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The Barcelona Summit aims to launch a new phase in
Euro-Mediterranean relations, to meet the demands created by major changes
on the international scene, and within the European Union itself. EU
expansion, and the beginning of accession talks with other countries, have
caused the number of members in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership to rise
from 27 to 38. Full members of the Barcelona
Process are:
- 25 Member States of the European Union.
- 10 countries from the southern Mediterranean shore: Algeria,
Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria,
Tunisia, and Turkey (already part of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership,
the latter began EU accession talks on 3rd October).
- Romania and Bulgaria, that are candidates to join the European
Union, which have already signed an Accession Agreement.
- Croatia, a candidate to join the EU, which began accession talks on
3rd October.
- The European Parliament, the European Commission, and the
Secretariat-General of the Council of the EU
Moreover, the Barcelona Process includes 6 countries and institutions
participating as permanent observers (Libya, Mauritania,
the Secretary-General of the Arab League) and invited
observers, such as the European Investment Bank, the Arab
Maghreb Union, the Anna Lindh Foundation for the Dialogue between
Cultures, the Economical and Social Committee or the Euromed Economical
and Social Councils.
The new realities and challenges of the 21st century
make it necessary to update the Barcelona
Declaration and create a new Action Plan (based on the good results of
the Valencia
Action Plan), encompassing four fundamental areas:
- Peace, Security, Stability, Good Government, and
Democracy. It is necessary to strengthen our common democratic
principles with concrete measures, and respond to new common threats,
such as the fight against terrorism or weapons of mass
destruction.
- Sustainable Economic Development and Reform. The
modernisation of economic structures, growth, and sustainable
development will be accelerated. The methods used for managing EU
financial aid to countries on the southern Mediterranean coast will be
reinforced and improved, and support to the private sector will be made
much stronger than it has been to date.
- Education and Cultural Exchange. Civil society’s
participation in every process plays an essential role in cultures’
mutual knowledge and understanding. Therefore, contributions to
better intercultural understanding will be made through the recently
created Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue
between Cultures (with its headquarters in Alexandria), to which Spain
is the principal individual contributor.
- Justice, Security, Migration, and Social
Integration. The value that migratory movements have today will
be enhanced, intensifying co-operation in an area of such great
importance, where concerted action is increasingly
necessary.
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