5-908/1 (Senaat) 53-1885/001 (Kamer) | 5-908/1 (Senaat) 53-1885/001 (Kamer) |
17 NOVEMBER 2011
I. INLEIDING
De Euro-Mediterrane Parlementaire Assemblee werd officieel geïnstalleerd op 22 en 23 maart 2004 in Athene, als de parlementaire dimensie van het Barcelona-proces.
De assemblee bestaat uit 280 leden : 130 leden uit de Europese Unie (81 leden van de nationale parlementen, 3 per parlement, en 49 leden van het Europees Parlement), 10 leden uit de nieuwe partnerlanden (Albanië, Bosnië-Herzegovina, Kroatië, Monaco en Montenegro), 130 leden van de 10 landen van de zuidkust en de westkust van de Middellandse Zee (Algerije, Tunesië, Jordanië, Israël, Libanon, Marokko, Palestina, Syrië, Egypte en Turkije), alsook 10 leden uit Mauretanië.
De assemblee heeft vijf vaste commissies :
— de economische en financiële Commissie, voor de sociale aangelegenheden en het onderwijs;
— de Commissie voor de politieke aangelegenheden, de veiligheid en de mensenrechten;
— de Commissie voor de bevordering van de levenskwaliteit, de uitwisseling tussen het maatschappelijk middenveld en de cultuur;
— de Commissie voor de rechten van de vrouw in de euro-mediterrane landen;
— de Commissie voor de energie, het milieu en het water.
Op verzoek van het Bureau kan de assemblee werkgroepen oprichten. Het Bureau bepaalt de aard, de levensduur, het aantal leden, de samenstelling, de bevoegdheden en de rapportageverplichtingen van de werkgroepen.
Er zijn momenteel drie werkgroepen : de Werkgroep betreffende de Financiering en het Reglement van de Assemblee, de Werkgroep betreffende de omvorming van FEMIP in euro-mediterrane ontwikkelingsbank en de Werkgroep betreffende de euro-mediterrane universiteit.
De Parlementaire assemblee van de euro-mediterrane landen is een adviesorgaan. De resoluties en aanbevelingen gaan over de doelstellingen van het partnerschap en de gebieden van de samenwerking. Nu is de assemblee de parlementaire dimensie van de Unie voor de Middellandse Zee geworden, die het Barcelona-proces heeft opgeslorpt en officieel werd opgestart op de Top van de staatshoofden en regeringsleiders van de 43 landen, die op 13 juli 2008 in Parijs plaatsvond.
Het Belgisch parlement heeft een afvaardiging van drie leden (twee volksvertegenwoordigers en een senator) bij de assemblee. De heer Patrick Moriau (volksvertegenwoordiger) heeft zitting in de Commissie voor de politieke aangelegenheden, de veiligheid en de mensenrechten, alsook in de Commissie voor de energie, het milieu en het water. Mevrouw Nadia Sminate (volksvertegenwoordiger) heeft zitting in de Commissie voor de rechten van de vrouw in de euro-mediterrane landen. De heer Frank Boogaerts (senator) heeft zitting in de Commissie voor de bevordering van de levenskwaliteit, de uitwisseling tussen het maatschappelijk middenveld en de cultuur, alsook in de Economische en Financiële Commissie, voor de sociale aangelegenheden en het onderwijs.
II. VERGADERING VAN DE COMMISSIE VOOR DE ECONOMISCHE EN FINANCIËLE AANGELEGENHEDEN, DE SOCIALE AANGELEGENHEDEN EN HET ONDERWIJS TE LUXEMBURG VAN 17 TOT 18 FEBRUARI 2011
De commissie vergaderde in de Luxemburgse Chambre des députés onder het voorzitterschap van de heer Xavier Bettel (Chambre des Députés — Luxemburg) en mevrouw Ayala Sander (Europees parlement).
De vergadering van 17 februari 2011 behandelde het thema van het bankwezen in de moslimlanden. Het thema werd door drie deskundigen ingeleid : mevrouw Eleanor de Rosmorduc (Luxembourg for Finance), de heer Pierre Oberlé (ALFI — Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry) en de heer Dumoulin (Banque centrale du Luxembourg).
In de loop van het debat blijkt dat de moslimfondsen in Europa sterk worden miskend. De zuidelijke kust van de Middellandse Zee heeft investeringen nodig op diverse gebieden, zoals de infrastructuur, en die fondsen kunnen een interessant denkspoor zijn. Die fondsen richten zich niet alleen op de moslimbevolking, maar op mensen met belangstelling voor ethisch en veilig beleggen.
Na het debat over de moslimfondsen richtte de heer Jeannot Krecké, Luxemburgs minister van Economie en Handel, zich tot de commissieleden. Hij legde uit dat omdat Luxemburg een klein land is, het functioneert aan de hand van meer gerichte bilaterale betrekkingen. Hij wijst er ook op dat de Luxemburgse welvaart niet van de banken afkomstig is, zoals velen denken. Het land moest zijn economie omschakelen wegens de problemen op de staalmarkt in de jaren 1970. De omschakeling naar een economie die hoofdzakelijk op de financiële dienstverlening steunt, is een succes gebleken. Er zijn heel wat grensarbeiders en vreemdelingen werkzaam in Luxemburg, die een belangrijke bijdrage leveren aan de economie.
De Algerijnse delegatie heeft interesse voor een uitwisseling van best practices met Luxemburg, omdat Algerije eveneens aan het omschakelen is.
De Palestijnse delegatie legt uit dat het heel moeilijk is voor Palestina om de investeringen te stimuleren. De toestand is in de ogen van de investeerders niet stabiel genoeg en te risicovol.
De vergadering van 18 februari 2011 had moeten beginnen met een debat over de tekst van de verslaggevers over de euro-mediterrane Bank. Omdat het om een Tunesisch initiatief gaat en de Tunesische delegatie als gevolg van de gebeurtenissen in het land niet naar de vergadering kon komen, werd het debat uitgesteld.
Het tweede agendapunt was het euro-mediterrane partnerschap : van handel tot groei. De verslaggeefsters hadden twee tekstvoorstellen voorbereid.
Het voorstel van tekst « De projecten voor de Unie voor de Middellandse Zee : evaluaties en toekomstvisies » van verslaggeefster mevrouw Dominique Vlasto (Europees Parlement) wordt voorgesteld door de voorzitter en vervolgens besproken. De tekst wordt door de commissieleden goed onthaald. Er wordt gesuggereerd enkele elementen eraan toe te voegen, maar het constructief te doen zonder een welbepaalde situatie te vermelden. Het is belangrijk de realiteit niet te ontkennen, maar te voorkomen dat de tekst eventueel geblokkeerd raakt. Er wordt de leden verzocht amendementen voor te stellen voor de volgende vergadering.
Ook het tekstvoorstel van mevrouw Ayala Sender over « Netwerken voor euro-mediterraan transport » wordt besproken. Men stelt voor te voorzien in een specifieke follow-up van de aanbevelingen van de commissie, maar dat lijkt moeilijk uitvoerbaar. Er wordt de leden verzocht amendementen voor te stellen voor de volgende commissievergadering.
III. COMMISSIEVERGADERINGEN VAN 3 MAART 2011
De dag voor de plenaire vergadering vergaderden de diverse commissies van de assemblee.
Mevrouw Nadia Sminate (volksvertegenwoordiger) nam deel aan de vergadering van de Commissie voor de rechten van de vrouw in de euro-mediterrane landen die aanbevelingen rond twee thema's behandelde :
— de vrouw en het analfabetisme in de euro-mediterrane regio;
— de bevordering van de rol van de vrouw : haar betrokkenheid bij het economisch leven als beste middel om toegang te krijgen tot de besluitvorming.
De heer Patrick Moriau (volksvertegenwoordiger) nam deel aan de vergadering van de Commissie voor de politieke aangelegenheden, de veiligheid en de mensenrechten, alsook aan die van de Commissie voor de energie, het milieu en het water. De Politieke Commissie behandelde de volgende thema's :
— de recente volksopstanden in de Arabische landen;
— de rol van het maatschappelijk middenveld in de institutionele context van de Unie voor de Middellandse Zee;
— veiligheid in de Middellandse Zee.
Tijdens het debat beklemtoonde de heer Patrick Moriau (volksvertegenwoordiger) dat de gebeurtenissen in Noord-Afrika een unieke gelegenheid zijn om de doelstellingen die bij de oprichting van de assemblee werden vooropgesteld, te verwezenlijken. Tevens onderstreepte hij dat er nu een andere samenwerkingsaanpak moet komen om de transformatie in de regio te ondersteunen.
De aandacht van de Commissie voor de Energie ging naar :
— de totstandkoming van mariene parken in de Middellandse Zee als middel om de biologische diversiteit te beschermen;
— de bescherming van het mariene milieu;
— afvalverwerking in de kustgebieden van de Middellandse Zee.
De heer Frank Boogaerts (senator) volgde de werkzaamheden van de Commissie voor de bevordering van de levenskwaliteit, de uitwisseling tussen het maatschappelijk middenveld en de cultuur, alsook van de Economische en Financiële Commissie, voor de sociale aangelegenheden en het onderwijs. De Cultuurcommissie bereidde haar aanbeveling over drie thema's voor :
— immigratie en integratie : dialoog tussen de nieuwe generaties voor de ontwikkeling van een vredescultuur;
— dialoog tussen culturen en religies : naar een mediterraan Waardenhandvest;
— het mediterrane erfgoed : het behoud van de archeologische vindplaatsen.
De Economische Commissie werkte rond de volgende thema's :
— de euro-mediterrane transportnetwerken;
— de projecten van de Unie voor de Middellandse Zee : evaluaties en toekomstvisies.
Wat de euro-mediterrane transportnetwerken betreft, heeft de heer Frank Boogaerts (senator) zijn amendement verdedigd, waarin het belang wordt beklemtoond van de opleidingen die worden aangeboden in verscheidene Europese havens en dat amendement werd in de uiteindelijke aanbeveling opgenomen.
IV. PLENAIRE VERGADERING VAN VRIJDAG 4 MAART 2011
De zevende plenaire vergadering van de Parlementaire Assemblee vond op 4 maart 2011 in Rome plaats, onder het voorzitterschap van de heer Gianfranco Fini, voorzitter van de Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers van de Italiaanse Republiek en van de heer Renato Schifani, voorzitter van de Senaat van de Italiaanse Republiek.
De afvaardiging van het Belgisch parlement bestond uit mevrouw Nadia Sminate (volksvertegenwoordiger), de heer Patrick Moriau (volksvertegenwoordiger) en de heer Frank Boogaerts (senator).
A. Openingszitting : De Unie voor de Middellandse Zee en de ontwikkelingen in de regio
Verscheidene sprekers hebben het woord genomen om het thema van die zitting in te leiden.
De heer Gianfranco Fini, voorzitter van de Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers van de Italiaanse Republiek, beklemtoonde het belang van de gebeurtenissen in Noord-Afrika. De Unie voor de Middellandse Zee heeft in de toekomst een belangrijke rol te spelen en moet absoluut vooruitgang boeken. De eenheid moet haar belangrijkste aandachtspunt zijn.
De heer Renato Schifani, voorzitter van de Senaat van de Italiaanse Republiek, denkt dat de Unie voor de Middellandse Zee nooit echt van de grond is gekomen en dat het nu tijd wordt dat die unie efficiënt wordt. Men moet de dialoog tussen de religies en de regio's opzoeken en men moet dringend zijn politieke rol nieuw leven inblazen.
Jerzy Buzek, voorzitter van het Europees Parlement, meent dat de democratische veranderingen de oorspronkelijke opdracht van de parlementen doen herleven. Ze spelen een belangrijke rol in de democratieën, omdat ze het volk vertegenwoordigen. De sociaal-economische eisen gaan hand in hand met de politieke eisen. Dat moet de basis zijn voor een hernieuwd euro-mediterraan partnerschap voor en in samenwerking met de volkeren.
De heer Franco Frattini, minister van Buitenlandse Zaken van de Italiaanse Republiek, vergelijkt de gebeurtenissen in Noord-Afrika met de val van de Berlijnse muur. Wat zich nu afspeelt, is een essentiële bladzijde in de geschiedenis van die regio. Europa heeft een politieke verantwoordelijkheid en moet bijdragen tot het scheppen van een klimaat van veiligheid waardoor de democratie zich kan ontplooien. Vrijheid is een broos goed. Het instellen van een nieuw pact voor de Middellandse Zee met nieuwe ideeën is noodzakelijk. De jongeren waren een belangrijke factor in de veranderingen en men moet blijven investeren in de jeugd, door middel van programma's zoals een Erasmus voor de Middellandse Zee, dat een instrument moet zijn voor een echte dialoog.
De heer Mohammed Mostafa Kamal, onderminister van Buitenlandse Zaken van de Arabische Republiek Egypte, ziet de veranderingen die in het zuiden van de Middellandse Zee onder invloed van de jongeren plaatsvinden als een maatschappelijk reveil. De regio bevindt zich nu in een overgangsfase en Egypte staat voor een uitdaging zonder voorgaande. Daarnaast wordt het vluchtelingenprobleem een echt humanitair vraagstuk en dat vraagt het engagement van alle partners. De samenwerking in de Unie voor de Middellandse Zee moet strategisch zijn en de euro-mediterrane samenwerking moet een echte samenwerking worden met duidelijke en nauwkeurige instrumenten. Het Israëlisch-Palestijns conflict blijft een gevaar voor de stabiliteit in de regio. Een zee van vrede, veiligheid en stabiliteit blijft een essentieel doel dat men alleen met de dialoog kan bereiken.
De heer Abdelwahed Radi, voorzitter van de Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers van het Koninkrijk Marokko, wenst de slachtoffers van de strijd voor vrijheid te huldigen. De Arabische wereld slaat een bladzijde in zijn geschiedenis om en de transformatie moet kwalitatief zijn. De democratie, de rechtsstaat, de mensenrechten, de menselijke waardigheid ... zijn van essentieel belang voor de toekomst van de regio. Het is tijd dat de Arabische samenlevingen aansluiting vinden met de tijdgeest en hun achterstand inhalen.
De heer Abdul Hadi Al Majali, Senator van het Hasjemitisch Koninkrijk Jordanië, denkt eveneens dat het om een cruciale fase in de geschiedenis van de regio gaat. Men moet zich echter bevrijden van de vooroordelen. De veranderingen in het Midden Oosten hoeven niet tot extremisme te leiden. De jongeren die aan de basis van de veranderingen liggen, willen seculiere regeringen naar Turks model en de moslimpartijen hebben geen enkele band met Al Qaeda.
De heer Philippe Maystadt, voorzitter van de EIB, merkt op dat men het veel over het leenvolume heeft, terwijl het daarnaast vooral van belang is dat dit geld efficiënt wordt gebruikt en tevens moet men strikte regels opstellen. In elk geval kan de EIB niet alles alleen doen. De Europese Unie moet een krachtig signaal geven inzake haar engagement, een euro-mediterrane bank oprichten kan zo'n signaal zijn.
Vervolgens hebben verscheidene afvaardigingen het woord genomen in het debat. Een groot deel van de sprekers is het erover eens dat de Unie voor de Middellandse Zee haar doel niet heeft bereikt. Gelet op de huidige toestand zijn veranderingen noodzakelijk. De parlementaire assemblee is echter altijd blijven discussiëren, wat positief is. De assemblee moet dat pad blijven bewandelen en voorstellen voor de toekomst formuleren.
Allen zijn het erover eens dat de internationale gemeenschap moet reageren en moet bijdragen tot het scheppen van de voorwaarden om echte democratieën tot stand te brengen. Er moet echter nog veel werk verricht worden voor men daartoe zal komen.
In de loop van het debat kwam ook het Israëlisch-Palestijns debat herhaaldelijk aan bod als een echt probleem voor de stabiliteit van de regio.
B. Eerste vergadering : Het immigratie- en integratiebeleid
De vergadering werd ingeleid door de heer William Lacy Swing, directeur-generaal van de Internationale Organisatie voor Migratie.
De afvaardigingen van het zuiden van de Middellandse Zee hebben in het debat benadrukt dat een groot deel van de migraties het gevolg is van conflicten in de regio en in de rest van Afrika. Het is daarnaast belangrijk de economische omstandigheden in de landen van herkomst te verbeteren door kennisoverdracht mogelijk te maken en studentenvisa af te geven.
Verscheidene leden van het Europees Parlement hebben het woord genomen om erop te wijzen dat het migratiebeleid moet veranderen.
C. Tweede vergadering : het milieubeschermingsbeleid in het Middellandse-Zeebekken
Deze vergadering werd ingeleid door de heer Corrado Clini, directeur-generaal voor duurzame ontwikkeling, klimaat en Energie voor het ministerie van milieu van de Italiaanse Republiek. In zijn toespraak beklemtoonde hij het belang van milieubescherming, alsook van kustbescherming.
In het debat kwamen hoofdzakelijk twee belangrijke thema's aan bod. Eerst en vooral de problematiek van het water in de regio, die catastrofaal wordt genoemd. Er lopen tal van projecten, maar de middelen en de wil om samen te werken om het probleem naar behoren het hoofd te bieden, ontbreken. Vervolgens werd herhaaldelijk verklaard dat duurzame ontwikkeling het enig mogelijke alternatief is voor de toekomst van de regio.
D. Derde vergadering : de financiële instrumenten voor de ontwikkeling van de regio
De heer Charles Milhaud, gewezen voorzitter van de Commission sur le codéveloppement en Méditerranée, die werd opgericht door de voorzitter van de Franse Republiek, leidt deze vergadering in. Hij legt uit dat in 2009 meer dan 20 miljard euro aan de regio werd toegekend, waarvan een derde van Europese instellingen afkomstig was. Er is echter een gebrek aan medewerking van geldschieters en van toe-eigening van de landen van het Zuiden. Wat een euro-mediterrane bank betreft, moet men steunen op de euromediterrane activiteiten van de EIB en de werkzaamheden van FEMIP hervatten. Dat zal niet gemakkelijk te verwezenlijken zijn, want er is een eenparige stemming van de regeringen van de EIB vereist.
De heer Cardarelli, secretaris-generaal in functie van de Unie voor de Middellandse Zee, meldt dat het secretariaat van de Unie voor de Middellandse Zee nu operationeel is. Bepaalde projecten staan reeds op de rails en er is werk aan de winkel. De instrumenten zijn er, en ook de deskundigheid. Alleen een echt politiek kader ontbreekt.
Tijdens het debat is gebleken dat de meningen over het oprichten van een euro-mediterrane bank verschillen. Bepaalde delegaties zijn ervoor gewonnen, terwijl andere denken dat de doelstellingen ook met de bestaande instrumenten kunnen worden verwezenlijkt.
Wat de andere financieringsmogelijkheden betreft, is een groot aantal delegaties het erover eens dat een beroep moet worden gedaan op de privésector en dat het absoluut noodzakelijk is investeringen in Noord-Afrika te moviteren. Men moet zich concentreren op ondernemingen in gediversifieerde sectoren.
E. Voorstelling en goedkeuring van de aanbevelingen van de commissies
De voorzitters van de commissies hebben de aanbevelingen van hun commissies voorgesteld en die werden goedgekeurd (zie bijlage).
Ook de aanbevelingen van de werkgroepen worden goedgekeurd (zie bijlagen).
