BETA


2009/2719(RSP) Resolution on the Euro-Mediterranean economic and trade partnership ahead of the 8th Euromed Ministerial Conference on Trade, Brussels, 9 December 2009

Progress: Procedure completed

Legal Basis:
RoP 128-p5

Events

2009/11/25
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2009/11/25
   EP - Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Details

Following the debate which took place during the sitting of 24 November 2009 on Oral Question O-0116/2009 to the Commission on the state of play of the Euromed 2010 Free Trade Area, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the Euro-Mediterranean economic and trade partnership ahead of the 8th Euromed Ministerial Conference on Trade – Brussels – 9 December 2009.

The resolution had been tabled by the EPP, S&D, ALDE, and Greens/ALE groups.

While acknowledging certain improvements, Parliament deplores the fact that the Euro-Mediterranean partnership's main objectives are still far from being achieved. It stresses that the success of this process and of the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area (FTA) in particular, requires a sustained effort from all parties and greater involvement of civil society and of the people on both shores of the Mediterranean. The process of Euro-Mediterranean integration must, once again, become a political priority for the EU.

Numerous difficulties, not only economic but also political, such as the Middle East conflict, have had a considerable negative impact on the development of this process, and of the FTA in particular. Members deplore the fact that for these same political reasons, the ministerial meeting of Euromed Foreign Affairs Ministers which was to have been held on 24-25 November 2009 in Istanbul was postponed and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is not moving forward. It calls for meetings scheduled within the UfM framework to continue to be held and for a permanent secretariat to be established in Barcelona . Parliament regards the current obstacles as an indication that the deepening of economic relations must progress hand-in-hand with a deepening of political relations . It believes that genuine regional and economic integration can be achieved only if concrete progress is made in settling existing conflicts and in the field of democracy and human rights.

The resolution calls on the Commission, the Member States and the southern and eastern Mediterranean countries (SEMCs) to take into account the effects of the financial, economic and environmental crisis by incorporating social and environmental concerns into the economic and trade partnership to a greater extent . In view of the fact that youth and female unemployment is the most pressing social issue in the Mediterranean countries, Parliament calls on the governments of the (SEMCs) to implement consistent and effective employment and social protection policies in order to mitigate the effects of the crisis.

It goes on to underline the following:

the importance of the regional integration of the SEMCs and of increasing South-South trade, which is still under-developed, and accounts for only 6% of the SEMCs’ total trade. EU institutions are asked to respond positively to requests for technical and financial support to promote such South-South economic integration; the need to strengthen the cumulation of origin system, since it is a useful customs tool for revitalising trade in the area, and to update rules of origin in order to take account of the interests of the Euromed partners; the importance of ensuring the right of the SEMCs to control the speed with which they open up their trade and to control their national strategies for economic and social development; in view of the difficulties faced by Euro-Mediterranean textile producers in the context of growing global competition, the need to strengthen the North-South partnership, and to promote SEMCs’ activities with higher added value, based on creativity and innovation, and not only on business outsourcing; the need to create a Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Development Bank, which would secure donors from both shores of the Mediterranean and would be able to attract the FDIs which the Euro-Mediterranean region is lacking.

Parliament takes the view that the FTA should be complemented by the phased introduction, subject to conditions, of free movement for workers , while taking account of the situation on the European employment market and current thinking in the international community on the links between migration and development. Members regard it as a matter of urgency to establish procedures to facilitate the granting of visas, in particular for the stakeholders in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, students, university staff and socio-economic players. They also stress the need to reduce the cost of transfers of remittances by migrant workers so as to maximise their use in the local economy.

Parliament moves on to ask the Commission to keep it fully informed about progress on the association agreement with Syria , the signing of which was recently postponed by Syria. It considers that there are some concerns, such as bringing Libya back into negotiations for an association agreement and, more generally, into the UfM.

In view of the Palestinian situation , specific measures should be taken to assist the population with a view to integrating this area into Mediterranean trade flows, and a solution should be found to address the issue of certification of origin and subsequent preferential treatment under the EC-Israel Association Agreement applicable to goods coming from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Parliament further considers that a balanced Road Map based on a broad consensus and, inter-alia, a positive social and environmental impact assessment, could be a useful instrument for re-launching economic and trade cooperation in coming years, and it calls on the Euro-Mediterranean Trade Ministers to endorse it at their ministerial meeting in December 2009.

Lastly, Parliament stresses the role of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) within the partnership, as the democratic body bringing together parliamentarians from both shores of the Mediterranean around the three pillars of the Barcelona Process. It calls for stronger cooperation on economic affairs between the EMPA and the Commission and Council.

