Euromed Assembly seeks to act as mediator in Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Brussels, 15 March 2005Euromed Assembly seeks to act as mediator in Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Ten years after the Barcelona process was first launched, closer relations between the two shores of the Mediterranean are still being hampered by a major obstacle, namely the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By fostering dialogue between the parties, all of which are represented within the Assembly, the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA), meeting in Cairo until Tuesday, 15 March, has been giving a new impetus to the parliamentary dimension of the partnership and has called on partner countries to take advantage of the new climate of cooperation brought about the Barcelona process. With a view to putting a joint text to the vote on Tuesday, the members of the EP delegation have made a major effort to draft compromise amendments on the Middle East situation that have been accepted by all parties.The resolution of the Assembly's Political Committee proposes the establishment of a working party on the Middle East, with responsibility for improving dialogue for peace and security in the region. The Political Committee will focus exclusively on this issue at its next meeting. The committee is chaired by Ms Tokia SAÏFI (EPP-ED, FR), and two of its vice-chairmen are Israeli and Palestinian.
This first formal meeting of EMPA, in Cairo, and the forthcoming tenth anniversary of the Barcelona Process provide an opportunity to revitalise relations between the EU and its Mediterranean partners. At the meetings of the three EMPA committees held on Saturday and Sunday a number of sensitive issues were discussed in addition to the Middle East conflict. The discussions on the issues of democracy, particularly in the host country, Egypt, and the situation in Lebanon also proved difficult.
The European members expressed concern about Dr Nour, Member of the Egyptian Parliament and President of the al-Ghad (Tomorrow) party, who had been imprisoned soon after his party had been legalised and he had announced his intention to stand as a candidate in the presidential elections. The EP added its voice to the international calls for Dr Nour's release in a resolution adopted on 23 February 2005 and in the draft final resolution of the EMPA. The members were pleased to learn of Dr Nour's release at the end of the first morning's discussions on Saturday, following heated discussions with the Arab partners on whether to refer to the matter in the final text. Eight members of the EP delegation, led by Mr Edward McMILLAN SCOTT (EPP-ED,UK), held a meeting with Dr Nour this morning (Monday), following a more informal initial meeting yesterday. Dr Nour said he hoped that cooperation between the EU and Egypt would have an impact on freedom of expression in his country. This morning EP President Josep BORRELL had talks with the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak.
The European members also welcomed the consensus on calling for due respect to be shown for Lebanon's sovereignty and independence. The members from the EU Member States and the 10 partner countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey) also discussed immigration and the dialogue between cultures.
The plenary sitting, focusing mainly on the European Strategic Partnership and the European Neighbourhood Policy, started today, Monday 14 March, and will involve discussions between Assembly members and leading EU, Egyptian and Arab League figures.
A joint press conference will be held by President Borrell and Ahmed Fathi Sorour, Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament, at 11.50 a.m. on Tuesday at the Semiramis Intercontinental Hotel in Cairo.