F. Wisseling van voorzitterschap
Het voorzitterschap van de parlementaire assemblee werd overgedragen aan de heer Abdelwahad Radi, voorzitter van de Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers van het Koninkrijk Marokko.
| De rapporteurs, |
| Frank BOOGAERTS (S), Patrick MORIAU (K). |
BIJLAGEN
BIJLAGE 1
RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL AFFAIRS, SECURITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS :
1. On the recent popular uprisings in the Arab countries
2. On the role of civil society in the institutional framework of the Union for the Mediterranean
3. Security in the Mediterranean
Rapporteur topic 1 : Mrs Tokia Saifi (EP)
Rapporteurs topic 2 : Mr Pedret (Spain), Mr Aferiat (Morocco), Mr Moro (Morocco), and Ms Flautre (EP)
Rapporteurs topic 3 : Mr. Panzeri (EP), Mr. Rezgui (Algeria), Ms. Daǧi (Turkey)
The Committee on Political Affairs, Security and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean,
On the recent popular uprisings in the Arab countries
A. Whereas, since the beginning of the year, people — in particular young people — in many Arab countries have overcome their fear and are expressing their legitimate aspirations for freedom, improved socio-economic conditions and respect for their dignity,
B. Whereas, since their leaders were toppled, Tunisia and Egypt have begun a transition process whose outcome will shape the political development of the entire region; whereas the European Union has a special role and responsibility in this context,
C. Whereas the Libyan people have been subjected to an unacceptably violent level of repression that has cost hundreds of lives,
D. Whereas communications tools such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as the internet in general, which are important ways of mobilising people, are still blocked in some places,
E. Whereas the wealth of some countries has been systematically plundered by irresponsible leaders while sections of the population are prevented from enjoying their fair share of the economy's benefits, are living in poverty and are suffering as a result of endemic corruption,
F. Whereas the European Union shares part of the responsibility for this situation, in particular because in implementing its policies it has confused the status quo with stability and given priority to intergovernmental relations,
G. Whereas the Union for the Mediterranean has thus far been unable to live up to the expectations of people on both sides of the Mediterranean,
1. expresses its solidarity with the people aspiring to the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and social justice; wholeheartedly supports any moves towards a transition to democracy coming from within the societies themselves;
2. is extremely concerned about the situation in Libya and roundly condemns the violence used against people in the country; welcomes the sanctions agreed by the United Nations Security Council on 26 February 2011 under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, including referral to the International Criminal Court, an arms embargo, travel bans and asset freezes; wishes to see these sanctions applied immediately;
3. takes the view that the people and states concerned should be free to choose the path they want to take towards political, economic and social reform, including establishing election timetables to ensure a smooth transition, with the people's aspirations being taken into account in the long term; points out that the right to peaceful demonstration is inalienable; calls on governments to give a genuine guarantee in respect of freedom of information, expression and association, including free access to the internet and other means of communication;
4. calls on the transition governments concerned and the authorities in partner countries alike to use all the legal and political means necessary to help repatriate misappropriated funds and put them towards new social justice policies;
5. is convinced that relations between Europe and the Southern Mediterranean should more than ever take the form of a genuine partnership based on the promotion of shared values and objectives; calls on governments to take full advantage of the push for democracy that is taking place in Arab countries, as it is an appropriate time to achieve that goal and to make the involvement of civil society players in the formulation of policies a structural, priority axis of the UfM;
6. calls on the European Union to launch an operational initiative endowed with adequate means in order to address the humanitarian crisis triggered by concentrations of refugees both within and outside the borders of Libya;
7. welcomes the involvement of women in the uprisings in the Mediterranean and insists on the need for women to participate in decision-taking during the process of political and constitutional transition; insists on a guarantee that women will be present at all levels in the future structures of democratic governance;
8. reiterates its support for the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean development and investment bank devoted to accompanying political and economic reform; calls on the European Union to increase the endowment for its financial instruments and to focus them, as a matter of priority, on the partner countries undergoing democratic transition;
9. calls on the governments of Union for the Mediterranean to respond effectively to the historic challenges currently facing the region; to this end, calls for top-level cooperation to be relaunched immediately, for the post of Secretary-General to be filled as soon as possible, and for a wholesale review of its instruments to be carried out to allow a rapid response to be made to the political changes that are taking place alongside a significant change in economic and social conditions; calls to this end on the governments of the Union for the Mediterranean to define and consolidate Euro-Mediterranean projects in the food, health, migration and finance sectors;
On the role of civil society in the institutional framework of the Union for the Mediterranean
A. Having regard to the importance of civil society in all of the countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the importance of civil society structures, whose solidity must be ensured to enable peoples to act and participate in the major decisions which shape their future,
B. Having regard to the events in several UfM countries, notably Tunisia and Egypt, which clearly raise the issue of the central role of civil society in people's lives and its historical importance,
1. acknowledges the need to involve civil society in the UfM's various bodies and to treat it as a source of constructive proposals and initiatives; calls on civil society on both shores of the Mediterranean to forge closer links with a view to achieving better regional cooperation and greater understanding of cultures and civilisations, while taking care to preserve their identities and to respect specific social, economic, environmental and cultural factors, to make the Mediterranean a haven of stability and peace;
2. regrets that the UfM has not so far fully taken into account the role and aspirations, in particular the democratic and social aspirations, of civil society on the Southern shore of the Mediterranean in drawing up and implementing its policies and activities by attaching more importance to its relations with repressive regimes; emphasizes the disastrous consequences of this approach for representatives of civil society, in particular the absence of any protection for players henceforth considered legitimate;
3. considers that the UfM has the responsibility to reform so as to meet popular expectations and to contribute actively to supporting the processes of democratic transition currently under way aimed at ensuring the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary, the struggle against impunity, the fight against corruption and respect for fundamental freedoms;
4. considers the Anna Lindh Foundation report entitled « Euro-Med Intercultural Trends 2010 » and its recommendations to be important policy instruments for civil society stakeholders, public institutions and anyone wishing to see closer links between the two shores of the Mediterranean and mutual respect for cultures;
5. welcomes the implementation of the regional programme « EuroMed Civil Society 2010-2013 », supported by the European Commission and implemented in collaboration with the EuroMed civil society platform and its partners, and which aims, among other things, to foster the development of civil society in the Sothern Mediterranean; believes that the project will help build the institutional capacity of civil society organisations, with a view to fostering systems for dialogue and collaboration between civil society stakeholders and national, regional and local institutions, and will facilitate the establishment of a network for cooperation and partnership between civil society in the countries of the Northern and Southern Mediterranean;
6. welcomes the achievements of the EuroMed Summit of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions, held in Rome on 10-12 November 2010, whose final declaration is of the utmost importance, and the establishment of the UfM Assembly of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions, which, according to Article 1(1) of its statue, « intends to serve as the expression of organised civil society with consultative powers in the Union for the Mediterranean »;
7. points out that the European Economic and Social Committee already holds the status of observer at the UfM Parliamentary Assembly;
8. welcomes the inauguration of the Euro-Mediterranean Social Dialogue Forum, which held its first meeting in Barcelona on 11 March 2010, bringing together representatives of the social partners in UfM countries, the ETUC and BusinessEurope;
9. notes the existence of numerous Euro-Mediterranean organisations and institutions linked to civil society and reflecting today's social and political reality; believes that the time has come to establish the necessary links between civil society and the UfM Parliamentary Assembly, which is the political representative of the peoples of the UfM;
10. recommends a pragmatic and flexible approach in cooperation between the UfM Parliamentary Assembly and civil society organisations; invites — with a view to creating a permanent, structured relationship between the Assembly and civil society — the Assembly to entrust its Bureaux and the Committees with fostering this relationship or to look into how to set up a specific body for this purpose and the related budgetary implications;
11. stresses the importance of actively promoting exchanges between civil society on both shores of the Mediterranean and calls in this connection on the EU to adopt all the necessary measures to increase and facilitate the mobility of civil society players so as to develop, support and consolidate NGO networks throughout the region;
12. considers that the Assembly and its Committees should listen to civil society representatives by holding hearings before adopting draft recommendations; believes, furthermore, that the Assembly and its Committees should consult with civil society before examining texts on economic and social affairs;
13. considers that the Assembly and its Committees should be free to call on civil society to submit reports to monitor the effectiveness of their resolutions and decisions;
On Security in the Mediterranean
A. Having regard to the 1995 Barcelona Declaration where participants express their conviction « that the peace, stability and security of the Mediterranean region are a common asset which they pledge to promote and strengthen by all means at their disposal »,
B. Having regard to the fact that in terms of security, this commitment has yielded productive cooperation in managing migration flows and transit migration as well as in combating terrorist threats in the Mediterranean while being unable to solve persistent territorial conflicts including in the Middle East,
C. Having regard to the wider security challenges faced by the populations of the UfM Member States including energy and food security, natural disasters, epidemics, drugs and human trafficking, cyber security, and all kinds of intolerance and discrimination,
D. Having regard to the 2009 UNDP Arab Human Development Report — Challenges to Human Security in the Arab Countries — and to the Human Security concept, which responds to the abovementioned challenges,
E. Having regard to the Alliance of Civilisations which is recognised by the United Nations as valuable initiative to encourage tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilisations and peoples,
1. endorses a comprehensive approach to security whereby the political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental conditions in which people live are responsive to human rights and democracy; thereby enabling peoples to contain or avert threats to their lives, livelihoods and human dignity; therefore underlines the urgency of political reform in order to achieve social and economic development, fight against poverty and ensure food security in the Mediterranean; in this context it is important to work for a new partnership policy in the Mediterranean involving a broader support in the future including through the ENP and the UfM, by means of projects and measures to stimulate cooperation, exchange and investment in the region;
2. reminds that such a comprehensive approach to security must also seek to eliminate the ideological breading ground of security risks; welcomes in this regard the adoption of the Regional Mediterranean Strategy of the Alliance of Civilisations in Malta, November 2010 as an important instrument to achieving this goal; emphasizes the importance of strengthening the intercultural dialogue and encourages the Anna Lindt Foundation to pursue its work of promoting and fostering mutual knowledge by means of exchanges between the north and south coasts of the Mediterranean;
3. recalls that combating of terrorism and fundamentalism as well as the adoption of migration control measures cannot take place to the detriment of civil liberties and fundamental rights and requires taking into account the human, economic and social dimension as well as the respect of human rights and democracy beyond narrow security concerns; reiterates to this end previous calls by the PA UfM for visa facilitation as a means to regulate migration flows and for promoting the protection and integration of legal immigrants;
4. firmly believes that civil society must be associated to formulating and implementing a comprehensive response to human security challenges; the setting up of appropriate mechanisms of dialogue is essential to this end;
5. considers that the UfM framework is still an untapped resource of effective multilateralism benefitting all citizens and calls for the UfM civil protection dimension to be deepened and widened so as to promote risk management at appropriate levels in all UfM Member States;
6. recognises the valuable work of specialised centres for risk management; however, deplores the lack of communication between experts and decision makers; therefore invites the UfM to explore ways of bundling existing resources, strengthening their link with political decision making structures and enhancing their visibility to the citizens;
7. welcomes as a concrete step in this direction the decision by the European Commission and UNDP to set up a regional Crisis Response Centre and Early Warning System during 2011-2012 at the Secretariat General of the League of Arab States in Cairo in order to promote the exchange of information and cooperate on the identification of mutually acceptable solutions to crisis situations.
8. calls UfM Member States to provide for operational flexibility by endorsing variable geometry in the area of civil protection in order to enable specific and geographically limited initiatives; therefore invites the UfM to explore avenues of enhanced sub-regional cooperation between UfM Member States with shared interests,
instructs its Chair to forward this recommendation to the Government of the State of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the Co-Presidency of the Union for the Mediterranean, the Secretary-General of the UfM Secretariat, the League of Arab States, the Council of ministers of the European Union, High Representative/Vice-President Catherine Ashton, the European Commission, the parliaments and governments of the member states of the Union for the Mediterranean, and the European Parliament.
BIJLAGE 2
RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS, SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND EDUCATION
On Euro-Mediterranean Transport Networks
Rapporteurs : — Ms. Inès Ayala Sender, Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs, Social Affairs and Education, Member of the European Parliament and Ms. Bennani Smires and Ms. Mbarka bouaida, Members of the Moroccan Parliament
And on
UfM Projects : — Assessment and Vision for the future of the Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs, Social Affairs and Education
Rapporteurs : — Ms. Dominique VLASTO, Member of the European Parliament and Mr. Jordi XUCLA, Member of the Spanish Parliament
INTRODUCTION
Bearing in mind the current situation of various countries in the southern Mediterranean region, the PA-UfM calls for enhanced, practical, rapid and effective support, in particular in the economic field, in order to accompany its process of transition.
The Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs draws the attention of UfM Member States to the risk of a deterioration in the economic and financial situation in the entire Mediterranean region, given the impact of the social and political events in various countries of the region on prices of raw materials and food.
Bearing in mind the recent events in some North African countries, the Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs takes the view that this situation requires a serious and coordinated approach and that it needs be addressed with the utmost urgency.
In managing the urgent migration, energy and economic situation, it highlights the solidarity underpinning the action taken by the European Union and the Union for the Mediterranean. It also emphasizes that action must be taken jointly and involve joint responses and that the most geographically exposed countries must not be left to act alone.
In this context, in order rapidly to designate the instruments for taking practical and effective action, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean urges the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean development bank, as a branch of the EIB, able to meet the need which has now become clear to improve the living conditions of people in the Mediterranean region, by carrying out programmes to combat poverty, unemployment and social exclusion. The establishment of this bank will also make it easier to meet the credit needs of SMEs and of the major infrastructure projects already envisaged at the Paris Summit of the UfM (1) .
Euro-Mediterranean Transport Networks
Having regard to the Blue Paper « Towards an integrated Euro-Mediterranean transport system » elaborated in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Transport Forum (November 2005) and the Regional Transport Action Plan (RTAP) elaborated by the High Level Group on the extension of the trans-European Transport priority axes to neighbouring countries (December 2005);
Having regard to the ministerial Conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean ministerial Conference on Transport (Marrakech, 15 December 2005);
Having regard to the Communication of the European Commission on Guidelines for transport in Europe and neighbouring regions (31 January 2007);
Having regard to the European Commission Green Paper TEN-T : A policy review « Towards a better integrated trans-European transport network at the service of the common transport policy » (04.02 2009) and the Resolution of the European Parliament on The Green Paper on the future TEN-T policy (3 April 2009);
Having regard to the Communication of the European Commission concerning the Progress of exploratory talks regarding cooperation in the field of transport with the neighbouring countries (5 March 2008);
Having regard to the Conclusions of the ministerial Conference in Naples « The future of Trans-European Transport Networks : Bringing Europe closer to its neighbours » (Naples, 21-22 October 2009);
Having regard, finally, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in particular Article 13 on the free movement of persons,
Whereas the 1995 Barcelona Declaration stresses « 'the importance of developing and improving infrastructures, through the establishment of an efficient transport system and « that « efficient interoperable transport links between the EU and its Mediterranean Partners and among the Partners » themselves, as well as free access to the market for services in international maritime transport, are essential to the development of trade patterns and the smooth operation of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership;
Whereas a system of efficient and sustainable transport in the Mediterranean region represents not only an obvious economic necessity to master the effects of globalization, but is essential to the success of the Euro-Mediterranean free trade area and that it will facilitate a neighborhood relationship dynamic and successful as well as increased integration of the economies of Mediterranean Partners;
Whereas the Mediterranean basin is a key strategic world transport area, in particular the Suez Canal which represents the shortest route between East and West and accounts of 8 % of the world seaborne trade passed in 2009;
Taking into account that the establishment of maritime and land highways defined by the Paris Summit as one of the six major horizontal strategic areas of the UfM further strengthens the regional and multilateral dimension of Euro-Mediterranean relations, provides a framework to meet the socio-economic challenges and ensures the co-development of partner states;
Stressing the importance of cross-border connections for the integration of countries of the southern shore of the Mediterranean and for territorial cohesion, recalls the problems of isolation and accessibility of the interior regions and the need to integrate them with Coastal regions;
Believing that transport and infrastructure policies related to Euro-Mediterranean networks must be accompanied by higher ambitious financial commitments from all the protagonists;
Emphasizing the role of the European Investment Bank who coordinates three of the six priority projects (de-pollution of the Mediterranean, Solar Plan and maritime and land highways);
Stressing the importance of considering the impact on the environment and climate, in relation with infrastructure development and especially regarding maritime security, as well as for the transportation of oil and chemicals, while ensuring the need for sustainable mobility;
Whereas urban centres in the Mediterranean face similar problems and challenges with regard to pollution, congestion, noise and road safety as a consequence of urban mobility, in spite of the differences in their size and structure;
Upholds the conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean ministerial Conference on Transport (Marrakech, 15 December 2005), as well as of the ministerial Conference in Naples (21-22 October 2009), while deploring the lack of progress in establishing the Euro-Mediterranean Transport Networks, despite the commitment expressed by the Euro-Mediterranean Partners in this respect;
Calls upon the Union for the Mediterranean to hold the next Euro-Mediterranean ministerial meeting on Transport, in 2011, without further delay, and to put at the centre of the future transport policy of the region the correlation between the Trans-European network policy and the envisaged Trans-Mediterranean Transport Network;
Calls for the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean integrated and multimodal transport helping to strengthen trade between the EU and Mediterranean partners and between partners themselves, which includes the following main actions :
— strengthen and modernize the institutional framework for transport and increase the financial and administrative capacity;
— emphasizes on harmonizing technical and functional rules between countries;
— search for optimal and sustainable use of the transport system by promoting co-modality and a focus on rail transport, access to ports and airports and better and enlarged connection to logistic centres;
— promote the integration and cohesion of infrastructure networks by providing a transportation network well connected and interoperable between Southern Mediterranean countries and between those countries and the EU;
— promote solutions to problems related to urban mobility, which allows local and regional authorities to find solutions and instruments to fight against urban congestion, contamination, improving the quality of urban public services including passenger rights, accessibility for persons with reduced mobility etc;
— pay special attention to maritime transport (motorways of the sea) and ports, improve maritime trade through increased port efficiency;
— better use of the air travel potential and promote passenger transport in particular through tourism;
— enhace regional cooperation in the field of safety and security for all modes of transport, with special attention for road safety;
— making the transport system in the Mediterranean safe and sustainable, ensuring the protection of users, of goods and of the environment;
— strengthen human resources; implement appropriate training programs to improve the skills of staff of transport authorities. For example, takes advantage of vocational training programmes offered in some European ports (e.g. Antwerp, Belgium, Antwerp Flanders Port Training Centre, Institute of Transport and Maritime Management Antwerp ...)
