Process". It promotes North-South Dialogue in the Mediterranean Region.

In Algiers, more than 400 delegates representing organisations of civil society on both sides of the Mediterranean engaged in a useful dialogue. According to the European Movement's president Pat Cox, this should help "to make sure that slogans and insults do not prevail".

The preparatory committee of the congress held its first meeting in Malta in November 2004 and hence the reason why the European Movement International decided to name the initiative the "Malta Process".

Two members of the executive committee of the European Movement (Malta), secretary general Steve Attard and international secretary Philip Lingard are taking part in the Algiers congress.

Speaking at the press conference of the European Movement International (EMI), Mr Cox, former President of the European Parliament, also stated: "As we have seen recently in the debate that followed the publication of the now famous cartoons portraying the prophet Muhammad, the dialogue with the Arab world is fragile. We should not risk its break-up."

This dialogue started in Malta in November 2004 in the spirit of creating new bridges across the Mediterranean divide. It is a dialogue for citizens and it is essential that we understand how information about Europe gets to the grass roots of the Arab world, and information from the Arab world gets to the grass roots in Europe.

It is also essential that the issue of migration be placed high on the agenda, and we support the calls for an African-European summit to tackle this, and other key issues, such as a long overdue European immigration policy.

The European Movement has had a key role in building the peace in Europe after the war by encouraging civil society organisations to work towards a more united, federal Europe. It is time for Europe to work closer with its southern neighbours to build a platform of nations that can ensure the enjoyment of rights all over the Mediterranean region.

The congress was hosted by the President of the Algerian Republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who is chairman of the Arab League. It was addressed by, among others: Traugott Schoefthaler, executive director, the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation; Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, director general, ISESCO; the Austrian Presidency of the European Union; Philippe de Fontaine Vive, vice-president of the European Investment Bank; a representative of UNESCO; and Lucio Guerrato, European Commission.