Sarkozy's EuroMed summit re-ignites cross-Med cooperation
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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.
YouTube | July 13, 2008