Considers that it is necessary to integrate common objectives in transport policy :
— Short-distance maritime transport : the creation of highways of the sea, linking corridors and seafronts of Member States and their geographical neighbourhoods is highly necessary; the intermodality of short-distance maritime transport could also be supplemented by possible participation in Marco Polo programme pilot projects;
— Martime transport : the objective is to avoid the transport by sea of hydrocarbons in the Mediterranean resulting in a new « Erika » or « Prestige » in a closed and ecologically fragile sea; in this context, a new regional project should bring together the main prevention measures :
— Air transport : air transport plays a very important role owing in particular to the development of tourism and the mobility of immigrant populations; the objective is to improve airport capacity and integrate air traffic management systems with a view to the creation of the Single European Sky; these measures will be supplemented by the possible conclusion of « Open Sky » agreements between the EU and the Mediterranean partners concerned and by participation in the European Aviation Safety Agency;
— Rail transport : the objective is to develop the rail network so as to facilitate South-South exchanges, to improve interoperability and to reduce CO2 emissions;
— Galileo : the Galileo project places the European satellite navigation system at the service of a more secure and better protected Mediterranean; the objective is to involve the Mediterranean partners and their enterprises in providing the capital for the Galileo joint project;
— Research programmes; the Mediterranean partners may particpate in the framework research programme, in particular the priorities « Aeronautics and Space » and « Sustainable Surface Transport » in order to improve the security and safety of the Euro-Mediterranean transport network;
Considers essential to the achievement of a Euro-Mediterranean transport system from a situation of fragmentation to a situation of harmonization and integration, that the efforts deployed take into account different levels of development of Mediterranean countries and that public and private funding of projects are secured, enhanced and mobilized to achieve the objectives and guidelines set;
Calls for a better neighborhood policies that ensure the free movement of people, goods and services, and insist on the urgent need to facilitate the process of visa granting;
Requests that the support for a transport policy in the Euro-Mediterranean region takes into account not only financial criteria, but also of economic, social and territorial cohesion in particular the needs of territorial planning and sustainable development criteria; requests special attention to cross-border connections, and the need for better connections between inland regions and coastal areas;
Expresses the conviction that the Euro-Mediterranean Transport Network, including the motorways of the seas, and the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Area, to be implemented by 2015, will highly contribute to the economic recovery and growth and future enhancement of the living standards;
Calls for insuring the connection of the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) with the Trans-Mediterranean (MRT-T) and for the development of innovative and flexible financing instruments, able to adapt to specific economic reality of each transport mode and each region;
Calls upon the Secretariat of the UfM to increase its efforts of prioritising, coordination and monitoring of projects in this field, while calling also on stakeholders to present comprehensive, innovative projects which could highly contribute to the establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean Transport Network;
Calls for a process of reflexion on the prices policy for the transport of goods and services between the various Union for the Mediterranean countries in order to make markets more open to exchanges of goods;
Is of the opinion an adaptation of the legal and regulatory framework is needed to better secure private investment, domestic and foreign, to develop public-private participation in infrastructure projects in transport and in the prospect of creating a regional guarantee fund for private investments in projects;
Calls for an increased support, on behalf of the European Union, in the form of technical assistance (as, for example, through programmes like « Euromed Aviation II » or « Euromed Road, Rail and Urban Transport ») and as « lessons learned » from the TEN-T policy;
Stresses the need for a higher allocation of funds, including through public-private partnerships, for priority infrastructure projects and the development of maritime, land and rail corridors in the Euro-Mediterranean region;
Emphasizes the importance of financing large infrastructure projects, especially in the context of economic recovery, while helping to fight against climate change by promoting modal shift to environmentally friendly transport modes, and calls for the establishment of a reinforced financial framework in this respect;
Invites all stakeholders to ensure reliable and sufficient funds to ensure the success of the investment required for transport infrastructure as well as for projects related in operations by :
— establishing multi-annual national plans of financing and investment;
— mobilization of regional and international sources of funding for priority projects;
— promoting public-private partnerships (PPP);
— the issuance of Eurobonds;
— the creation of innovative financing formulas that allow the financing of long term projects;
Asks the European Commission and all stakeholders involved in the debate of the review of the Trans European Transport Network, and in view of the future financial perspectives, to take into account the Euro-Mediterranean dimension and the conclusions adopted by the UfM on this issue.
Pays particular attention to ensure equitable training of human resources for transportation and for harmonizing technical and operations rules between countries.
Asks the Economic Committee of the PA-UfM to be in charge of the follow-up of these recommendations;
Suggests the enhancement of cooperation among the national authorities in charge of observation of transport developments and data in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
UfM Projects — Assessment and Vision for the future
Having regard to the final declaration of the Union for the Mediterranean Summit of 13 July 2008 in Paris,
Having regard to the final declaration of the Union for the Mediterranean Conference of ministers of foreign affairs of 3 and 4 November 2008 in Marseille,
Having regard to the recommendations adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean at its previous plenary sessions,
Having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 20 May 2010 on the Union for the Mediterranean,
Considers that the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) must play a leading role in meeting the social and economic challenges faced by the Euro-Mediterranean region as a whole, since it provides an ideal framework for promoting regional integration, strengthening multilateral links and supporting growth and prosperity; emphasises the need to continue implementing UfM projects relating to SMEs, business development, transport, energy, the environment, education and social affairs;
Deplores the repeated postponement of the second UfM Summit, the cancellation of several ministerial and sectoral meetings, and the resignation on 26 January 2011 of the Secretary General of the UfM Secretariat; deplores the delay in the UfM's operational launch following the establishment of its secretariat; calls, therefore, on the Secretariat to finalise as soon as possible the regulatory framework establishing the criteria for project selection, funding methods, monitoring procedures and coordinating capacities; stresses the urgent need to clarify the rules on financial contributions by partner countries;
Recommends, further, the use of a more operational and technical approach in order to overcome political obstacles and move ahead with projects; considers that such an approach will create positive momentum for the revival of the UfM and will help to restore a climate of dialogue and trust among member countries; supports proposals for closer cooperation, particularly in the fields of action of the UfM projects : De-pollution of the Mediterranean; Maritime and land highways; Civil protection; Alternative energies : Mediterranean solar plan; The Mediterranean Business Initiative; Higher education and research, Euro-Mediterranean University; applauds at this extent the progress made in setting up and development of the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI);
Reiterates its call for the UfM's six priority projects to be implemented; emphasises the need to strengthen the complementarities of these projects in order to ensure their success; calls for greater transparency in the selection, monitoring, coordination and funding of these projects; recalls that these are the main tasks of the UfM Secretariat, which it can perform successfully only if it functions properly and receives sufficient funding;
Draws attention, nevertheless, to the progress made with projects which are outside the UfM framework, but which contribute towards its goals; welcomes, in this respect, efforts to reduce pollution in the Mediterranean, industrial projects within the framework of the Mediterranean Solar Plan, and conclusions of the Arab Summit on climate change in November 2010 in Morocco and initiatives in the context of the InfraMed investment fund;
Urges to reduce gradually but rapidly the barriers between north-south and south-south in terms of technology, knowledge, trade and mobility and enforce for instance the cooperation with regard to clean energy from south to north by creating appropriate grids, relieve the congested waterway of the Mediterranean through the rapid implementation of a powerful railroad from Rabat to Cairo for environmentally friendly transport of goods and passengers as well as to review the ENP to the effect of eradicating any barriers here while improving the investment security and rule of law;
Notes that the economic and financial crisis has strained the UfM's funding capacities; recommends the use of a variety of different forms of financing, depending on the operation to be carried out, including accountable microfinance, public-private partnerships and efforts to seek synergies among the different funding sources as a means of bridging the project-funding gap; encourages the presentation of new ideas to improve cooperation and coordination among private and public players in southern Mediterranean development funding; considers that UfM funding provision must be consistent with the principles of co-financing and co-management between the countries on the two shores of the Mediterranean; feels that this type of approach will establish a basis of shared responsibility and place all partners on an equal footing;
Recalls the UfM's commitment to support the establishment of a deepened free trade area in the Euro-Mediterranean region and enhanced regional and sub-regional economic integration; considers that the establishment of a free trade area on the southern shore of the Mediterranean and between the North and the South will lead to stronger links and increased trade and investment amongst the partner countries, thus helping to bridge the North-South divide; calls, therefore, for the Agadir Agreement to be implemented properly and extended to all eligible Mediterranean partners; stresses the importance of increasing complementarity between North-South bilateral cooperation and multilateral Euro-Mediterranean cooperation;
Calls for the lifting of existing barriers and economic obstacles between Northern and Southern countries of the Mediterranean region, so as to achieve economic and social integration;
Calls for structural reforms to be speeded up, with a view to improving the legal and economic environment, attracting investment and encouraging business start-ups; draws attention to the importance of SMEs as a motor for growth and job creation; emphasises the need to continue removing obstacles to their development; advocates improvements to education and in-service training, accompanied by measures to increase and diversify employment opportunities; calls for the revision of the selective immigration policy which produces the negative results of a brain drain and the mass exodus of young people and qualified workers for the countries of origin to the detriment of their own development, even though they are adopting huge training budgets in order to retain this labour force for the benefit of their national economy : welcomes the progress made in terms of women's integration into economic life; calls for more support to be given to business networks, such as Invest in Med and BUSINESSMED, which provide a structure conducive to best-practice exchanges and the development of synergies in the areas of investment and UfM project funding;
Is delighted by the success of the first summit of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), held on 29 January 2011, which set concrete goals for raising awareness of water-related problems and technology transfer; expresses its support for this Assembly and its role in increasing the involvement of civil society and locally-elected representatives in the implementation of the six priority projects and in providing a practical response to local needs and the concerns of local people; reiterates its stance in favour of the establishment of a formal dialogue within the UfM framework, embracing civil society, non-governmental organisations, business associations and employers » and trade union bodies;
Calls for establishing an emergency group in the Euro-Mediterranean region confronting the issues in transferring citizens in the event of disasters with a proper financing;
Emphasizes the need of making the necessary efforts to enable the success of the six major sectorial lines of UfM projects, and highlights, in this respect, the importance that should be granted, on short and medium term, to the following points :
a) Establishment of a suitable framework for generating new jobs. In this respect, increased efforts should be done for organizing large-scale training programmes, including vocational training, according to the needs of the labor market. Production structures must be created that will allow the creation of new jobs and the manufacturing of competitive products for domestic and foreign markets. A strong commitment of cooperation of the countries of northern and southern Mediterranean is critical for achieving this objective.
b) The EU and Mediterranean Partners face common energy challenges. The diversification and security of energy supplies, transportation and markets, the deepening of energy market reforms, the development and modernization of energy infrastructures, improving energy efficiency, energy savings and the use of renewable energy sources are key concerns and opportunities for all countries.
In this sense, it is essential that the southern Mediterranean countries also take advantage of projects to supply solar energy to households. The solar energy plan should reverse positively on access to electrical power of the countries of the South and, in the same time, it could also contribute to the provision of energy to the countries of the north.
c) Education and research are shaping factors of a common Mediterranean future. Establishing a common educational culture within the region is a key to addressing challenges in other sectors and formulating a professional and cooperative way of thinking of the youth in the region. A means to achieving this goal would be to promote the obtaining of visas for students, as a first step towards a vision of the EU's four freedoms for the Euro-Mediterranean region. A means to achieving this goal would be to promote the obtaining of visas for students, as a first step towards a vision of the EU's four freedoms for the Euro-Mediterranean region.
The promotion of university cooperation will contribute to the establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean Higher Education, Science and Research Network. In this respect is important to fully use the possibilities offered by existing higher education cooperation programmes such as Tempus and Erasmus Mundus.
The Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI), seated in Slovenia, as its network is an important partner and a useful asset in the achievement of the aims in this area. For making a better use of all cooperation programmes, it is important that a great deal of attention is granted to increasing language skills. Youngsters should be prepared to communicate and work in different languages, like Arabic and English, but also French or Spanish for its international projection or other languages that could be of great help on the labor market.
d) Transport has always occupied a leading position in the Euro-Med partnership, specifically, in the elaboration of an integrated and efficient transport network in the region, and conducive to trade, economic development and integration.
As regards transport cooperation, the Paris Declaration identified as priority field of action within the UfM, the development of maritime and land highways.
During the year of 2011 it should be defined a plan of maritime and air connections that is designed in a North-South approach and not only in the terms of South-South and North-North that govern most of present tours by boat and plane.
Likewise increased investments should be made on the southern shore of the Mediterranean to improve the ports and airports. Airlines should be encouraged to further increase their routes between North and South.
BIJLAGE 3
RECOMMENDATION
Committee on Improving Quality of Life, Exchanges between Civil Societies and Culture on the topics of :
« Immigration and integration : building a culture of peace by means of dialogue between new generations »
Co-rapporteur Patrick Le Hyaric — European Parliament
Co-rapporteur Abdelkarim Korichi — Algerian National Council
« Dialogue between cultures and religions : towards a Mediterranean charter of values »
Rapporteur : Mr. Ioannis Kasoulides — European Parliament
« The Mediterranean heritage : the preservation of archaeological sites »
Rapporteur : Mr. Kriton Arsenis — European Parliament
The Committee on Improving Quality of Life, Exchanges between Civil Societies and Culture :
On immigration and integration : building a culture of peace by means of dialogue between new generations
— having regard to the final statement of the Barcelona Process : Union for the Mediterranean ministerial conference held in Marseille on 3-4 November 2008, in which ministers stated that « the issue of migration should be an integral part of the regional partnership », and emphasised that « promoting orderly-managed legal migration in the interest of all parties concerned, fighting illegal migration and fostering links between migration and development are issues of common interest »,
— having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament of 4 December 2006 on Strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) (COM(2006)726 final), in which the Commission stated that « mobility of persons is of the utmost importance also for all ENP partners »,
— having regard to the conclusions adopted at the first Euro-Mediterranean ministerial conference on Migration held in the Algarve on 18 and 19 November 2007,
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 10 May 2007 on Reforms in the Arab world : what strategy should the European Union adopt ? (P6_TA(2007)0179), in which it « calls on the Commission, the Council and the Member States to encourage exchanges of students, teachers, academics and researchers between the EU and Arab countries and to facilitate those exchanges through an adapted and more flexible visa regime »,
— having regard to The Stockholm Programme — An open and secure Europe serving and protecting the citizens (OJ 2010/C 115/01) as adopted by the European Council on 10 and 11 December 2009,
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 25 November 2009 entitled Multi-annual programme 2010-2014 regarding the area of freedom, security and justice (Stockholm programme) (P7_TA(2009)0090), in which it « considers that any comprehensive approach to immigration must take account of the « push factors » that lead people to leave their countries in the first place »,
— having regard to the 11th meeting of the Africa-EU Joint Task Force held on 20–21 October 2010 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, concerning the partnership on migration, mobility and employment,
— having regard to the statement approved by the representatives of the Member States at the European ministerial conference on integration on 3 and 4 November 2008, in which the ministers highlighted the fact that « acts of racism and xenophobia should also be effectively fought against »,
— having regard to the opinion of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (Jobs for Immigrants, Vol. 2), which states that mentoring is « a highly cost-effective way of helping young people of immigrant background into employment, as well as building links between them and the business community »,
— having regard to the previous recommendations by the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly's Committee on Improving Quality of Life, Exchanges between Civil Societies and Culture, in particular the recommendation adopted in Amman on 14 March 2010,
A. whereas the Mediterranean is a shared sea and the Mediterranean basin is an open geographical area where travel and trade have created a shared history and culture shaped by long-standing relations and constant migration between all the regions in the area,
B. whereas this shared history has created a melting pot of people and cultures, giving rise to a set of values, philosophies and beliefs in which cultural and religious dialogue are vital to mutual understanding,
C. whereas every integration process depends on dialogue between cultures and civilisations, and any break in this dialogue results in stigmatisation, isolation and exclusion for migrants and their descendants,
D. whereas the migratory flows have had a significant impact on the wealth and diversity of European culture, and successful integration of migrants is of mutual interest for migrants and for host countries,
E. whereas developments have occurred recently in a number of Mediterranean countries where the population has mobilised to demand democracy and respect for human rights and whereas these revolts are triggering significant population movements and creating humanitarian crises,
F. whereas slower population growth in the European Union will create an additional labour shortage and whereas the unprecedented shift in demographic growth trends in the Mediterranean basin to the benefit of Middle Eastern and North African countries represents a genuine social challenge for these countries,
G. whereas the countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean are simultaneously faced with the task of managing migration flows out of their countries and with transit migration from Africa,
H. whereas Europe's labour needs could play a stabilising role in the countries of the South provided that this does not lead to a skills drain or capital flight, and whereas economic development that is no longer based on oppressive relationships but on a strong partnership is the key to tackling future challenges,
I. whereas migration issues transcend regional boundaries and require global, integrated, coordinated and balanced analysis, and whereas convening a summit of Heads of Government of the countries of the Mediterranean area and of the EU would offer an opportunity to deal with migration issues at an appropriate level,
J. whereas any comprehensive approach to immigration must take into account the factors that lead to forced migration and cause people to leave their countries in the first place, such as wars, foreign occupation, discrimination, climate change and lack of prospects,
K. whereas every person has the right to leave their country,
L. whereas a restrictive policy on residence permits is hindering the free movement of people throughout the Mediterranean region,
M. whereas restrictive migration management policies on managing migration and the criminalisation of migrants are serving to encourage illegal immigration and the exploitation of migrants,
N. whereas unequal treatment and exploitation of migrants are putting pressure on local workers, are exacerbating xenophobia, extremism, populism and racism — fuelled by ignorance and fear of the other — and are at odds with the values of tolerance common to all countries in the Mediterranean area,
O. whereas according the same rights to migrant workers as to local workers recognises the contribution of migrants to the EU economy (labour, taxes, social contributions) and helps to reduce unfair competition, exploitation and social exclusion amongst workers from third countries,
Migration
1. states its commitment to the concept of the Mediterranean as an open political, economic, cultural and social area, in keeping with its long history;
2. takes the view that the establishment of a political, economic, cultural and social Euro-Mediterranean area must have as its objective the promotion of integration in a region with a unique and indispensable development potential for peace, stability and its economic growth;
3. considers that political, economic and social cooperation with the countries of origin of immigrant workers is the best way to channel migratory flows;
4. notes the uprisings in the Arab world are triggering new population movements and creating humanitarian crises to which solutions must be found; stresses in this connection the gravity of the exodus of the Libyan population towards Egypt and Tunisia and the movements of migrants heading for Italy on the island of Lampedusa;
5. recalls that, in accordance with Article 19 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which is an integral and legally binding part of European law, no one may be removed, expelled or extradited to a State where there is a serious risk that he or she would be subjected to the death penalty, torture or other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment », and that « collective expulsions are prohibited »; insists that all migration legislation must comply with this inalienable principle;
