Union talks

Ministers met to discuss projects implemented under the Barcelona Process, reports Mona El-Fiqi

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Last Wednesday Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid met with French Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, Energy, and Land Administration Jean-Louis Borloo, to discuss the implementation strategy of the various projects to be launched under the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean. Henri Guaino, special advisor to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, also attended the meeting.

The Barcelona Process is an initiative designed to strengthen the political, economic and socio-cultural association between countries north and south of the Mediterranean. This is to be achieved through a series of projects that aim at addressing common areas of concern for member countries.

Since France and Egypt are currently co- presidents of the initiative, Rachid and his French counterpart were appointed by President Hosni Mubarak and Sarkozy to overlook the implementation of the projects resulting from the initiative. Meanwhile, the countries' respective ministers of foreign affairs will oversee the initiative's political component.

During the meeting Rachid explained that the projects that are being implemented as part of the initiative are all designed to improve the quality of life for citizens of the region, ensure its development is sustainable and improve socio-cultural and economic cooperation among member countries.

Rachid also noted: "More cooperation is needed in areas such as business development, trade, the environment, energy and water management as well as food security. These projects that are being carried out under the umbrella of the initiative will facilitate the exchange of ideas, experiences and know- how among the member countries."

Projects being implemented as part of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean fall into six main categories, all of which have been identified as high priority to the 39 member countries.

They include the de-pollution of the Mediterranean, which aims at protecting the same natural resource that binds all member countries together while defining their character, and also a maritime and land highways project which aims at creating transport systems that facilitate a safe transfer of goods and people between member countries. Included in this plan is the creation of coastal motorways, ports and railway connections.

Moreover, a project for civil protection is also being implemented, which aims at protecting the citizens of the region from disasters by creating joint prevention, preparation and response mechanisms linking the region as a whole. There is also a programme for alternative energies which focuses on the facilitation of dialogue, research and implementation of alternative energy resources with particular focus on the possibility of implementing a Mediterranean Solar Plan.

A higher education and research project, which refers to identifying areas of cooperation between the various countries and encouraging cooperation on higher education, is also on the cards. And finally, there is the Mediterranean Business Development Initiative, which aims at assisting enterprises in partner countries, with a particular emphasis on micro, small and medium enterprises, and at providing technical assistance and financial tools.

In a press release issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Rachid stated that one of the initiative's advantages is that the criteria of the various projects are flexible and subject to development. He also pointed out that it is essential for the various projects to include as many countries as possible. Rachid added that the project must be designed in such a way that will attract interest from countries as well as members of the private sector to secure financing.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian and French ministers agreed that their next meeting, which will take place in late October, will involve further discussion of the various projects as well as detailed discussion on other areas of concern.