EU ministers discuss Euro-Mediterranean cooperation

Foreign Ministers from the 27 European Union members, including Cypriot Minister Erato Kozakou Markoullis, will gather in Portugal for two days to discuss relations with the countries of the Middle East and North Africa.

The Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation meeting will convene from November 5-6, under the rotating six monthly EU presidency of Portugal.

The Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation, established by the Barcelona Declaration in 1995, is the institutional framework of the Barcelona Process concerning political, economic, social and cultural cooperation between the 27 and Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Turkey, Tunisia and the Palestinian Authority.

The Lisbon Conclusions is the main document expected to be adopted by the annual meeting.

Foreign Ministers will also discuss the Middle East peace process.