6. condemns the criminalisation of migrants by means of legislation, and stresses that the effect of such policies is to force migrants to travel illegally and by increasingly dangerous routes;
7. calls for the establishment of a common Euro-Mediterranean policy to manage South-North migratory flows which affect both the Northern African transit countries and the EU as a whole;
8. eiterates that Frontex must comply with the « non-refoulement » principle, and therefore calls for a supervisory framework for that Agency's activities that would guarantee protection for migrants and ensure that they know their rights;
9. expects full respect for the fundamental rights of migrants who are returned to transit countries or countries of origin that have signed readmission agreements with the European Union or Member States;
10. questions, therefore, the safeguards for the respect of fundament rights of migrants contained in the policies of subcontracting migration control in transit countries and migrants » countries of origin;
11. considers it necessary to strengthen partnership agreements in order to assist transit countries to step up their cooperation with European authorities or with Member States with regard to migration control and readmission;
12. calls for the implementation of a Euro-Mediterranean visa policy for students and researchers in order to promote cultural, scientific and technological exchanges;
North-South and South-South university exchanges
13. believes that greater mobility for students from both sides of the Mediterranean would foster greater cultural integration;
14. calls on the EU, with the aim of bringing together the educational systems of the EU and the countries in the South of the Mediterranean, to strengthen Erasmus Mundus for the establishment of a genuine Euro-Mediterranean university exchange framework;
15. stresses the importance of rapidly implementing the UfM's projects as part of North-South cooperation so as to allow students and teachers to circulate easily; refers in this connection to the importance of EMUNI and suggests that Mediterranean universities should use the Erasmus Mundus programme which has a very important student mobility dimension for the region, in particular for MA and PhD students;
Protection of migrants
16. calls for migrants to be guaranteed the right to adequate protection against exploitation; emphasises that in this regard a positive first step would be to ratify the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and invites Member States to sign and ratify this convention as soon as possible;
17. calls for the process of laying down common criteria for a European Asylum System to be guided by principles consistent with the rights and dignity of those seeking protection;
18. considers that a European policy on reception arrangements for refugees is an indispensable means of protecting refugees and of relieving the pressure on transit countries on both sides of the Mediterranean and preventing asylum seekers from turning to illegal migration;
Employment and residence conditions
19. emphasises the importance of completely equal treatment for local and migrant workers : equal employment conditions (wages, working hours, demands of the job, occupational health, redundancy, union representation, working conditions), equal social protection and equal access to public services and public sector jobs, in accordance with Article 15 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
20. stresses that any differences in treatment, especially in the workplace, can create imbalances that can have a negative effect on the job market, on working conditions for migrants and on the perception of immigration amongst local workers;
21. calls on the EU Member States to make a concerted effort to combat all types of discrimination suffered by migrants;
22. believes that it would be easier to combat the exploitation and exclusion of migrants and undeclared work if migrants with work obtained a residence permit, which would assist their integration;
23. recalls that the right to respect for private and family life as laid down in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights applies to everyone, including migrants; respects the policy of applying the Family Reunification Directive;
Integration
24. encourages a two-way policy which does not make immigrants solely responsible for their own integration, but divides this responsibility equally between immigrants and their host countries;
25. encourages the EU to include in its policies support for the national policies for the integration of immigrants;
26. calls on the EU Member States and regional and local authorities to adopt policies promoting integration by measures of inclusion based on the principles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, learning the language, familiarisation with the host country's institutions and participation in civic life, and emphasises that recognising the right of long-term residents to vote in local elections, on a reciprocal basis, is an important first step towards involving migrants in the daily life of the host country;
27. calls on the EU Member States and the countries of the Mediterranean area to ensure that the International Convention on the Rights of the Child is enforced, regardless of whether children come from inside or outside the EU;
28. calls on the EU Member States to fulfil their obligation to provide schooling for all children without exception and to strive to prevent children from dropping out of school;
29. invites the countries of the Mediterranean area and of the European Union to remedy their ignorance about the other side of the Mediterranean by incorporating the history of the Mediterranean area and of migration into school curricula, by encouraging the making of documentaries about European and Mediterranean countries and by making cultural exchange visas easier to acquire;
30. calls on the European Union to take an active role in promoting dialogue between cultures and civilisations in order to bring people closer and encourage integration and to promote programmes for the integration of citizens residing in the EU, providing a greater access to EU funds to civil society groups working on projects that promote the integration of migrants;
31. calls on the EU Member States to make a concerted effort to incorporate social integration strategies into urban policies;
32. emphasises the importance of the geographical integration of vulnerable groups into the urban fabric, local public services and housing programmes;
Combating racism, xenophobia and discrimination
33. strongly condemns any form of discrimination or stigmatisation on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social situation, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status, as set out in Article 14 of the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights;
34. condemns the political exploitation of fear of the other, and the acceptance as normal of any populist discourse that stigmatises certain categories or groups of people according to their social or geographical origin, their membership of a religious community or their association with such a community;
35. calls for coordination between the European institutions and Member States to combat discrimination and exclusion;
36. calls for decisive action to combat violence against migrant women, who suffer twofold discrimination on the grounds of sex and background;
37. calls for immigrant workers » countries of origin to grant reciprocal treatment to European workers travelling and residing in them;
On dialogue between cultures and religions : towards a Mediterranean charter of values
— having regard to the 1995 Barcelona Declaration stipulating that « a greater understanding among the major religions present in the Euro-Mediterranean region will facilitate greater mutual tolerance and cooperation »;
— having regard to the draft report on the motion for a European Parliament resolution on the cultural dimensions of the EU's external actions (2010/216(INI));
— having regard to the adopted conclusions of the third Euro-Mediterranean ministerial Conference on Culture, held in Athens on 29-30 May 2008;
— having regard to the previous recommendations tabled on behalf of the Committee on Improving Quality of Life, Exchanges between Civil Society and Culture at the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly plenary sessions, in particular the ones adopted at the Plenary in Brussels, 16 March 2009;
— having regard to the third EMUNI General Assembly, 27 November 2010, where 140 Universities from 32 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean were represented;
— having regard to the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations Regional Strategy for the Mediterranean adopted on 9 November 2010 in Malta;
— having regard to the publication of The Anna Lindh Report — Euro-Med Intercultural Trends 2010;
— having regard to the international human rights conventions anchored in the signed and ratified International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;
A. whereas the promotion and defence of common values amongst the Euro-Mediterranean countries is the means to foster the Euro-Mediterranean partnership,
B. whereas the advancement and the safeguarding of common values need continuous efforts for improving understanding and cooperative relations among nations and peoples across cultures and religions,
C. whereas the spontaneous widespread demonstrations that are taking place in some partner countries of the Southern shore show the desire of the people in the region for the shared common values of democracy, freedom of expression and assembly and respect for human rights,
D. whereas the sharing of common Euro-Mediterranean values is a fundamental step for the creation of a favourable environment of peace and stability, enabling economic, social and cultural development,
E. whereas the role of the political authorities to promote, to respect and to facilitate agreement on common Euro-Mediterranean values is essential,
F. whereas the essential role of the civil society is to facilitate the process of developing the Euro-Mediterranean relations and to enable a greater understanding and closeness between peoples across cultural, religious and national frontiers,
1. strongly believes that the promotion of an « Euro-Mediterranean Charter of Values » will represent a crucial step for the foundation of a new and stronger Union for the Mediterranean;
2. believes that the joining together on common and shared values will be the groundwork for setting new and ambitious goals grounded on a concept of « political, economic and social cohesion » for the entire Euro-Mediterranean region;
3. considers that a new Union for the Mediterranean founded on shared values would serve for the creation of a favourable environment of peace and stability, enabling economic, social and cultural development;
4. decides to draft a Charter for Euro-Mediterranean Values, as a contribution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean;
5. urges a wide debate among the political leaders of the Euro-Mediterranean region and the setting up of an Euro-Mediterranean Convention with a view to putting up a « Euro-Mediterranean Charter of Values »;
6. considers that Euro-Mediterranean could aim to become a fundamental and influent region with durable economic, social and cultural development as long as it is founded on the promotion of universal values of peace, democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, the protection of the human being and its fundamental freedoms, tolerance, sustainable economic development; these can be shared by different cultures, while recognising the specificities of each of them;
7. welcomes all non-governmental efforts and initiatives in the field of cultural dialogue which pursue the above-mentioned objectives and, in this respect, confirms its support for the Anna Lindh Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures;
8. encourages the Euro-Mediterranean Youth Platform for its actions to promote an environment of tolerance and mutual understanding;
9. encourages and supports the organisation of seminars, conferences and training sessions of young political leaders for the promotion of common values, as a concrete contribution to the building of a new area of peace and freedom;
10. underlines the importance of translation as a means to develop the cultural exchange and mutual understanding and calls on Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) to encourage the publication and distribution of works as projects to be financed by the UfM;
11. encourages all opinion leaders, including media, to honour their responsibility in their role as opinion shaper, by promoting universal values of defence, respect and tolerance of cultural differences;
12. welcomes the efforts of EMUNI, all governments, universities and research institutions in expanding the educational networks as well as intensifying cooperation among stakeholders across the Mediterranean;
13. welcomes the emphasis put on Education and Research in the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat's work programme and the identified priority of facilitating exchange programmes for students and for teachers among the universities. Asks the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat to present a detailed program of activities for 2011.
On the Mediterranean heritage : the preservation of archaeological sites
— having regard to the previous recommendations of the Committee on Improving Quality of Life, Exchanges between Civil Societies and Culture, in particular the specific recommendations tabled during the Amman 2010 plenary on the issue of Euro-Mediterranean culture, education and common history,
— having regard to the agreed conclusions of the first Euro-Mediterranean ministerial Conference on Tourism, 2 and 3 April 2008,
— having regard to the resolution of the European Parliament of 10 April 2008 on A European agenda for culture in a globalising world (P6_TA(2008)0124),
— having regard to the adopted recommendation of the workshop Heritage Economics and Conservation Funding in Damascus 6-8 June 2010, hosted by the Syrian Ministry of Culture in association with Euromed Heritage IV,
— having regard to the Euromed Heritage IV workshop on Management of Heritage Places and Artefacts, hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, 17-19 May 2010,
— having regard to the resolution of the European parliament of 16 December 2010 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Union action for the European Heritage Label (P7_TA(2010)0486),
— having regard to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (The World Heritage Convention),
— having regard to the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property,
— having regard to the European Landscape Convention,
— having regard to the European Convention for the Protection of Archaeological Heritage,
— having regard to the ICOMOS Charter for the Protection and Management of the Archaeological Heritage,
— having regard to the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean (ICZM),
— having regard to the report on « Predicting and managing the impacts of Climate Change on World Heritage » from UNESCO's World Heritage Centre,
A. whereas 240 or approximately 25 % of all archaeological sites classified by UNESCO are to be found in and around the Mediterranean basin,
B whereas archaeological sites, including their historical landscapes, are indispensable components both of local and transborder identity, fostering integration and greater social cohesion in wider regions and local communities,
C. whereas archaeological heritage is a comparative advantage for the development of tourism and a prerequisite for its long-term sustainability,
D. whereas archaeological heritage is a non-renewable resource which places great responsibility on the current generation to preserve heritage sites,
E. whereas monuments, archaeological sites and their historic landscapes are often threatened by uncontrolled development, extreme urbanisation, neglect, armed conflict and war,
F. whereas large scale infrastructures, such as river diversions, dams, ports, highways and mining projects often threaten the integrity of archaeological sites and their landscapes,
G. whereas the looting of archaeological sites and the growing illicit trade in antiquities cause an immense loss to our historical patrimony,
H. whereas some of the most important archaeological treasures of the Mediterranean have been expatriated,
I. whereas atmospheric pollution is a major deteriorating agent causing corrosion of materials in archaeological sites, especially those located in and around urban areas,
J. whereas climate change is an anthropogenic phenomenon that increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather conditions and leads to the gradual increase of the sea level, threatening continental, coastal and underwater archaeological sites,
K. whereas forest fires, desertification and soil degradation threaten archaeological sites and their landscapes,
L. whereas the natural enhancement of local ecosystem resilience is the most cost-efficient measure for climate change adaptation and mitigation,
M. whereas flora and fauna biodiversity of the archaeological sites, is indispensable and of high historical significance,
N. whereas integrated management, education and promotion of cultural heritage could serve as an instrument for intensifying the economic, cultural and political exchanges of the two shores of the Mediterranean basin,
— calls on the EU and the Mediterranean countries, regions and local authorities to undertake continued investments in archaeological research and the integrated restoration and conservation of archaeological sites, as also to increase the material resources for preventive archaeology, with the aim of preserving our culturally rich landscapes and archaeological sites that are to be inherited by future generations;
— calls on the Mediterranean countries to take concrete measures for the protection and restoration of the landscape surrounding archaeological sites as a matter of urgency;
— to this end calls on the Mediterranean countries as a matter of urgency, to develop, improve and reinforce the implementation of land use strategies, integrated plans and programmes controlling urbanization in all historical landscapes;
— calls for a more sensitive approach, within the scope of preventive archaeology, when planning large scale infrastructures, seeking all possible alternatives to preserve the integrity and authenticity of archaeological sites and their landscapes;
— emphasises the urgent need for financial support to strategies aiming at the protection and recording of underwater archaeological sites in the Mediterranean;
— calls on the Mediterranean countries to take every necessary measure to naturally enhance ecosystem resilience around archaeological sites and ensure that actions taken in the context of climate change mitigation and adaptation do not have adverse effects on archaeological sites and their historical landscapes;
— calls for the implementation of policies targeting air pollution, the enhancement of anti-pollution actions and control measures and the monitoring of the pollutant's concentrations near archaeological sites;
— calls for the implementation of risk-management policies in archaeological sites and their surrounding landscape;
— urges the Mediterranean countries to strengthen legislation and enhance action to control the illicit antiquities market, stop the looting of cultural monuments and preserve our shared past;
— calls for the return of antiquities to the archaeological sites and site museums of origin. To this end, asks for the reunification of the Parthenon marbles;
— encourages the promotion of the Mediterranean archaeological heritage by developing and disseminating best practices with respect to ecotourism, and the financial support of sustainable tourism projects, which enjoy the active participation of local communities;
— emphasizes that the promotion of the rural environment presupposes an approach which prioritizes rural tourism and microcredit; rural tourism has the potential to develop the rural environment, while microcredit is a useful means of achieving that objective; rural tourism thus implies the creation of wealth and job creating activities, alongside traditional agricultural activity;
— calls for the promotion of partnerships to develop tourism and the exploitation of archaeological sites, by optimising risks and benefits in a way which is attractive to the parties concerned;
— emphasises the need to develop initiatives that highlight the symbolic value of sites which have played a significant role in the interaction of people around the Mediterranean;
— welcomes the ongoing projects that aim at promoting sustainable tourism and strategies of territorial planning through the valorisation of the Roman Empire archaeological sites,
— emphasises the need for similar projects focusing on promoting sustainable tourism around archaeological sites relating to the Greek, the Phoenician, the Arab, the Byzantine and other cultures along the Mediterranean coasts, as such projects can foster cooperation between Mediterranean countries on a cultural level;
— emphasises the need for elaborate and transnational programmes that develop national skills and technical expertise and that provide training for professionals in the area of heritage;
— STRESSES the importance of the digitization and documentation of the Mediterranean cultural heritage. To this end, calls on the Mediterranean countries to create a publicly accessible database of all Mediterranean archaeological sites;
18. instructs its President to forward this Recommendation to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European Commission, the Euro-Mediterranean ministers for Culture, Education and the Environment in preparation for future ministerial meetings, the General Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean and the appropriate institutions of the member countries of the UfM.
BIJLAGE 4
RECOMMENDATION
Approved by the
Committee on Women's Rights in the Euro-Mediterranean countries. On the following topics :
Women and illiteracy in the Euro-Mediterranean Region :
Rapporteurs : Mme. Malika Benarab-Attou (PE) and Mme. Fatiha bakkali (Morocco)
Promotion of the role of women : her involvement in economic life as the best tool to having access to decision-making positions :
Rapporteurs : M. Marc Tarabella (PE)
The Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly,
— having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948,
— having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights entered into force on 23 March 1976,
— having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of 2 September 1989 and the Optional Protocols,
— having regard to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women of 18 December 1979,
— having regard to Decision No 1098/2008/CE of the European Parliament and the Council of 22 October 2008 on the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion (2010),
— having regard to the Declaration of the Paris Summit for the Mediterranean, held in Paris on 13 July 2008,
— having regard to the final statement issued at the meeting of ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Union for the Mediterranean, held in Marseille on 3 and 4 November 2008,
— having regard to the objectives of the 2010 Millennium Development Goals,
— having regard to the forthcoming 10th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security,
— having regard to the conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean ministerial Conference on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society, held in Istanbul (November 2006) and Marrakech (November 2009),
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 20 May 2010 on the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), which calls for the adoption of a project under the auspices of the UfM on the subject of women's entrepreneurship and their participation in public life,
— having regard to the Commission's Strategy Paper for the Thematic Programme 2007-2013, which includes the empowerment of women and makes provision for a specific budget to improve the skills of non-state actors involved in promoting women's civil and political rights and their economic and social empowerment in the battle against gender stereotypes in the Mediterranean countries covered by the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI),
— having regard to the recommendations approved by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean at its sixth plenary session, held in Amman on 13 and 14 March 2010,
A. Whereas education is a fundamental right according to which every person- child, teenager and adult — shall benefit from an education designed to meet the basic learning needs, in the broadest sense of the term;
B. Considering that the right to education is essential to the exercise of all other rights and fundamental freedoms; considering that it aims both to promote individual freedom and autonomy and to allow effective participation in society;
C. Whereas one of the eight Millennium Development Goals aims at achieving universal primary education for all; whereas 189 UN member states are signatories of the Declaration of 23 September 2000 on the MDGs and committed themselves to meet its targets by 2015;
D. Whereas, according to statistics from the UNESCO and the UNDP, illiteracy in Arab countries was estimated at 27.6 % between 2005 and 2008, meaning 60 million people including 39 million women;
E.Whereas the main victims of non-school attendance are girls, for whom the rate is 58.4 %.
F. Considering that gender discrimination is a major obstacle to the exercise of the right to education and underlining, to this end, the importance of improving and strengthening women literacy in order to promote girls » education;
G. Whereas progress has been made in recent years in terms of access to primary education especially in Southern Mediterranean countries; stressing the continuing gap between boys and girls, noting that 66 % of non-enrolled school-age children in North Africa are girls, according to the 2010 report on the MDGs;
H. Whereas there are strong correlations between illiteracy and poverty and differences between rural and urban areas remain important; whereas other factors related to quality of life such as violence, disability, conflicts and social disintegration have a strong impact on the possibilities to access to education;
I. Whereas the scourge of illiteracy feeds on poverty and ignorance and provides fertile ground for violence and extremism.
