Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 7

Written Answers. - Euro-Mediterranean Committee for the Barcelona Process.

James Leonard

Question:

36 Mr. Leonard asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the senior-official level meeting between EU member states and the 12 Mediterranean rim countries on 19 November 1996 succeeded in developing a work programme; if he will give details of the content of that programme; and the outcome of the follow-up Barcelona Euro-Mediterranean Committee meeting on 20 November 1996. [23985/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

As I have already stated in response to a written question of 27 November on the same subject from Deputy Burke, the Euro-Mediteranean Committee for the Barcelona Process plays an important role in taking stock and evaluating the follow-up to the Barcelona Process. At its most recent meeting on 19 November the committee continued its work of updating the list of priority actions covering all three areas of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and carried out further work on a strategy paper for future cooperation by the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership which it is intended to present to the next meeting of Foreign Ministers to be held in April 1997.

The current list of priority actions is available in the form of an events calendar and I have arranged for Deputy Leonard to receive a copy. Events held during Ireland's chairmanship of the committee included a conference on local water management hosted by France in Marseilles on 25-26 November, at which Ireland was represented by the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, and a Ministerial Conference on the Management of Mediterranean Fish Stocks in Venice on 27-29 November attended by the Minister for the Marine. Forthcoming events include an Experts Meeting on Economic Transition, a conference on private investment and ministerial conferences on science and technology, the environment and industrial co-operation.

As stated also in my reply to Deputy Burke of 27 November, the Senior Officials group responsible for the implementation of the political and security component of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership which met most recently on 20 November has formulated a draft action plan which outlines initiatives in a number of areas. These include the enhancement of stability and the reinforcement of democratic institutions, confidence building measures, human rights and the fight against organised crime and other transnational security threats. Under the Irish Presidency of the European Union, agreement has been reached on the implementation of a number of concrete confidence building measures. The positive and constructive contributions made by Mediterranean partners to discussions on these issues has been very welcome. Despite a difficult political context in the region in recent months, notably in relations between Israel and her Arab neighbours, the political dialogue envisaged by the Barcelona Declaration has developed and matured.