Sarkozy's EuroMed summit re-ignites cross-Med cooperation

The aim of this initiative is to strengthen regional cooperation between the European Union and the countries bordering the Mediterranean based on the Barcelona Process and the EU's Neighbourhood Policy, by launching the "Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean".
The Union for the Mediterranean is a new political initiative which will be based on practical projects. It will give a triple boost to the Barcelona Process by:
- enhancing the political dimension of relations between the EU and its Mediterranean partners;
- confirming the shared responsibilities in our multilateral relations;
- promoting practical projects which will enable citizens to appreciate the strength of the ties that unite the two shores of the Mediterranean.
Heads of governments from countries in the EU and around the Mediterranean met in Paris today for a summit. The e initiative should also give new political impetus to Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, for example by instituting bi-annual summits and creating a co- presidency and a secretariat.
SOUNDBITE by Nicolas SARKOZY, French President and President-in-Office of the European Council, in French : The meeting was extremely rich. We have decided that an UPM Summit will take place every two years with the co-presidency of Egypt and France. We have decided that the Foreign Affairs ministers will meet every year. What is new in this process is the equality between the North and the South and the will of making concrete projects. We have 6 projects.




SOUNDBITE by EC President José Manuel BARROSO, in French: This summit has symbolically sealed a pact of co-responsibility for an Union of concrete projects which final objective is an union between the people, between the citizens of the two banks of the Mediterranean. The EC will participate actively in this.

SOUNDBITE by EC President José Manuel BARROSO, in French: On the basis of this acquis we need the political will of all its participants in order to go forward, together, in the resolution of conflicts like in the Middle East. We need to go forward to a real regional integration and the reduction of the differences of prosperity.

SOUNDBITE by Hosni MUBARAK, President of Egypt and co-chair of the Summit, in Arab: What is needed is confidence. Investments are encouraged by stability. The stability promote investments.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Paris
• Sarkozy
• EuroMed
• Summit
• Barroso
• Mubarak
• Egypt
• Barcelona
• Process
• Israel
• Palestine
• Middle
• East
• Africa
• development
• EU
• EUX.TV
• EUX
• Brussels
• Europe
• EUTube
• European elections
• 2009
• European Union
• European Parliament
• EuropeanUnion
• EuropeanParliament
• EUXTV
• EUX.tv
• EurActiv.com
• EurActiv

[Spenner56]

One example of how the (un-elected) 25 EU commissioners are deciding all of OUR futures in Europe :

"Next year (2009) could see Turkey make a crucial step forwards on it's path to EU membership..." (Enlargement commissioner Ollie Rehn).EVEN THOUGH a substantial MAJORITY of BOTH Turkish AND European citizens are AGAINST Turkey joining the EU !

Say NO again IRELAND !

t´s not too late,SAVE DEMOCRACY in Europe SIGN THE PETITION for a referendum at : X09"dot"de

[71Warrior4Jesus]

Jesus loves you all

[TheCZMan]

I think I wont understand what you mean because you speak too much loosely.

Being protected from its own past stupidity: what does it mean?

[vistavision2]

CZman, Europe has to be protected from their own past stupidiy!

This is how it is done. You initate a forum where differences ae minimized and commmonalities are strenghtened.

[TheCZMan]

Huge effort but off target because the question was: what Europeans have to be protected from?

[vistavision2]

who proposes that war is to be outlawed, proposes to remove your individual right of self-defense to committ genocide upon your entire now defensless people.

States and peoples are not synonomous. Regimes like saddam's and Israel likud (zionists) should be removed by force of arms when not other recourse presents itself.

Sometimes it takes a regional war to settle direction of people: Latin American revolutions; WW II Europe; USSR meltdown; Africa, middle east, is still undecided.

[vistavision2]

The Iraqi war was continuation of 1990 war; Saddam's contravention to UN Resolutions; consequenced because of half assed measures in th firt place.

Israel case is far worse: measures designed to appease Israel which circumvent and contravene International laws as oposed to enforcement of international laws.

There are only two avenues to resolve issues: Diplomacy or war.

War is not illegal; nor should ever become illegal.

War is the only recourse to remove tryants and despots.

[TheCZMan]

I did not understand the answer. Reading them, it would again a case for advocating a protection of those countries from US and Europe, not the reverse. Iraq is an example of that. Coping with the consequences of actions led by a party of men which were not even Iraqis. Iraq's ties to 9,11 are none yet Iraq has to endure the wrath of the US/EU. Again, should be a case for advocating protection for Iraq from US/Eu, not the reverse.

[vistavision2]

USA/Europe are in the exact same place of political staticity vis-a-vis middle east but have expended lives and financial resources just to stay at remain static.

In fact, are less secure than pre911: Sphere of influence may have expanded in eastern Europe but shrunk in the Middle East and Europes very one domestic population is not at ease as long as Rule of International Law and Human right of Palestinians are paid lip service of hypocrisy- simultaneously sponsoring Israel War Crimes

[vistavision2]

Static: flatlined as opossed to degenerating into a situation where regional/global war erupts.

USA population is more naive/arogant because it does not have memory of what war is one's soil; Europe has also forgotten that war is total devastion (look at Iraq).

Do people that live in poverty fear poverty? NO, its normal and hope is is the key to a beter life.

Who sponsors oppression? A: USA/EU sponsor Israel crimes against humanity in occupied Palestine.

Desperation is not nice!