J. Whereas education has a vital role to play in preventing conflict and building long-lasting stability and peace;
K. Whereas a decrease of illiteracy and better access to education would allow more space for debate and freedom in Southern Mediterranean countries affected by recent democratic movements;
L. Whereas education is the best way to bring about the social changes needed to make effective progress towards good governance and thereby help to resolve conflicts and to consolidate progress towards democracy as a means of social transformation;
M. Whereas education and training can break the vicious circle of inequality, although it is essential that the reforms undertaken should go hand in hand with economic and social reforms;
N. Whereas gender equality is not only a basic human right, but working towards it has significant socio-economic ramifications. Empowering women helps economies thrive and boosts productivity and growth;
O. Expressing grave concern at the flagrant violation of women's human rights in the context of the current economic and democratic crisis;
P. Whereas the failure to break down social and economic barriers and the relegation of subjects relating to equal opportunities between men and women to the bottom of government agendas have ensured that the role of women in economic and political life has not been strengthened;
Q. Whereas there is still some way to go before all women in the MENA region can develop their potential and make a full contribution to the economy and society;
R. Whereas gender issues and improvements to the situation of women need to be part of public policies on sustainable development. This presupposes that women can participate in decision-making, particularly in relation to agriculture and biodiversity;
S. Whereas women's participation in public life and especially in decision-making processes, is crucial. This participation must include not only devising and managing projects, but also monitoring and evaluating them. The gender-based approach must be mainstreamed in all public policies. Although political will is essential, it is also crucial that additional funds should be earmarked to achieve these objectives;
T. Whereas it is not possible to talk about political and economic development without talking about women's participation, since there is a direct correlation between the economic weakness of a country and women's involvement in economic life. In the southern Mediterranean, women are starting to become the drivers of economic and cultural growth, but there is still much to be done to eliminate gender inequalities in that region;
U. Whereas a stronger, healthier and fairer economy, in the MENA region and in the rest of the world, will be possible only if the balance between men and women in business is improved and if the enormous productive potential of women is released. If women are not empowered, half the economy is under-utilised;
V. Whereas women are largely relegated to more precarious forms of employment and are over-represented in the informal sector, which offers no security and social advantages, while top-level jobs are still mainly the preserve of men;
W. Whereas stereotypes concerning women's unfitness for certain jobs exist in every society, often bolstered by the importance attached to respecting tradition, and play an important part in excluding women from certain occupations, such as manual trades (plumbers, masons, joiners) or jobs related to security (firefighters, police officers);
X. Whereas women are slowly achieving political power, albeit mainly when quotas and other special measures are put in place to encourage them; positive discrimination remains the main driver of women's progress;
Y. Whereas expenditure on women's support programmes is a highly profitable investment, as women's productivity constitutes an excellent investment opportunity;
Z. Having regard to the development of micro-finance, which emerged in the 1990s in the Mediterranean countries and has enjoyed official status in Libya, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia since the late 1990s; for women, micro-finance represents an effective way of combating poverty, achieving financial independence and increasing employment rates;
AA. Having regard to the example of Morocco, where 77 % of the customers of micro-finance institutions are women;
BB. Whereas in many countries women have entered the labour market on equal terms with men, but the additional workload borne by women has not always been recognised;
CC. Whereas the attitude public authorities adopt towards women in their personnel policies needs to be improved in many respects : legal standards, recruitment and promotion on merit, budgetary policies, capacity building and measures to improve the work-life balance;
DD. Whereas the four key areas in which action is needed in order to integrate women into economic life are women's access to and participation in the labour market, business start-ups (micro, small and medium) by women, financial tools, and education and training;
EE. Whereas, in the face of piecemeal measures and funding, it is essential to join forces and create new momentum by sharing best practices;
FF. Supporting civil society's efforts to promote gender equality and women's rights in local development and support women's participation in politics and local decision-making processes, promoting dialogue with local authorities and actors on local development and the socio-economic strategies that can liberate women, and supporting gender-sensitive budget initiatives;
1. Welcomes all initiatives — global conferences, national action plans, measures and strategies taken at the international, European and national levels in order to promote literacy and access to education; considers that, despite the progress accomplished, fight against illiteracy must be a top priority for all Euro-Mediterranean countries;
2. Believes that the right to education, as a fundamental right, is both a matter of public health and a prerequisite to sustainable development; as such, recalls the commitments from UN Members » states to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals by 2015;
3. Stresses that the education of girls remains a major challenge and stresses the importance of eliminating gender inequalities in primary and secondary schools, of achieving equality by ensuring fair and unrestricted access, for girls and women, to basic and quality education, with equal chance of success;
4. Recalls that the right to education as an inclusive principle should include not only formal education but also early childhood education and literacy programs and acquisition of skills that are useful in everyday's life; hereby stresses the importance of using both formal and informal approaches in order to take into account the needs of disadvantaged people, including rural population and nomads in isolated areas, ethnic and linguistic minorities, children, youth and adults affected by some conflicts;
5. Calls upon all Euro-Mediterranean countries to fully implement all international conventions relating to children's rights, access to education for all and equality of opportunity between men and women, to lift existing reserves to those rights and translate them into national legislation;
6. Welcomes the putting in place by Morocco of post-literacy programmes for adults aimed at providing them with vocational skills, in association with new governmental partners : the General Directorate of Local Collectivities, the Human Rights Advisory Council and the Partnership for Development Agency;
7. Believes that the European Neighbourhood Policy should put greater emphasis on the right to education, through the promotion and issuing of visas for students and teachers, and make it a priority within the framework of its strategic revision, using all technical and financial means to its disposal in order to support ambitious and holistic literacy programmes;
8. Suggests to develop partnerships between schools of the two sides of the Mediterranean and to favour establishments promoting girls education and, more broadly, respecting the right to public, quality, free and accessible education for all;
9. Encourages the Arab immigrants who live in the West to share their acquired skills in order to contribute to developing education in their countries of origin;
10. Underlines that the implementation of literacy policies must be part of a more global programme, aiming to establish political, economic and cultural conditions favourable to literacy for all;
11. Recommends that policies, programmes and literacy projects be conceived on the basis of concrete and necessarily differentiated demand of populations, and be completed by research and evaluation programmes.
12. Emphasises the need for more in-depth analysis of the role of women's rights in the context of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, with a particular focus on areas requiring improvement and on the increased support that should be provided to civil society organisations working in this field, so that the numerous initiatives under way can receive the assistance they deserve from the EU;
13. Calls for the gender dimension to be incorporated into association agreements through the inclusion of a special section on the protection of women's rights, and for women's participation in negotiations on such agreements to be regarded as a prerequisite for the balanced implementation of the future free trade area; suggests that the gender dimension could be integrated more fully into political dialogue with partner countries by establishing effective partnerships with public authorities, civil society, academics and international organisations, inter alia, with a view to dialogue on gender equality and development;
14. Calls on the Commission and the UfM to supply information concerning the fulfilment of financial commitments to support active participation of women in economic and social life and in development, action programmes designed to promote education and training for women and access to the labour market, and efforts to boost the role of women in business;
15. Recommends that the Commission financially supports civil society organisations and bodies working on specific projects to combat stereotypes relating to women's work;
16. Recommends promoting the appropriate microcredit programmes which can help businesswomen faced with laws restricting women's access to bank loans; takes the view that microcredit programmes should be part of a series of measures, including training in the skills needed on the labour market and efforts to simplify access to land and other assets and resources; advises the Commission to encourage the Member States to follow Morocco's example in promoting micro-finance and helping to develop access to microcredit;
17. Encourages the participation of women in social dialogue and collective bargaining, and, in particular, greater representation of women in marginalised economic sectors; takes the view that trade unions should be strengthened and professional bodies involved in a social dialogue that encompasses the gender dimension, including through the introduction of quotas for the number of women in management positions;
18. Emphasises that the conclusions and recommendations of the Second Euro-Mediterranean ministerial Conference on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society, held in Marrakesh on 11 and 12 November 2009, must lead to political decisions and practical action, in particular as regards the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean observatory on gender equality and of a Euro-Mediterranean network of academics and scientists working in the gender studies field, designed to serve as a forum for exchanges and for the coordination of local development projects involving women in the region;
19. Calls for the decisions taken at the Marrakesh ministerial Conference to be included in the conclusions of all Euro-Mediterranean ministerial meetings, and asks that they be incorporated fully and effectively into existing instruments, namely the ENP, the UfM, partner countries » national action plans and all regional partnership agreements;
20. Recommends recognising the full citizenship of all women living in the Euro-Mediterranean area, including migrant women, and guaranteeing their social, political, economic and legal right; this includes the recognition of their equal rights as regards the inheritance of assets, the ownership and transfer of property and access to employment, and of the principle of equal work for equal pay;
21. Calls on the Commission to step up its role as an investor and partner, and to develop specific guidelines on responsible investments that help to reduce social inequality;
22. Instructs the President of the Assembly to forward this recommendation to the Co-presidency of the « the Barcelona Process : Union for the Mediterranean » and its Secretary General, to the Speaker of parliaments and governments of member countries of « the Barcelona Process : Union for the Mediterranean », to the Euro- Mediterranean ministerial Conference of Foreign affairs, to the Presidency of the European Union, to the European Parliament, to the European Commission, as well as to all the institutions concerned.
BIJLAGE 5
RECOMMENDATION COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND WATER
On the following topics :
— The Creation of Marine Parks in the Mediterranean as a Means of preserving Biodiversity
— Protection of the Marine Environment
— Waste Management in the Coastal Regions of the Mediterranean
Rapporteur topic 1 :
Italy — Mr. Luigi Ramponi
Rapporteurs topic 2 :
European Parliament — Mrs. Antonyia Parvanova (ALDE, Bulgaria)
Morocco — Mr. Hamid Narjisse
Austria — Mr. Stefan Schennach
Rapporteurs topic 3
Turkey — Mr. Akif Akkuş
Croatia — Mr. Neven Mimica
On the creation of marine parks in the Mediterranean as a means of preserving biodiversity
Considering the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, defining the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of the world's seas and oceans, which entered into force in 1994 and has been signed so far by 161 countries;
Considering the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, a legal and operative instrument of the UN Mediterranean Action Plan, which has been so far ratified by 23 countries;
Especially considering the Barcelona Convention's Protocol concerning specially protected areas and biological diversity in the Mediterranean (SPA/BD) and the Protocol concerning offshore activities;
Considering the European Commission 2007 Guidelines for the extension of Natura 2000 also to the marine environment;
Considering the European Commission's Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC);
Considering the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament « Towards an Integrated Maritime Policy for better governance in the Mediterranean » (COM (2009) 466 final);
Considering the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), entered into force in 1993 and signed so far by 193 countries, which endorsed, amongst other things, a Strategic Plan 2010-2020 and a Plan for Marine and Coastal Biodiversity at its Tenth Conference at Nagoya in October 2010 (CDB/COP X/2,29);
Considering Census of marine life, an international research project on the marine world, whose first results were published in October 2010;
Appraising that the impact of human activities is proportionally higher on the Mediterranean than on other seas in the world, also in view of the Mediterranean being an almost completely closed basin with a slow rate of water renewal;
Acknowledging that such factors as urbanisation and human pressure, pollution from the land and maritime transport, illegal fishing practices and overfishing of several biological marine resources, heavy maritime traffic, excessive and insufficiently controlled exploitation of underground resources and climate change have a growing and unsustainable impact on the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems in the Mediterranean;
Bearing in mind that the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of the marine environment account for an immediate liability in case of urgent action following accidents relating to the shipping of hazardous material or the activities of offshore platforms as well as for measures in order to prevent such accidents, and directly affect Mediterranean perspectives for medium- and long-term growth;
Realising that protected maritime areas and marine reserves are recognised by several international agreements and by the European Union as essential instruments for a comprehensive marine environment conservation strategy leading to a sustainable use of sea resources and action against loss of biodiversity;
Whereas, as far as the conservation of fishing stocks and marine mammals is concerned, spawning and nursery areas, areas with high diversity of species and areas rich in ecosystems and vulnerable ecosystems are those most in need of maximum protection through the establishment of marine reserves;
Whereas the creation of protected marine areas and marine reserves is in the interest of all Member States of the PA-UfM, and not merely of coastal States;
* Therefore the Committee on Energy, Environment and Water of the PA-UfM
Underlines the urgent need to establish an ecosystem approach as an essential tool for integrated and sustainable management of human activities using Mediterranean resources;
Calls on all the States Parties to the Nagoya decisions to commit to the immediate implementation of the Strategic Plan 2010-2020 and the Decision on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity both in the respective countries and through international cooperation for the Mediterranean Sea, especially by promoting the mainstreaming of ecosystem services in domestic budgets;
Urges the States that have transposed the European Commission's Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) to implement consistently and cooperatively the legislative, regulatory and administrative measures necessary to attain a « good environmental status » by 2020;
Upholds an approach whereby every coastal State should establish Ecological Protection Zones (EPZ) extending beyond the limits of its territorial waters, as foreseen by international law, in order to render its environmental protection legislation applicable to growing stretches of sea, thus ensuring adequate environmental protection and a sustainable use of environmental resources;
Holds that effective cooperation among coastal and neighbouring States is necessary in order to plan and establish protected marine areas and marine reserves, which may also be shared, in the areas foreseen by the Barcelona Convention;
Hopes that concrete operating proposals for the creation of high-sea protected marine areas — to be accompanied by relevant funding and management criteria — will be introduced and considered at the next meeting of the Barcelona Convention in October 2011;
Urges the Union for the Mediterranean, as the governmental counterpart to the PA-UfM, to support politically and economically projects aimed at establishing protected marine areas both through its own resources or through public-private co-funding, and urges the European Union to support and assist such projects, be they domestic or international.
On the protection of the marine environment
Having regard to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (« Barcelona Convention ») and its protocols such as the Protocol concerning specially protected areas and biological diversity in the Mediterranean (1995) and the Protocol on integrated coastal Zone Management (adopted 2008),
Having regard to the Action Plan for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Sustainable Development of the Coastal Areas of the Mediterranean (MAP Phase II),
Having regard to the Strategic Partnership for the Mediterranean Sea Large Marine Ecosystem,
Having regard to the Communication from the European Commission of 12 April 2005 entitled « Tenth Anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership : A work Programme to meet the challenges of the next five years » (COM (2005) 139 final) and the « Horizon 2020 » initiative,
Having regard to the Communication from the European Commission of 5 September 2006 entitled : « Establishing an environment strategy for the Mediterranean » (COM(2006) 475 final),
Having regard to the Communication from the European Commission of 11 September 2009 entitled : « Towards an Integrated Maritime Policy for better governance in the Mediterranean »,
Having regard to the 2005 United Nations Environment Programme's Guidelines for the Establishment and Management of Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Protected Areas,
Having regard to the 2009 United Nations Environment Programme's report on the State of the environment and development in the Mediterranean,
Having regard to the Convention on Biodiversity,
Whereas the Mediterranean marine environment constitutes a unique economic, social, health and cultural common heritage for all neighbouring countries,
Whereas anthropogenic factors have influenced the general patterns and temporal trends of Mediterranean marine diversity with varying degrees of intensity, and whereas most important threats in this region are habitat loss, degradation and pollution, overexploitation of marine resources, invasion of species, and climate change,
Intense use of the Mediterranean Sea
Whereas the ever more intense use of the Mediterranean Sea by sectors such as shipping, fisheries, energy, tourism and research, combined with climate change, have added to the pressure on the marine environment,
Whereas the Mediterranean bears 30 % of global sea-borne trade in volume from or into its more than 450 ports and terminals and a quarter of worldwide sea-borne oil traffic, and whereas tourism-related transport is a major source of environment impacts,
Whereas, as a « transport sea », the Mediterranean is subject to a very dense traffic with a high risk of collision, leading to a massive pollution with 100,000 to 150,000 tons of oil ending up yearly in the water, without huge tanker accidents, but because of illegal pumping, leakage and carelessness, and whereas a « guilty » vessel is difficult to identify and the majority of such events remain unpunished,
Whereas relevant critical factors exist for the establishment in the Mediterranean sea of so-called PSSA proposals (particularly sensitive sea area) already recognized by the IMO (International Maritime Organization), and whereas so far no agreement for the establishment of PSSA areas has been reached,
Whereas, with the increasing industrial use of the Mediterranean, noise in the sea has reached threatening proportions and various sources of noise — including shipping, oil and gas exploration and promotion, the use of floating excavators, construction work and military activity — led to a dramatic increase of noise level, certain forms of noise in the oceans being of cause death, serious injury, reproductive output reduction, numbness and increasing vulnerability to disease among whales and other marine mammals as well as fish,
Biodiversity
Whereas the Mediterranean Sea, home to 7/8 % of all marine species known, while representing only 0.8 % of the planet's ocean surface, is an important ecological area for the unique diversity of life hosted in its waters, the high number of endemic species, and critical areas for the reproduction of pelagic species,
Whereas at Mediterranean level, the latest edition of the IUCN red lists shows that, generally speaking, 19 % of Mediterranean known species are endangered in the Mediterranean or in the world and 1 % are already extinct at regional level,
Whereas all Mediterranean countries ratified the Convention on Biodiversity and agreed on the law that compels them to reduce the biodiversity loss, and committed to reach a target of protecting at least 10 % of each ecoregion by 2020,
Overfishing
Whereas marine protected and managed areas in the Mediterranean cover 97,410 km², or approximately 4 % of the Mediterranean, and excluding the Pelagos Sanctuary (87,500 km²), the area covered by coastal marine protected areas amounts to only 9,910 km², which is 0.4 % of the total surface of the Mediterranean Sea,
Whereas fishery remains a major source of livelihoods and food resources, as well as an important economic sector, across the Mediterranean region, and whereas overfishing and semi-industrial fishing fleets resulted in the progressive exhaustion in many of the main Mediterranean fish stocks,
Whereas despite the general drift net ban in all EU waters since 2002, numerous infringements remain because of monitoring and surveillance difficulties, thus leading every year to thousands of whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles death in net systems, capturing even young and small fish, thus preventing the recovery of fish stocks,
Whereas in recent years fishing activity has increased in catch quantity, and while quality have steadily and sometimes dramatically decreased, overfishing being a permanent factor of disturbance of the coastal and marine environment of the Mediterranean and one of the main cause of food loss,
Whereas many fishermen follow the rules regarding size and age of the catch, illegal and unregulated fishing activities and « pirate fishermen » continue operating,
Whereas breeding holding pools should deal with this lack of fish such as tuna, but actually aggravate it since young fish not yet ready for reproduction are caught and imprisoned in an artificial environment, leading to the fact that for each kilogram of tuna 20 kilograms of bycatch are required and breeding pools contaminate large marine areas with faeces, food residues and antibiotics, and an increased risk of disease from bacteria and viruses,
Climate Change
Whereas the limited data available still indicates that climate change is already visible at sea level, with both the deep waters and the coastal waters of the western basin becoming warmer (by around 1ºC for coastal waters over the last 30 years),
Pollution
Whereas Article 4.1 of the Barcelona Convention requests the Contracting Parties to prevent, abate, combat and to the fullest possible extent eliminate pollution of the Mediterranean Sea Area and to protect and enhance the marine environment in that Area so as to contribute towards its sustainable development,
Whereas Mediterranean terrestrial ecosystem highly interacts with the marine environment, and the protection of these ecosystems, such as wetlands, has already been identified as a positive factor in reducing the impact of land base pollution on the marine environment,
Whereas industrial emissions, municipal waste and urban waste water, responsible for up to 80 % of pollution in the Mediterranean Sea, and whereas marine litter particularly affect both high sea and coastal areas,
Whereas Mediterranean countries adopted in June 2010 new concrete measures and mandatory timelines to limit the impact of dangerous chemicals and pesticides originating from industrial and agricultural activities on the marine environment in the region,
Tourism
Whereas the Mediterranean coasts are home to more than 150 million inhabitants, a figure which doubles during the tourist season,
Whereas tourism represents a vital economic sector for all Mediterranean countries, playing a key role in poverty alleviation and economic development in the Southern Mediterranean, and whereas seasonal and spatial concentration aggravates environmental impacts of tourism generated from transit and out-of-home stay,
International Cooperation
Whereas in most Mediterranean States, each sectoral policy is pursued by its own administration, just as each international agreement is performed within its own set of rules, making an overview of the cumulative impact of maritime activities a difficult objective to attain,
Whereas the large proportion of the Mediterranean marine space is made up of high seas which make difficult for coastal States to plan, organise and regulate activities that directly affect their territorial seas and coasts,
* Therefore the Committee on Energy, Environment and Water of the PA-UfM
Towards reducing the impact of human activities on the Mediterranean marine environment
Intense Use of the Mediterranean Sea
