By Maria Koniotou
Euro- Mediterranean Heads of States and Government decided to launch “The Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean” with a view to take advantage of the opportunities offered by an enhanced framework of multilateral cooperation. Cyprus was represented at the Summit by its President Demetris Christofias.
A Joint Declaration issued at the end of the Paris Summit for the Mediterranean says Europe and the Mediterranean countries are bound by history, geography and culture and more importantly are united by a common ambition: to build together a future of peace, democracy, prosperity and human, social and cultural understanding.
“To achieve these common objectives participants agree to continue with renewed dynamism the quest for peace and cooperation, to explore the joint problems and transform these good intentions into actions in a renewed partnership of progress,” it adds.
They stress that the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean aims to achieve a future of peace and shared prosperity in the entire region by implementing projects that will enhance the flow of exchanges among the people of the whole region.
The Heads of State and Government underline the importance played by the Barcelona Process since 1995 and noted that the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean aims to build on the consensus built by the Barcelona process to pursue cooperation, political and socio-economic reform and modernisation on the basis of equality and mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty.
They also underscore the importance of the active participation of civil society, local and regional authorities and the private sector in the implementation of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean.
The Heads of State and Government underline their commitment to strengthen democracy and political pluralism and affirm their ambition to build a common future based on the full respect of democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms, as enshrined in international human rights law.
They reaffirm their support for the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process recalling that peace in the Middle East requires a comprehensive solution.
The declaration refers to the way the Union will be functioning and sets out six key initiatives to be promoted: de-pollution of the Mediterranean, maritime and land highways, civil protection, alternative energies and a Mediterranean Solar Plan, the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean University and the promotion of higher education and research and the Mediterranean Business Development Initiative.
In a joint press conference after the conclusion of the Summit, EU current President, President of France and co-president of the Summit Nicolas Sarkozy, Egyptian President and co-chairman of the Summit Hosni Mubarak and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso have underlined the significance of launching this Union aimed to promote stability and peace in the area.
