Dinny McGinley
Question:108 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on EU relations with Syria. [9979/03]
Written Answers. - Middle East Peace Process.
The European Union recognises Syria's important role in the Middle East peace process and the fact that a comprehensive peace settlement in the region must include a peace treaty between Syria and Israel. The European Union has many concerns about human rights in Syria. The European Union raises these concerns with the Syrian authorities in regular contacts.
Relations between the European Union and Syria are based primarily on a co-operation agreement which was signed on 18 January 1977 and which entered into force on 1 November 1978. This agreement provides for free access to the EU market for Syrian industrial products. It has also provided the framework for EU assistance to Syria.
Syria is a partner in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, known as "The Barcelona Process". The Barcelona Process links the European Union and the member states with 12 partners from the southern and eastern Mediterranean. Among the main aims are the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area by 2010. Association agreements have been signed with all of the Mediterranean partners except Syria. Negotiations for an association agreement with Syria started in 1997 but progress to date has been slow. The most recent – the 10th – round of negotiations was held in Damascus on 12 and 13 March 2003, when progress on a number of issues was reported. Negotiations will be resumed in the coming weeks.
Syria also benefits from EU assistance through the MEDA programme. Syria signed the framework convention needed in order to benefit from the programme in 2000.