Calls the Union for the Mediterranean to promote the development of an integrated maritime transport policy for the region, focusing on transport infrastructure projects which most effectively prevent negative impact on the environment, and paying particular attention to harbour infrastructures building, enlargement and management with the undertaking of systematic Environmental Impact Assessment at local and regional level,
States that pollution due to vessels oil discharge should be combated with more rigorous and strict control, notably enhanced by an improved cooperation within the Mediterranean prosecutors » network and the reinforcement of the implementation of bordering states » control measures. Such control should also be complemented with improved docking ships harbouring conditions, in particular through further development of recycling facilities for ballast waters,
Notes that the Mediterranean sea, in light of the 2010 disaster the Gulf of Mexico, would suffer dramatic and irreversible consequences, while the protection of PSSA areas in the Mediterranean, which must be established, would take effect only upon a comprehensive risk assessment for the entire Mediterranean and liability insurance of ships and installation,
Biodiversity
Considers the protection of the marine environment as a factor of sustainable development for the Mediterranean region,
Encourages contracting parties of the Convention on Biodiversity to establish new Marine Protection Areas, supplementing the existing ones and contributing in reaching their commitment objective, starting with identified priority areas,
Synergies among existing policies, strategies and other instruments relevant to the Mediterranean region countries, as well as management and implementation tools need to be developed/forged ensuring to the extent possible the necessary coherence and greater alignment with the identified biodiversity related priorities,
Biodiversity protection concerns and measures should be mainstreamed in all relevant sectoral policies and development plans,
Adequate assistance in terms of financial and capacity building support should be provided to countries in the region for the implementation of biodiversity conservation measures,
Communication, coordination and cooperation within the Mediterranean region on protected areas should be enhanced,
The wider public should be fully informed about the real implications of biodiversity losses for their daily lives and should be encouraged to commit themselves toward the conservation of biodiversity through various activities,
Mediterranean region research needs to focus on the assessment of the status and the underlying trend of threatened ecosystems which underpin conservation planning at regional and national level,
Research approaches should be broadened to ensure the integration of social sciences and economics with biodiversity research,
Overfishing
Stresses that Article 4.3(e) of the Barcelona Convention requests Contracting Parties to promote the integrated management of coastal zones, taking into account the protection of areas of ecological and landscape interest and the rational use of natural resources,
Stresses — as outlined in the report on the creation of marine parks in the Mediterranean as a means of preserving biodiversity by Mr. Ramponi/Italy — on the benefits of an extended development of marine protected areas, not only in terms of biodiversity gains, but also as an efficient way to foster the recovery of the Mediterranean fish stocks, thus contributing to a sustainable maintenance of fishery in the region,
Pollution
Welcomes the recent adoption by the contracting parties of the Mediterranean Action Plan of mandatory targets to reduce and eliminate obsolete chemicals, pesticides and pollutants originating from land-based industrial activities and agriculture, and calls for a close monitoring and reporting of the progresses made in achieving the set objectives by 2019,
Stresses on the need to further assess and evaluate the efficiency of and potential loopholes in waste treatment and recycling processes, including sewage treatment, in all Mediterranean countries in order to further reduce direct land-base pollution such as marine litter and in particular plastic debris,
Recommends the creation or further development of in-country coastal area protection programmes and policies, addressing comprehensively all sources of pollutants and polluting activities on these areas and protecting Mediterranean coastal ecosystems such as forests, wooded lands and wetlands, thus contributing to the reduction of the impact of land-base pollution on the marine environment,
The protection of the marine environment as a factor of sustainable development for the Mediterranean region
Believes that the protection of the Mediterranean marine environment and the reduction of negative impacts from human activities contributes to the improvement of the overall environment and health of local populations, and should be promoted as a social and societal benefit,
Tourism
Considers that the protection and promotion of the Mediterranean marine environment could constitute an asset for the development of sustainable tourism in the region, thus reducing negative impacts of mass tourism and stabilizing coastal areas,
Tourism contributes to the overexploitation of water resources and the degradation and destruction of freshwater ecosystems in the Mediterranean,
In the tourism sector, there is still a high potential for water savings. Water consumption can be reduced by up to 50 % if appropriate measures are taken by the tourism industry, the government and the individual tourist,
Available water resources could suffice to satisfy the water demand of the forecasted doubling in tourist numbers in the Mediterranean if appropriate water saving measures are taken,
Water saving devices are readily available for new installations as well as for retrofitting,
Installing water saving devices is an investment that can render long term economic as well as environmental benefits,
Governments should favour a legislative environment that creates incentives to save water and ensures the existence of freshwater ecosystems,
Tourism development in coastal areas should follow a land management plan that takes wetland conversation and environmental protection into consideration,
Good examples for reducing water consumption exist in the Mediterranean but it is time, that a concerted effort is made to replicate them on a wider scale,
Preserving wetlands also means preserving one of the attractions that tourists come to see,
All forms of renewable energies, in particular the use of solar energy and photovoltaic, are to be promoted in the tourism sector and in the water supply (hydrosolar) infra-structure,
Especially cooling through solar energy, as the Mediterranean solar plan calls for, must prevail as examples in tourism and hotel resorts,
The investment in tourist resorts offers the opportunity to enforce both renewable and environmentally friendly measures in the Mediterranean region as an example through appropriate regulations,
Climate change
Calls for a greater attention to be paid to the impacts of climate change on the Mediterranean marine environment and the need to increase the effort in combating them, thus reducing long term negative impacts such as floods, increased sea levels and coastal erosion,
Emphasizes that the Mediterranean has an enormous energy potential with the use of wind, sun, streams and waves energy sources, biomass and energy efficiency,
Innovative governance, cooperation and mobilisation mechanisms
International cooperation
Considers of utmost importance the development of sound and comprehensive policies aiming at reducing the direct and indirect impact of human activities and asks all contracting parties of the Barcelona Convention to continue and strengthen their effort in order to fill in the current gaps and meet the objectives of the Mediterranean Action Plan,
Demands for further monitoring of environmental impacts, including water use and treatment, of tourism activities at destination level, which could feed into the development of environmental management schemes in touristic region, including specific provisions to combat pollution from beaches and tourism navigation activities,
Calls for a greater coordination of all institutions and organisations involved in fishery management in the Mediterranean region, in order to promote a comprehensive and integrated fishery strategy focusing on the recovery of the Mediterranean fish stock, the conservation of the different Mediterranean marine ecosystems and the promotion of biodiversity,
Recognises the need to integrate environmental concerns at all stage of development and sectoral policies, as well as the need for innovative governance and cooperation mechanisms in order to foster the coordination of actions aiming at protecting marine environment undertaken by the Union for the Mediterranean, including a greater involvement of civil society organisations in decision making processes,
Stresses on the added value of the exchange of good practices in all policy sector towards the reduction of negative impacts of human activities on the Mediterranean marine environment, notably with the creation of thematic networks building capacities in local and regional institutions, management bodies and communities,
Highlights the need to further develop and facilitate access to accompanying financing mechanisms in order to support projects, programmes and political initiatives aiming at protecting the Mediterranean marine environment,
Recommends the development of in-country awareness and communication campaigns in order to better involve and mobilise public opinions towards marine environment protection initiatives, thus supporting individual behaviours and responsibilities towards this objective,
Underlines the need for international cooperation with a common structure and an operating system for the coordination of emergency measures in case of accidents and the need for more investment in the expansion of coastguard staffs, their training, and the update of their equipment with the latest technologies. Controls could be simplified, for example by using satellite surveillance, and pollution could be more quickly detected and combatted,
Points out that the Mediterranean is commonly used and common rules and greater international co-operation are needed; for example, existing agreements which could already at present improve the situation should be ratified quickly and a code of international rules to protect the ecosystem of the Mediterranean should be established,
Considers that the PSSA Convention or other protective measures should be incorporated by the riparian countries, and those who carry responsibility for ships and shipping should be trained. When crews undermine the goals of PSSA areas by lack of understanding, a sustainable efficiency cannot be guaranteed. Therefore there must be an information campaign and instruction for shipping companies and skippers,
Awareness raising
Highlights the need for further research and study in order to better evaluate, anticipate and address the impact of human activities on the Mediterranean marine environment, and encourages the collection of region-wide and sector specific data, which could part of an overall environmental impact assessment project undertaken by the Union for the Mediterranean,
Points out the importance of targeted awareness-raising campaigns among populations, young people especially in schools and universities, and highlights the need for greater investments in science, research and adaptation of curricula,
Considers that information technologies and social networks have to be further developed as efficient tools that allow raising awareness on a global level,
Considers that a proper political environment, including stability, sustainability and peace based on human rights, rule of law and democracy in the region, is necessary in order to achieve our goals and calls on the European Union to use all its means on that behalf.
On waste management in the coastal regions of the Mediterranean
* The Committee on Energy, Environment and Water of the PA-UfM
Invites for reduction and elimination of pollution from the land-based sources into the marine environment in accordance with the Strategic Action Programme for the Reduction of Pollution of the Mediterranean from Land-Based Sources (SAP MED) and adopted National Action Plans in the framework of Barcelona Convention.
Considers that institutional and administrative reforms in the waste sectors of the countries belonging to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership should be based on the following principles :
— Respecting the waste hierarchy (prevention; preparing for re-use; recycling; other recovery; disposal),
— Waste management principles : polluter pays; producer's responsibility; proximity,
— Respecting other general environmental protection principles (sustainable development; precautionary principle; preservation of natural assets; biological diversity and landscape; substitution and/or compensation principle; removal and remediation of environmental damage at the source; integrated approach principle; cooperation; information access and public participation; promotion principle; right to access to justice),
— Considers that waste management system requires existence of good applicable legislation as well as adequate facilities for sustainable waste management, rehabilitation of landfills and « dump-sites »,
— Considers that trans-boundary movements of waste have to be strictly controlled and trans-boundary movements of hazardous waste have to follow the Basel Convention,
Invites all countries of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership to undertake the following efforts :
— Promoting research and development related to waste management,
— Launching awareness raising and communication campaigns targeting producers and general public concerning waste management, especially on waste prevention,
— Promote and encourage public participation in waste management initiatives and activities,
— Encouraging investments into « environmentally friendly » waste management technologies according to the waste hierarchy,
— Development of infrastructure for an integrated waste management system,
— Organization of separate waste collection systems,
— Discouraging illegal trans-boundary waste traffic,
— Reduction of biodegradable waste landfilling,
— Strict control of hazardous waste management.
BIJLAGE 6
DRAFT RECOMMENDATION
Tabled on behalf of the Working Group for the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI)
By Mrs. Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Chair of the Working Group
Based on the proposals presented by the Rapporteurs,
— Mrs. Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Chair of the EMUNI Working Group, Vice-President of the European Parliament
And
— Mr. Hamid Narjisse, Vice-Chair of the EMUNI Working Group, Member of the Moroccan Chamber of Representatives, President of the political group « Authenticity and Modernity »
On « Policy coordination for a better knowledge and competitiveness in the Euro-Mediterranean region : perspectives and challenges for EMUNI »
3 March 2011
— Having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation on « Education and Human Capital Development in the Euro-Mediterranean Countries « (12 March 2010);
— Having regard to the Green Paper « The European Research Area : New Perspectives », European Commission, 4 April 2007;
— Having regard to the Cairo Declaration « Towards a Euro-Mediterranean higher education & research area » of the first Euro-Mediterranean ministerial conference on higher education and scientific research (Cairo, 18 June 2007);
— Having regard to the Resolution of the European Parliament of 23 September 2008 on the Bologna Process and student mobility;
— Having regard to the European Council conclusions of 19 and 20 March 2009, notably the part on « making full use of the renewed Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs »;
— Having regard to the Council of the European Union conclusions of 12 May 2009 on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (« ET 2020 ») which highlights the central role that education and training should play in overcoming the challenges facing Europe and the need of efficient investment in human capital through education and training systems;
— Having regard to the Joint Declaration of the Paris Summit for the Mediterranean (Paris, 13 July 2008), which launched the Union for the Mediterranean;
— Having regard to the Marseille Declaration of the Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Affairs ministers Conference (Marseille, 3-4 November 2008);
— Having regard to the European Commission Communication of 2 April 2009 entitled « A new partnership for the modernisation of universities : the EU Forum for University Business Dialogue » (COM(2009)0158);
— Having regard to the Report of the European Parliament on university-business dialogue : a new partnership for the modernisation of Europe's universities (29.03 2010);
A. Whereas education is a major priority of the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and constitutes a significant investment in human capital, promoting cultural closeness and civil dialogue reducing the disparities of both shores of the Mediterranean, increasing competitiveness as well as social, economic and territorial cohesion within a framework of sustainable development;
B. Noting that the Cairo Declaration (18 June 2007) provides the framework, the guiding principles and the general objectives of the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in Higher Education, Research and Technological Development;
C. Noting that the Marseille Declaration underlines the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI), inaugurated in Slovenia (Piran, 9 June 2008) marks an important step in building cultural and educational bridges between the North and South of the Mediterranean, and that EMUNI is expected to encourage cooperation in higher education following up the objectives of the Catania Process and of the Cairo Declaration;
D. Noting the importance of the Euro-Mediterranean University for the efficient dialogue between North and South, but also for the promotion of excellence and competitiveness of the Universities in the Euro-Mediterranean region;
E. Noting that the European Union already promotes programmes in the field of cooperation and mobility between Universities from the North and South of the Mediterranean, and that the network created by EMUNI contributes to coordinating and enhancing these initiatives, as well as to foster a balanced and attractive region of research and excellence;
F. Noting that the joint declaration of the July 2008 Paris Summit included Higher Education and Research among the priorities for the Union for the Mediterranean;
G. Based on commitment of the Anna Lindh Foundation to address as a priority, the Education Systems in the Euro-Mediterranean Region to feed the gap and to challenge the « Choc of ignorances » when it comes to the mutual knowledge and the dual perception in between the two shores of the Mediterranean.
1) highly supports the objectives of the Marseille Declaration and the commitment of the Euro-Mediterranean states to give particular attention to further promoting academic mobility, enhancing quality assurance mechanisms as well as to issues concerning the recognition of degrees and study periods which may lead to the development of joint degrees between institutions in European and Mediterranean countries;
2) upholds the goals of the Foundation Charter of the Euro-Mediterranean University adopted at the launching event of the EMUNI (Slovenia, Piran, 8 June 2008), in the presence of the EU Presidency, the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Commission, and the Secretary General of the Arab League;
3) welcomes EMUNI's dynamic development and evolution (141 member institutions from 37 Euro-Mediterranean countries, in February 2011), and its focus on the priority fields of UfM : De-pollution of the Mediterranean, Maritime and Land Highways, Civil Protection, Alternative Energies : Mediterranean Solar Plan, The Mediterranean Business Development Initiative and welcomes and encourages EMUNI to take all necessary actions in view of offering the adequate knowledge and human dynamism in order to achieve convergence and an economic integration, and calls on the continuous improvement of Education standards;
4) notes though that despite achievements in developing cooperation, many of the EMUNI objectives are still far from being achieved;
5) regrets that the second meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research could not take place, as foreseen, in 2010, and express the hope that the conference will be held, as soon as possible, in 2011, in order to give the necessary impulse for an enhanced implementation of the cooperation measures in the sector. The holding of regular high level political meetings could contribute to efficiently achieve EMUNI's goals, particularly cooperation and excellence within the Euro-Mediterranean region;
6) supports the measures emphasized by the EU strategy in the field of education and training (12 May 2009) aimed to enhancing competitiveness, quality standards and the attractiveness of the European Higher Education Area, as well as supporting policy developments and modernisation efforts in the Mediterranean Partner Countries;
7) supports the vision of the European Research Area (4 April 2007) and emphasizes the pertinence of its objectives to the whole Euro-Mediterranean area. In this regard, accentuates the importance of researcher mobility for knowledge sharing, or joint infrastructures for the emergence of European and global research communities and institutions
8) underlines that a greater importance should be given to the support of crucial interactions between research, higher education innovation and labour market on both sides of the Mediterranean and in the context of a globalised economy. Increased efforts are needed for developing the various mechanisms enable to promote these areas, such as financial incentives, increased budgetary allocations, private and public partnership, reinforced coordination and guidelines;
9) encourages a largest participation of the Mediterranean Partner Countries in the EU programmes dedicated to this sector, namely, Research Framework Programme, Jean Monnet, Tempus, Erasmus Mundus and Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Windows, and supports the role of the EMUNI for fostering cooperation in this respect;
10) underlines the importance that all Euro-Mediterranean Partners consider education as a priority sector in their national strategies and grant the necessary attention to the institution building and supporting mechanisms in this field. In this respect, it encourages a larger use of TAIEX and twining;
11) emphasizes the need of allocating increased funds for education programmes, at national level, from EU budget, respectively through the European Partnership and Neighbourhood Instrument, both within bilateral agreements, as well as through horizontal instruments, as well as from Union for the Mediterranean projects in the field;
12) requests further efforts to be undertaken in the field of mobility of students, researchers, academics, and calls on the European Institutions and the governments of partner countries for the elaboration of a proposal for a system facilitating mobility. Upholds brain circulation while drawing the attention on the danger of brain drain;
13) calls for an increased cooperation between the Mediterranean Network of National Information Centres on the Recognition of Qualifications (MERIC) and the European Network of National Information Centres on academic recognition and mobility (ENIC Network), in view of increasing comparability of higher education degrees;
14) asks for a better coordination and valorisation of EU's programmes, reinforcement of the cooperation between Universities and development of Education and Research in the Mediterranean partner countries, and supports the efforts of EMUNI in this respect;
15) calls for an enhanced cooperation between EMUNI and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, as well as with the Secretariat of UfM, in view of the evaluation of the goals in the field of Higher Education and the forthcoming perspectives.
16) encourages the collaboration of EMUNI with all stakeholders, organizations and/or international, European and regional institutions having as goal the development of education, of knowledge and of learning in the Euro-Mediterranean region, such as the Marseille Centre for Integration in the Mediterranean, joint initiative of the World Bank, European Investment Bank, governments of North and South of the Mediterranean and the City of Marseille (France) or the European Training Foundation (ETF) European Union agency based in Turin (Italy) ListenRead phonetically;
17) acknowledges the importance of EMUNI as academic think-tank in the Euro-Mediterranean region and as higher education institution whining the framework of the Union for the Mediterranean and calls for continuing support of EMUNI, both financially and at the level of expertise from the Euro-Mediterranean Partners;
18) underlines that further studies need to be undertaken on the international dimension of the Bologna process and that EMUNI could bring its contribution in this respect;
19) asks for a more balanced exchange between North and South when promoting EMUNI's activities and Academic mobility, notably by organising a larger number of events in Southern Mediterranean Partner Countries.
20) stresses the importance of creating various antennas EMUNI in the Euro-Mediterranean region, as well as Observatories of Euro-Mediterranean Studies in partnership with EMUNI Universities, in order to provide EMUNI's activities with further value and efficiency;
21) underlines the importance of development and reinforcement of EMUNI by political and economic support at National and European level in order to efficiently promote its activities and meet its objectives;
22) emphasizes the need that EMUNI values diversity, quality, development of human resources and research dynamism in the Euro-Mediterranean region and grants a maximum of attention to the participation at its activities of students, professors and researchers from the largest socio-economic categories;
23) accentuates on the importance of continuous cooperation of EMUNI with International Educational and Research Centres and Institutes worldwide, based in exchanges, common activities and possibilities offered by new technologies;
24) promotes, through close partnership with the Anna Lindh Foundation, the dialogue of cultures as a key factor and the central asset to forge and to build new education programs with different inputs and logic of parity, of co-ownership and a vision for a common destiny nursed by Mediterranean values;
25) Stresses the imperative of appropriating adequate financial resources to secure funding for collaborative research programs involving scientists from southern and northern shores as well as exchanges of Mediterranean universities staff, faculty and students.
BIJLAGE 7
WORKING GROUP ON FINANCING THE ASSEMBLY AND REVISION OF THE PA UfM´S RULES OF PROCEDURE
Financial Regulation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for Mediterranean
— adopted at the Plenary session on 4 March 2011-
TITLE I : SCOPE
Article 1
This Regulation lays down the key rules for the establishment and implementation of the operating budget (hereinafter « the budget ») of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (hereinafter « the Assembly »).
Article 2
The provisions of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (hereinafter « the general Financial Regulation ») and of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to any aspect relating to the operating budget of the Assembly not explicitly dealt with in this Regulation.
TITLE II : BUDGETARY PRINCIPLES
Article 3
In accordance with the provisions laid down in this Regulation, the budget shall be established and implemented in compliance with the principles of unity and budgetary accuracy, annuality, equilibrium, unit of account, universality, specification, sound financial management and transparency.
Principle of unity and budgetary accuracy
Article 4
The budget is the instrument which, for each financial year, forecasts and authorises all revenue and expenditure considered necessary for the Assembly.
Article 5
The revenue of the Assembly shall comprise a financial contribution paid by each member parliament of the Assembly and any other revenue, including assigned revenue within the meaning of Article 15.
Expenditure shall comprise the operating expenditure of the Assembly and, where appropriate, expenditure funded by means of assigned revenue, in accordance with the first subparagraph.
Article 6
No revenue shall be collected and no expenditure effected unless booked to a line in the budget.
No appropriation may be entered in the budget if it does not correspond to an item of expenditure considered necessary.
No expenditure may be committed or authorised in excess of the appropriations authorised by the budget.
Principle of annuality
Article 7
The appropriations entered in the budget shall be authorised for one financial year, which shall run from 1 January to 31 December.
The budget shall contain non-differentiated appropriations.
Operating expenditure resulting from contracts covering periods which exceed the duration of the financial year, either in accordance with local custom or in connection with the supply of equipment, shall be charged to the budget for the financial year in which it is effected.
Article 8
The revenue of the Assembly shall be entered in the accounts for a financial year on the basis of the amounts collected during the financial year. It shall lead to appropriations in the same amount being made available.
Appropriations entered in the budget for a given financial year may be used solely to cover expenditure committed and paid in that financial year and to cover amounts due against commitments from the previous financial year.
Article 9
Appropriations which have not been used at the end of the financial year for which they were entered shall be cancelled.
Appropriations corresponding to obligations duly contracted at the close of the financial year shall be carried over automatically to the following financial year only. Appropriations carried over which have not been used by 31 March of the financial year n+1 shall automatically be cancelled. The accounts shall identify appropriations carried over in this way.
Appropriations available at 31 December arising from the assigned revenue referred to in Article 15 shall be carried over automatically. Available appropriations corresponding to assigned revenue carried over must be used first.
Article 10
The appropriations entered in the budget may be committed with effect from 1 January, once the budget has been finally adopted.
However, as from 15 November of each year routine administrative expenditure may be committed in advance against appropriations provided for the following financial year. Such commitments may not exceed one-quarter of the appropriations entered against the corresponding budget line for the current financial year. They may not relate to new expenditure of a kind not yet approved in principle in the last budget duly adopted.
In addition, expenditure which must be paid in advance may give rise, from 1 December onwards, to payments to be charged to the appropriations for the following financial year.
Principle of equilibrium
Article 11
Budget revenue and expenditure must be in balance. The Assembly may not contract loans.
Appropriations may not exceed the amount of the financial contributions referred to in Article 5, plus assigned revenue and the other possible forms of revenue referred to in Article 5.
Article 12
If the outturn account shows a surplus, it shall be paid back to the actual contributors, as referred to in Article 5, up to a maximum of the contribution paid during the financial year.
Principle of unit of account
Article 13
The budget shall be drawn up and implemented in euro and the accounts shall be presented in euro.
However, for cash-flow purposes the Assembly's accounting officer may, in duly substantiated cases, carry out operations in national currencies.
Principle of universality
Article 14
Total revenue shall cover total expenditure, with the exception of revenue used to finance specific items of expenditure. All revenue and expenditure shall be entered in full without any adjustment against each other, subject to Article 16.
Article 15
Revenue earmarked for a specific purpose, such as income from foundations, subsidies for a specific measure, gifts and bequests, and revenue from third parties shall constitute revenue used to finance specific items of expenditure.
Any item of assigned revenue must cover all the direct or indirect expenditure incurred in connection with the measure or purpose in question. The budget shall carry lines to accommodate the categories of assigned revenue and, wherever possible, shall indicate the amount.
The Bureau of the Assembly may decide to accept gifts, bequests or subsidies from sources other than the Community.
Article 16
Any national taxes paid by the Assembly shall be charged to the budget in full by a State on the basis of a relevant agreement.
Principle of specification
Article 17
All appropriations shall be earmarked for specific purposes by title and chapter; the chapters shall be further subdivided into articles and items, in accordance with a classification based, mutatis mutandis, on the relevant corresponding structure of the budget of the European Parliament. The structure shall be drawn up in accordance with real needs stemming from likely budget expenditure and a classification based on the nature of the expenditure.
Article 18
The Bureau may take decisions on transfers of appropriations within the operating budget, up to a maximum of 20 % of the total budget. It shall inform the Assembly and the contributors of such decisions.
Appropriations corresponding to assigned revenue may be transferred only if such revenue is used for the purpose to which it is assigned.
Principle of sound financial management
Article 19
1. Budget appropriations shall be used in accordance with the principle of sound financial management, namely in accordance with the principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
2. The principle of economy requires that the resources used by the Assembly for the pursuit of its activities shall be made available in due time, in appropriate quantity and quality and at the best price.
The principle of efficiency is concerned with the best relationship between resources employed and results achieved.
The principle of effectiveness is concerned with attaining the specific objectives set and achieving the intended results. These results must be assessed.
Principle of transparency
Article 20
The budget shall be established and implemented and the accounts presented in compliance with the principle of transparency.
The budget and any amending budgets, as finally adopted, shall be published on the Assembly's website.
TITLE III : ESTABLISHMENT AND STRUCTURE OF THE BUDGET
Adoption of the budget
Article 21
The Assembly's annual budget forecasts shall be prepared by the Secretary-General and submitted to the Working Group on Financing of the Assembly and Revision of the PA UfM Rules of Procedure, in the form of a draft budget.
The Working Group shall send the draft budget to the contributors referred to in Article 5, before submitting it to the Bureau. The contributing delegations shall have 15 days to give their opinion. The lack of an opinion within the following 15 days shall be interpreted as assent.
The draft budget shall consist of :
a) a general statement of revenue, broken down, in particular, by contributor, accompanied by each contributor's agreement of principle to pay the amount concerned;
b) a general statement of expenditure;
c) quarterly cash-flow forecasts in terms of payments made and payments received.
Article 22
At the latest by 15 November of each year, the Bureau of the Assembly shall adopt the budget on the basis of the draft budget submitted by the Working group on Financing of the Assembly and Revision of the PA UfM Rules of Procedure.
The budget shall be submitted to the Assembly, for final adoption, at its next plenary meeting. At that meeting, the Assembly may adopt guidelines for the implementation of the current budget and for forthcoming budgets.
If the budget has not been adopted by the Assembly, a provisional budget equivalent to the smallest amount between the budget for the previous year and the proposed draft for the current year shall be applied temporarily.
If necessary, the Bureau may adopt an amending budget during the financial year, in accordance with the same procedure.
Structure of the budget
Article 23
The budget shall consist of a general statement of revenue and expenditure. It shall show :
1) in the general statement of revenue :
a) the estimated revenue of the Assembly for the financial year in question;
b) the revenue for the preceding financial year and the revenue for financial year n-2;
c) appropriate remarks on each revenue line;
d) the breakdown of contributions by members;
2) in the statement of expenditure :
a) the appropriations for the financial year in question;
b) the appropriations for the preceding financial year and the appropriations for the financial year n-2;
c) appropriate remarks on each subdivision.
TITLE IV : IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BUDGET
General provisions
Article 24
The Secretary-General shall perform the duties of authorising officer. He/she shall implement the revenue and expenditure of the budget in accordance with this Regulation, on his/her own responsibility and within the limits of the appropriations authorised.
Article 25
The Secretary-General may delegate his/her powers to implement the budget to the staff member made available to the Secretariat, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, by the parliament which will hold the presidency the following year. These staff members may act only within the limits of the powers expressly conferred upon them.
Article 26
No financial actor within the meaning of Article 27 may adopt an act implementing the budget which might bring his/her interests into conflict with those of the Assembly. Should such a case arise, the actor in question must refrain from any such action and refer the matter to his/her superior. The Secretary-General must refer the matter to the Bureau.
There is a conflict of interests where the impartial and objective exercise of the functions of a financial actor implementing the budget is compromised for reasons involving family, emotional life, political or national affinity, economic interest or any other shared interest with the beneficiary.
Financial actors
Article 27
The duties of authorising officer and accounting officer shall be separate and mutually incompatible.
Article 28
The authorising officer shall be responsible for implementing revenue and expenditure in accordance with the principles of sound financial management and for ensuring that the requirements of legality and regularity are met. He/she shall retain supporting documents relating to operations performed for a period of five years as from the date of the decision granting discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget.
The authorising officer shall establish minimum internal control standards, having due regard to the specific risks associated with his/her management environment, the organisational structure and the internal management and control systems and procedures suited to the performance of his/her duties, including, where appropriate, ex post verifications.
In particular in the light of the nature and scope of his/her tasks, the authorising officer may appoint experts and advisers to help him/her manage the risks linked to his/her activities.
Before an operation is authorised, its operational and financial aspects shall be verified by members of staff other than the one who initiated the operation. The initiation and the ex ante and ex post verification of an operation shall be separate functions.
At the latest by 15 March of the financial year, the authorising officer shall give an account to the Bureau of the performance of his/her duties in the form of an annual activity report.
Article 29
The Bureau shall appoint an accounting officer who shall be responsible for :
a) the proper implementation of payments, the collection of revenue and the recovery of amounts established as being receivable;
b) preparing the accounts of the Assembly in accordance with Title VI;
c) keeping the accounts in accordance with Title VI;
d) implementing the accounting rules and methods and the chart of accounts;
e) treasury management.
The accounting officer shall obtain from the authorising officer, who shall guarantee its reliability, all the information necessary for the production of accounts which give a true picture of the Assembly's assets and of budgetary implementation.
Only the accounting officer shall be empowered to manage cash and cash equivalents. He/she shall be responsible for their safekeeping.
Liability of financial actors
Article 30
Any staff member involved in financial management or the control of operations who considers that a decision which his/her superior requires him/her to implement or accept is irregular or contrary to the principles of sound financial management or the professional rules which he or she is required to observe shall inform the Secretary-General in writing and, should the latter fail to take action within a reasonable period, the Bureau. In the case of illegal activity, fraud or corruption likely to be harmful to the Assembly's interests, he or she shall inform the authorities and bodies designated by the relevant legislation in force.
Article 31
Without prejudice to any disciplinary action, authorising officers by delegation may at any time have their delegation withdrawn temporarily or definitively by the authority which appointed them, on the basis of a reasoned decision and after having been heard. The Secretary General may at any time withdraw his/her agreement to a specific delegation.
Without prejudice to any disciplinary action, the accounting officer may at any time be suspended temporarily or definitively from his/her duties by the Bureau, on the basis of a reasoned decision and after having been heard. The Bureau shall appoint an interim accounting officer.
Article 32
The provisions concerning financial actors shall be without prejudice to any liability under criminal law which the authorising officer and his/her delegates may incur as stipulated in the applicable national law and in the provisions in force on the protection of the EU's financial interests and on the fight against corruption involving officials of the EU or of Member States.
Article 33
Any staff member may be required to make good, in full or in part, the loss suffered by the Assembly as a result of his/her serious misconduct in the performance or in connection with the performance of his/her duties. The reasoned decision shall be taken by the Bureau, in accordance with the provisions governing the employment relationship of the staff member concerned.
Article 34
The Assembly shall protect its financial interests and those of its member Parliaments (2) , in particular as regards irregularities, fraud, corruption and other illegal activity.
The competent services of the member parliaments and of the European Court of Auditors shall have the right to carry out audits, including documentary verification on the spot, concerning any contractor or subcontractor who has received Community funds.
Article 35
The accounting officer shall in particular render him/herself liable to disciplinary action and payment of compensation by any of the following forms of misconduct :
a) he/she loses or damages moneys, assets and documents in his/her keeping or causes such loss or damage by means of his/her negligence;
b) he/she alters bank accounts or postal giro accounts without first notifying the authorising officer;
c) he/she recovers or pays amounts which are not in conformity with the corresponding recovery or payment orders;
d) he/she fails to collect revenue due.
Revenue operations
Article 36
Any measure or situation which may give rise to or modify an amount owing to the Assembly shall first be the subject of an estimate of the amount receivable drawn up by the authorising officer responsible.
Article 37
Establishment of an amount receivable is the act by means of which the authorising officer :
a) verifies that the debt exists;
b) determines or verifies the reality and the amount of the debt;
c) verifies the conditions in accordance with which the debt is due.
Any amount receivable which is identified as being certain, of a fixed amount and due must be established by a recovery order to the accounting officer followed by a debit note sent to the debtor, both drawn up and forwarded by the authorising officer responsible.
Article 38
The authorisation of recovery is the act whereby the authorising officer responsible instructs the accounting officer, by issuing a recovery order, to recover an amount receivable which he/she has established.
The accounting officer shall act on recovery orders for amounts receivable duly established by the authorising officer responsible. He/she shall exercise due diligence to ensure that the Assembly receives its revenue and shall see to it that its rights are safeguarded.
Amounts unduly paid shall be recovered.
Article 39
Where the authorising officer is planning to waive recovery of an established amount receivable, he/she shall ensure that the waiver is in order and complies with the principle of sound financial management. He/she shall inform the Bureau of his/her intention to waive an established amount receivable. That waiver shall take the form of a decision by the authorising officer, which must be substantiated.
The authorising officer shall cancel an established amount receivable if the discovery of a mistake as to a point of a law or a mistake of fact reveals that the amount receivable had not been correctly established.
The authorising officer shall adjust an established amount receivable upwards or downwards if the discovery of an error of fact necessitates the alteration of the amount, provided that the correction does not imply relinquishment of the Assembly's established entitlement. Such adjustment shall be made by means of a decision by the authorising officer responsible and shall be duly substantiated.
Article 40
Upon recovery of an amount receivable, the accounting officer shall make an entry in the accounts and shall inform the authorising officer. A receipt shall be issued in respect of any cash payments made to the accounting officer.
If the full amount has not been recovered by the deadline specified in the debit note, the accounting officer shall inform the authorising officer and shall without delay launch the procedure for effecting recovery by any means offered by the law.
Where a debtor has a claim on the Assembly that is certain, of a fixed amount and due, the accounting officer shall recover the established amounts receivable by offsetting.
Article 41
The accounting officer, acting in cooperation with the authorising officer responsible, may allow additional time for payment only at the duly substantiated written request of the debtor and provided that the debtor undertakes to pay interest for the entire additional period, starting from the initial deadline, and, in order to safeguard the Assembly's rights, lodges a financial guarantee covering the debt outstanding in both the principal sum and the interest.
Expenditure operations
Article 42
Every item of expenditure shall be committed, validated, authorised and paid.
Article 43
In respect of any measure which may give rise to expenditure chargeable to the budget, the authorising officer responsible must first make a budgetary commitment before entering into a legal obligation with third parties.
Individual legal commitments relating to individual or provisional budgetary commitments shall be concluded at the latest by 31 December of year n. The unused balance of these budgetary commitments shall be decommitted by the authorising officer responsible.
Article 44
When adopting a budgetary commitment, the authorising officer responsible shall ensure that the expenditure has been charged to the correct item in the budget, that the appropriations are available, and that the expenditure conforms to the applicable rules and provisions, including the principle of sound financial management.
Article 45
Validation of expenditure is the act whereby the authorising officer responsible verifies the existence of the creditor's entitlement, verifies the conditions in accordance with which payment is due and determines or verifies the reality and the amount of the claim. Validation of an item of expenditure shall be based on supporting documents attesting the creditor's entitlement.
The validation decision shall be expressed by the signing of a « passed for payment » voucher by the authorising officer responsible. In a non-computerised system, the endorsement « passed for payment » shall be given by means of a stamp bearing the signature of the authorising officer responsible. In a computerised system, the endorsement « passed for payment » shall take the form of validation under the personal password of the authorising officer responsible.
Article 46
Authorisation of expenditure is the act whereby the authorising officer responsible, by issuing a payment order, instructs the accounting officer to pay an amount of expenditure which he/she has validated. The payment order shall be dated and signed by the authorising officer responsible and, where appropriate, it shall be accompanied by a certificate attesting that the assets have been entered in the inventories referred to in Article 64.
Payment of expenditure shall be made by the accounting officer within the limits of the funds available.
Article 47
The validation, authorisation and payment of expenditure must be completed within the time-limits laid down in and in accordance with the provisions of the general Financial Regulation and its detailed implementing rules.
TITLE V : PROCUREMENT
Article 48
The provisions of the Financial Regulation as referred to in Article 2 shall apply to procurement in connection with the functioning of the Assembly.
TITLE VI : PRESENTATION OF THE ACCOUNTS AND ACCOUNTING
Presentation of the accounts
Article 49
The accounts of the Assembly shall comprise the financial statements and the reports on the implementation of the budget. They shall be accompanied by a report on budgetary and financial management for the financial year.
Article 50
The accounts must comply with the rules and be accurate and comprehensive and present a true and fair view :
a) as regards the financial statements, of the assets and liabilities, charges and income, entitlements and obligations not shown as assets or liabilities and cash flow;
b) as regards the reports on budgetary implementation, of revenue and expenditure operations.
Article 51
The financial statements shall be drawn up in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, namely going-concern basis, prudence, consistent accounting methods, comparability of information, materiality, no-netting, reality over appearance and accrual-based accounting.
Article 52
In accordance with the principle of accrual-based accounting, the financial statements shall show the charges and income for the financial year, regardless of the date of payment or collection.
The value of assets and liabilities shall be determined in accordance with the valuation rules provided for in Article 58.
Article 53
The financial statements shall be presented in euro and shall comprise :
a) the balance sheet and the economic outturn account, which represent the assets and liabilities and the economic outturn at 31 December of the previous year; they shall be presented in accordance with the structure laid down by the European Communities » directive on the annual accounts of certain types of companies, but with due regard being given to the specific nature of the Assembly's activities;
b) the cash-flow table showing amounts collected and disbursed during the year and the final treasury position;
c) the statement of changes in capital presenting in detail the increases and decreases during the year in each item of the capital accounts.
The annex to the financial statements shall supplement and comment on the information presented and shall supply all the additional information prescribed by internationally accepted accounting practice, where such information is relevant to the activities of the Assembly.
Article 54
The budgetary implementation reports shall be presented in euro. They shall comprise :
a) the budgetary outturn account, which sets out all budgetary operations for the year in terms of revenue and expenditure; the structure in which it is presented shall be the same as that of the budget itself;
(b) the annex to the budget outturn account, which shall supplement and comment on the information in that account.
Article 55
a) On the basis of the draft prepared by the accounting officer, the Bureau shall approve the Assembly's accounts and shall forward them, at the latest by the 15 March following the close of the financial year, to the contributors referred to in Article 5.
(b) The Bureau shall also submit the accounts to the first plenary sitting of the Assembly following the close of the financial year.
Accounting
Article 56
1. The Assembly's accounting system is the system serving to organise the budgetary and financial information in such a way that figures can be input, filed and registered.
The accounts shall consist of general accounts and budgetary accounts. These accounts shall be kept in euro on the basis of the calendar year.
The figures in the general accounts and the budgetary accounts shall be adopted at the close of the budgetary year so that the accounts referred to in Articles 51 et seq. can be drawn up.
2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the authorising officer may keep analytical accounts.
Article 57
The Bureau shall, on a proposal from the Secretary-General, adopt the accounting rules and methods and the harmonised chart of accounts to be applied by the Assembly.
Article 58
The general accounts shall record, in chronological order using the double entry method, all events and operations which affect the economic and financial situation and the assets and liabilities of the Assembly.
Article 59
Movements on the accounts and balances shall be entered in the accounting ledgers.
All accounting entries, including adjustments to the accounts, shall be based on supporting documents, to which they shall refer. The accounting system must be such as to leave a trail for all accounting entries.
Article 60
The accounting officer shall, after the close of the budgetary year and up to the date of presentation of the accounts, make any adjustments which, without involving disbursement or collection in respect of that year, are necessary for a true and fair presentation of the accounts which complies with the rules.
Article 61
The budgetary accounts shall provide a detailed record of budgetary implementation. The budgetary accounts shall record all budgetary revenue and expenditure operations provided for in Title IV.
Article 62
The accounting officer of the Assembly shall keep inventories showing the quantity and value of all the Assembly's tangible, intangible and financial assets in accordance with a model drawn up by the accounting officers of the European Communities. The accounting officer of the Assembly shall check that entries in the inventory correspond to the actual situation.
Sales of movable property shall be suitably advertised.
TITLE VII : EXTERNAL AUDIT AND DISCHARGE
Article 63
The keeping and presentation of the annual accounts of the Assembly shall be the subject of an external audit.
Article 64
The auditor shall have a remit to carry out independent scrutiny of the accounts in accordance with the International Standards on Auditing (ISA) issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. That audit shall comprise all the checks of accounting records and any other auditing procedure regarded as necessary to form, with a reasonable degree of assurance, an independent opinion on the following points :
a) the statements of revenue and expenditure give a true and faithful picture of the financial situation of the Assembly in respect of the financial year audited;
b) the balance sheet gives a true and faithful picture of the assets and liabilities of the Assembly on the date on which the financial year closed;
c) generally accepted accounting principles, as set out in Articles 124 and 125 of European Communities » Regulation (EC) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002, have been complied with during the preparation and presentation of the accounts, or, where appropriate, that non-compliance with those rules has been properly explained by means of a note annexed to the accounts;
d) the accounts have been presented in accordance with the chart referred to in Article 59;
e) expenditure conforms with the provisions of this Regulation;
f) expenditure has been charged to the correct budget line;
g) appropriations were available;
h) the principles of sound financial management have been applied;
i) the payment orders are supported by original documents (or certified true copies thereof);
j) the internal rules of the Assembly have been observed.
After completing his/her work, the auditor shall set out his/her opinions in an audit report addressed to the President of the Assembly.
Article 65
On the basis of the annual accounts and the outcome of the annual verifications by the external auditor, and acting on a recommendation from the Bureau, the Assembly shall give a discharge to the Secretary-General and to the accounting officer in respect of the implementation of the operating budget for financial year n at the latest by 1 June of year n+2.
TITLE VIII : ASSEMBLY FUND
Article 66
An Assembly Fund shall be established. This Fund shall serve to cover the expenditure of the Assembly under the ordinary budget. It shall be financed from the revenue provided for in the budget.
A rolling fund shall be established. Acting by agreement with the contributors, the Bureau shall set the fund at a level sufficient to cover expenditure pending the collection of revenue. The rolling fund shall initially be constituted by the contributors, by means of an ad hoc payment made when it is established. Thereafter, the fund shall be replenished or increased using the corresponding appropriations entered in the annual budget.
Not withstanding the provisions of art. 9, for the second financial year after the establishment of the budget, the rolling fund shall also be funded through the appropriations which have not been used during the first financial year.
Article 67
Acting by agreement with the accounting officer, the Secretary-General shall designate the bank or banks in which the Assembly Fund may be deposited.
The accounting officer shall be authorised to invest available appropriations which are not needed to meet immediate cash-flow needs. Investments must be risk-free as regards the capital invested.
TITLE IX : CONTRIBUTION TO THE BUDGET
Article 68
The contribution of each contributor referred to in Article 5 shall result from the application of a scale laid down by a decision of the Assembly and applied to the annual budget approved by the Bureau. The scale shall be annexed to this Regulation.
TITLE X : FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 69
This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its adoption by the Assembly.
BIJLAGE 8
RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY
of the Union for the Mediterranean
as modified by the Plenary on 4 March 2011
Rule 1
Nature and objectives
1. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (« PA UfM ») is the parliamentary institution of the Barcelona process with consultative power and based on the Barcelona Declaration. It contributes to enhancing the visibility and transparency of the process and, consequently, bringing the Euro-Mediterranean partnership closer to the interests and expectations of the public.
2. The purpose of the Assembly shall be to bring parliamentary support, impetus and influence to the consolidation and development of the Barcelona process. It shall debate in public issues arising from the Barcelona process, in particular, and all matters of common interest that are of concern to the member countries.
3. Membership of the Assembly is voluntary and the Assembly will maintain an open-minded approach to participation in its work. The seats which will possibly not be occupied remain at the disposal of the parliaments to which they have been allocated.
Rule 2
Composition
1. The members of the Assembly are parliamentarians appointed by the parliaments of the partner countries participating in the Barcelona process and the European Parliament.
2. The Assembly shall consist of 280 members, 130 EU members (81 members of the 27 EU national parliaments, on the basis of equal representation, and 49 members of the European Parliament), 10 members from the parliaments of the European Mediterranean partner countries (2 members for each of the delegations from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Monaco, and Montenegro), 130 members of the parliaments of the ten founding Mediterranean partners, on the basis of equal representation, and 10 members from the Mauritanian Parliament.
Delegates shall be appointed, where possible, for a minimum period of one year.
3. The Assembly shall be composed of delegations from each national parliament and the European Parliament.
4. The member parliaments shall undertake to ensure that women parliamentarians are represented in their delegations, in accordance with the legal provisions of each country.
Rule 3
Competences
1. The Assembly may adopt positions on all aspects of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. It shall monitor the application of Euro-Mediterranean association agreements and adopt resolutions or make recommendations to the ministerial Conference with a view to achieving the objectives of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. When asked to do so by the ministerial Conference, it shall issue opinions proposing, where appropriate, the adoption of relevant measures for each of the three aspects of the Barcelona process.
2. The deliberations of the Assembly shall not be legally binding.
3. On a proposal from the Bureau, the Assembly may decide to send ad-hoc delegations.
4. The Assembly shall adopt a financial regulation laying down the basic rules governing the establishment and implementation of its operating budget.
5. The Assembly shall examine, at the plenary meeting following the closure of accounts, the reports on budget implementation and shall grant discharge to the Secretary-General and the Accounting Officer in respect of the administration thereof.
Rule 4
Presidency and Bureau
1. The Bureau of the Assembly shall consist of four members, two appointed by the parliaments of the Mediterranean partner countries of the European Union, one appointed by the EU national parliaments and one appointed by the European Parliament.
2. These appointments, including the order of rotation of members, shall be submitted to the Assembly for approval.
3. The term of office of the members of the Bureau shall be four years; this mandate is not renewable and is incompatible with the office of a member of a government. In the event of the resignation or termination of service of one of its members, the replacement shall be appointed for the remainder of the term of office.
4. The Assembly shall be chaired by one of the members of the Bureau, in rotation and on an annual basis, thus ensuring parity and alternate South/North presidencies. The three other members of the Bureau shall be Vice-Presidents.
5. The Bureau shall be responsible for coordinating the work of the Assembly. It is the body responsible to represent the Assembly for matters regarding relations with the other institutions.
6. The Bureau, following a decision by the Assembly to send an ad-hoc delegation, shall determine the setting-up, composition, mandate, and reporting obligations of such delegation.
In urgent cases, the Bureau may take such decision on its own initiative.
7. The Bureau shall adopt the annual draft budget, which shall be submitted by the Working Group on Financing of the Assembly and revision of the PA UfM Rules of Procedure after having the consensus of the PA UfM member delegations, following the procedure provided for by the Art. 21 of the Financial Regulation.
The draft budget shall have executive effect and it shall be submitted to the Assembly, who shall adopt it definitively at its next plenary meeting, by decision taken in line with the Rule 10.3.
The Assembly may, where necessary, adopt detailed rules for the implementation of the financial regulation referred to in Rule 3.4.
Rule 5
Parliamentary committees
1. The Assembly shall be organised in five parliamentary committees which are responsible for monitoring the following aspects of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership :
a) committee on political affairs, security and human rights;
b) committee on economic and financial affairs, social affairs and education;
c) committee on improving quality of life, exchanges between civil societies and culture;
d) committee on Women's Rights in the Euro Mediterranean Countries;
e) committee on Energy, Environment and Water.
The Guidelines for the meetings of the parliamentary committees of the PA UfM are defined in Annex 1. The Guidelines are approved by the Bureau and are attached as an annex to the Rules of Procedure.
2. Parliamentary committees shall consist of 64 members (Committee on Political Affairs, Security and Human Rights; Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs, Social Affairs and Education; Committee on Improving Quality of life, Exchanges between Civil Societies and Culture) or 44 members (Committee on Women's Rights in the Euro Mediterranean Countries; Committee on Energy, Environment and Water), 32, respectively 22, members from the Mediterranean partner countries of the EU and 32, respectively 22, European members (21, respectively 14, members of the EU national parliaments and 11, respectively 8, members of the European Parliament).
Committee members shall be appointed by the respective national parliaments and the European Parliament.
In order to ensure that all delegations from each of the two components of the Assembly, namely the European component and the Mediterranean partners » component, are represented in a standing committee, delegations may appoint substitute members.
The permanent substitutes, representing absent members, shall be entitled to attend and speak at committee meetings. However, they will be allowed to vote only if full members from the same constituent part are absent, namely the Mediterranean partners » component and, within the EU component, the EU national parliaments and the European Parliament. In case of a substitute voting for a full member of another delegation of the same component, the substituted delegation will have to give its agreement prior to the vote. The number of votes cast from each of these three sides, namely the Mediterranean partners », the EU national parliaments, and the European Parliament, may not exceed the total number of full members of each of them for that respective committee.
3. Each parliamentary committee shall elect from among its members a chairman and three vice-chairmen, considering the criterion laid down in Rule 4.1 and in accordance with the structure adopted by the plenary upon the proposal of the Bureau; their term of office shall, in principle, be two years. The office of committee chairman and vice-chairman shall not be compatible with the office of President of the Assembly
Committees appoint rapporteurs on specific items of their agenda. The rapporteurs will report to the committee concerned.
Committees shall examine questions and documents which are referred to them by the Assembly.
4. Each parliamentary committee shall meet at least once a year.
5. The committees may meet between sessions of the Assembly.
Provisions of rule(s) 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and 10.2., 10.3, 10.4 shall apply also to committee meetings.
6. The Assembly may decide to set up ad hoc committees, if necessary. The Bureau of the Assembly shall determine their composition and Presidency, ensuring a balance and parity between the two sides.
Rule 6
Ad-hoc delegations
1. The Bureau shall set up, either following a decision by the Plenary or, in case of urgency, on its own initiative, ad-hoc delegation(s) and decide on the nature, duration, number of members, composition, mandate and reporting obligations of such delegation(s).
2. When taking such decision, the Bureau shall bear in mind and seek to ensure that the principles of the Barcelona process are respected, and in particular the North/South Mediterranean equilibrium, adequate representation of the three components of the Assembly, mutual understanding and transparency, without preliminary exclusion and safeguarding total impartiality.
The Bureau shall also designate the member who will be the Head of Delegation.
3. In accordance with its remit, the delegation will submit for approval by the Bureau its work programme.
The Bureau, should the need arise, may also decide on further implementing provisions enabling the delegation to carry out its mandate.
4. The travel expenses for the members of such delegation shall be borne by their respective national Parliaments.
5. The Head of Delegation shall draft a report on the activity and results of the delegation, which shall be submitted to the PA UfM Bureau and, subsequently, to the Assembly.
Rule 7
Relations with the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of foreign ministers and the European Commission
1. The role of the Assembly shall be complementary to the other institutions of the Barcelona process.
2. The representatives appointed by the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of foreign ministers and by the European Commission shall attend the Assembly's meetings and shall be entitled to speak.
Rule 8
Observers and guests
1. Observers
On a proposal from the Bureau, and pursuant to Rule 10(3) of these Rules of Procedure, the Assembly may grant permanent observer status at its meetings to :
— the representatives of the national parliaments of the countries of the Mediterranean region which are not members of the EU and that have not subscribed to the Barcelona process;
— the representatives of the national parliaments which are not Mediterranean, but which are candidate countries, provided that the European Union has officially commenced discussion and negotiations with the country concerned in view of its accession to the European Union;
— the institutionalised consultative bodies and financial bodies of the Union for the Mediterranean;
— the regional inter-parliamentary Assemblies of more than one Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean which request such status. Other organisations may also be invited by the Bureau to attend a meeting of the Assembly.
2. The permanent observers shall be entitled to speak. They may only do so subject to the discretion of the President as to the distribution of speaking time, in order to ensure the smooth running of the meeting.
3. Guests
Other organisations may also be invited by the Bureau to attend a meeting of the Assembly.
The guests may sit in the Assembly without the right to speak unless invited to do so by the President.
Rule 9
Conduct of proceedings
1. The proceedings of the Assembly shall be public, except where otherwise decided.
2. Members of the Assembly may speak when authorised to do so by the President of the sitting.
3. The President of the sitting shall open, suspend and adjourn sittings; he or she shall ensure observance of these Rules, maintain order, call upon speakers, limit speaking time, put matters to the vote, announce the results of votes and close the sitting. In agreement with the members of the Bureau, he or she shall rule on any matter arising in the course of the proceedings that is not covered by these Rules of Procedure.
Rule 10
Debates and decision-making
1. The Assembly may adopt resolutions and make recommendations relating to the Union for the Mediterranean for the attention of the Euro-Mediterranean ministerial Conference and the Council of the European Union and the European Commission.
2. Amendments to a text tabled for debate and adoption by the Assembly shall be submitted in writing by a deadline to be announced by the President of the sitting.
Each amendment may only relate to one paragraph. No amendment shall be admissible if it does not directly relate to the text which it seeks to amend. An amendment shall lapse if it is inconsistent.
a) Amendments shall have priority over the text to which they relate and shall be put to the vote before that text.
b) If two or more mutually exclusive amendments have been tabled to the same part of a text, the amendment that departs furthest from the original text shall have priority and shall be put to the vote first. If it is adopted the other amendments shall stand rejected. If it is rejected, the amendment next in priority shall be put to the vote and similarly for each of the remaining amendments. Where there is doubt as to priority, the President shall decide. If all amendments are rejected, the original text shall be deemed adopted unless a separate vote has been requested within the specified deadline.
Acting upon the request of a Committee that has adopted a text on the basis of consensus, the Bureau may decide not to open a deadline for amendments to the plenary.
3. The Assembly shall act by consensus and in the presence of half of the delegations plus one within each of the two component parts of the Assembly, namely, the European component and that of the partner countries.
When it is not possible to reach a consensus, the Assembly shall take its decisions by a qualified majority of at least two-thirds of the votes of the members present from each of the two shores of the Mediterranean, in the presence of at least half of the members plus one of the two components of the Assembly. The Chair shall establish such a presence before the vote begins.
4. Each delegation shall have a number of votes equal to the number allocated to it and, during the vote, shall have the right to express reservations and/or to abstain constructively.
Rule 11
Meetings and agendas
1. The Assembly shall meet at least once a year in the place chosen at each meeting by the plenary sitting. Special arrangements must be made when the meeting of the Assembly takes place in a country which does not have official diplomatic relations with one of the member countries of the Union for the Mediterranean and of the Assembly.
2. The draft agenda shall be drawn up by the Bureau and adopted by the Assembly in plenary sitting at the start of its work.
3. The draft agenda shall be forwarded by the President to the parliaments represented in the Assembly at least one month before the opening of the session.
4. Any delegation may ask for an additional item to be entered on the agenda. The Bureau shall propose to the plenary sitting, the addition of supplementary points.
Rule 12
Drafting committee and working groups
1. The Assembly may decide to set up a drafting committee to prepare resolutions, recommendations and opinions. The members of the drafting committee shall be designated by common accord; it shall comprise, on the one hand, at least five members from the EU national parliaments and the European Parliament and, on the other, at least five members from the parliaments of the Mediterranean States participating in the Barcelona process.
2. The Bureau, after consulting the parliaments represented in the Assembly, may set up working groups whose membership and powers it shall determine. The working groups may be instructed to draw up draft reports and draft resolutions for the Assembly, subsequent to the approval of these texts by the relevant committees. The number of working groups shall not exceed two per year. Second part of Rule 5 paragraph 5 applies, mutatis mutandis, to working group meetings.
Rule 13
Languages
1. The official languages of the Assembly are the official languages of the European Union and Arabic, Hebrew and Turkish.
2. The official documents adopted by the Assembly shall be translated into all the official languages of the Assembly.
3. Working documents will be made available to members in French, English and Arabic, as working languages, by the parliament organising the meeting.
The draft agenda, the programme, the committee reports and resolutions or declarations of the committees, the draft final declaration, the rules of procedure and the list of participants shall be the only official documents of the Assembly and will be distributed upon registration.
4. During debates in the Assembly interpretation shall be provided into eight languages, including the working languages, without prejudice to the provisions of Rule 14(6) of these Rules of Procedure when meetings of the Assembly are held at the European Parliament.
Meetings of parliamentary committees and, where appropriate, working groups, shall be conducted in the above working languages, without prejudice to the provisions of Rule 14(6) of these Rules of Procedure.
Rule 14
Expenditure : funding of organisation, participation, interpretation and translation costs
1. Expenses relating to the functioning of the Assembly and its activities shall be covered by the Assembly's annual budget, with the exception of members » travel and subsistence expenses.
2. The conditions governing the drawing-up and implementation of the annual budget shall be laid down in the financial regulation referred to in Rule 3.4.
3. The travel and accommodation expenses of participants shall be borne by the institution of which they are members.
4. The organisation and costs of interpretation into the working languages of the Assembly shall be met by all the delegations.
5. When a session of the Assembly or a committee meeting is organised by the European Parliament, it shall be responsible for the practical arrangements and interpretation costs depending on requirements and the facilities available.
6. The cost of translation of the official documents adopted by the Assembly into the official languages of the European Union shall be defrayed by the European Parliament. The translation of these documents into Arabic, Hebrew and Turkish shall be the responsibility of the parliaments in which these languages are used.
7. Each delegation shall be responsible for the translation into at least two working languages of the documents it submits.
Rule 15
Secretariat
1. The Bureau and the other bodies of the Assembly shall be assisted in the preparation, proper conduct and follow-up of the Assembly's work, by a Secretariat, based in Brussels, composed of staff from each of the parliaments represented in the Bureau and coordinated by a Secretary General who shall be the staff member from the parliament which holds the Presidency at the time.
The Secretary-General shall be the authorising officer within the meaning of the financial regulation referred to in Rule 3.4.
The function of accounting officer shall be entrusted to a member of the secretariat by the Bureau.
2. The salaries and other expenses of the staff of the Secretariat shall be borne by their respective parliaments.
3. The parliament which is hosting a session of the Assembly or a meeting of one of its committees shall provide assistance with the organisation of these meetings.
4. The translated versions of the reports shall be sent to delegations as soon as possible before the Plenary Sitting.
Rule 16
Amendment of the Rules of Procedure
1. Any delegation may propose amendments to these Rules of Procedure. Such proposed amendments shall be translated and forwarded to the Bureau, which shall submit them to the next plenary sitting.
2. Amendments to these Rules of Procedure shall be adopted by consensus.
3. Unless otherwise specified with the approval of the Assembly, amendments to these Rules of Procedure shall enter into force at the following session.
(1) Reservations expressed by: Germany; Latvia; Netherlands and Sweden.
(2) As specified for the European Communities in Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities » financial interests [OJ L 312, 23.12 1995, p. 1], Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities » financial interests against fraud and other irregularities [OJ L 292, 15.11 1996, p. 2] and Regulation (EC) No 1873/99 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) [OJ L 136, 31.5 1999, p. 1]