Documents
2009/11/25
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2009/11/24
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2009/11/24
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2009/11/24
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2009/11/24
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2009/11/24
   Joint motion for resolution
Documents
2009/11/24
   EP - Debate in Parliament
Details

O-0116/2009

2009/11/23
   EP - Oral question/interpellation by Parliament
Documents

Documents

Votes

RC-B7-0147/2009 - Zone de libre-échange euroméditerranéenne - PAR 1/1 #

2009/11/25 Outcome: +: 609, -: 21, 0: 2
DE IT FR ES PL GB RO PT CZ EL HU AT SE NL BG BE SK FI LT IE LV DK SI LU CY EE MT
Total
85
69
62
43
43
53
22
19
18
22
19
17
16
22
14
16
12
11
11
9
8
11
7
6
6
5
5
icon: PPE PPE
235

Czechia PPE

2

Belgium PPE

3

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Slovenia PPE

3

Luxembourg PPE

3
2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

2
icon: S&D S&D
165

Netherlands S&D

3

Finland S&D

2

Latvia S&D

1

Slovenia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
69

Lithuania ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

For (1)

1

Denmark ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
46

Spain Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

3

Greece Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2
3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
42

Hungary ECR

For (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
33

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Greece GUE/NGL

3

Sweden GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Latvia GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1
icon: EFD EFD
26

Greece EFD

2

Netherlands EFD

For (1)

1

Slovakia EFD

For (1)

1

Finland EFD

For (1)

1

Lithuania EFD

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Denmark EFD

2
icon: NI NI
15

France NI

For (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

2

Romania NI

1

Hungary NI

For (1)

1

Belgium NI

Against (1)

1

RC-B7-0147/2009 - Zone de libre-échange euroméditerranéenne - PAR 1/2 #

2009/11/25 Outcome: +: 512, -: 102, 0: 4
IT PL DE ES FR GB RO HU BG EL SK LT BE CZ PT SE IE FI SI MT NL LV LU EE AT CY DK
Total
66
42
81
44
61
51
21
19
13
21
12
11
17
18
19
17
8
11
7
5
22
8
6
5
15
6
11
icon: PPE PPE
230

Belgium PPE

3

Czechia PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

3

Malta PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1
2

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
161

Finland S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Netherlands S&D

3

Latvia S&D

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
65

Lithuania ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Finland ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Denmark ALDE

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2
icon: ECR ECR
40

Hungary ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Netherlands ECR

For (1)

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1
icon: EFD EFD
25

Greece EFD

2

Slovakia EFD

For (1)

1

Lithuania EFD

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Finland EFD

For (1)

1

Netherlands EFD

For (1)

1

Denmark EFD

2
icon: NI NI
14

France NI

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

2

Romania NI

1

Hungary NI

Against (1)

1

Belgium NI

Abstain (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
32

Spain GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

France GUE/NGL

3

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

5

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Latvia GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
50

Spain Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

3

Greece Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

Against (2)

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

RC-B7-0147/2009 - Zone de libre-échange euroméditerranéenne - PAR 2/1 #

2009/11/25 Outcome: +: 613, -: 10, 0: 8
DE IT FR ES PL GB RO HU PT CZ EL AT SE BE NL BG DK SK FI LT IE LV LU SI CY EE MT
Total
84
68
64
44
43
49
22
19
19
18
22
17
16
18
22
14
12
12
11
11
9
8
6
6
6
5
5
icon: PPE PPE
234

Czechia PPE

2

Belgium PPE

3

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

3

Slovenia PPE

2
2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

2
icon: S&D S&D
163

Netherlands S&D

3

Finland S&D

2

Latvia S&D

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

2

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
70

Denmark ALDE

2

Lithuania ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Estonia ALDE

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
50

Spain Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

3

Greece Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2
3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
40

Hungary ECR

For (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
32

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Greece GUE/NGL

3

Sweden GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Latvia GUE/NGL

For (1)

1
icon: EFD EFD
26

Greece EFD

2

Netherlands EFD

For (1)

1

Denmark EFD

2

Slovakia EFD

For (1)

1

Finland EFD

For (1)

1

Lithuania EFD

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2
icon: NI NI
15

France NI

For (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

2

Romania NI

1

Hungary NI

For (1)

1

Belgium NI

Against (1)

1

RC-B7-0147/2009 - Zone de libre-échange euroméditerranéenne - PAR 2/2 #

2009/11/25 Outcome: +: 519, -: 98, 0: 4
IT PL DE ES FR GB RO HU EL BG SK BE IE LT FI PT SE CZ AT SI MT NL LV LU DK EE CY
Total
69
43
81
44
64
52
22
19
21
14
12
16
9
10
11
19
15
15
16
6
5
22
8
6
10
5
6
icon: PPE PPE
232

Belgium PPE

2

Czechia PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

3

Malta PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

3

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1
2
icon: S&D S&D
159

Finland S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Netherlands S&D

3

Latvia S&D

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
68

Ireland ALDE

2

Lithuania ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Denmark ALDE

2

Estonia ALDE

2
icon: ECR ECR
41

Hungary ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Netherlands ECR

For (1)

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1
icon: EFD EFD
24

Greece EFD

2

Slovakia EFD

For (1)

1

Lithuania EFD

Abstain (1)

1

Finland EFD

For (1)

1

Netherlands EFD

For (1)

1

Denmark EFD

1
icon: NI NI
15

France NI

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

2

Romania NI

1

Hungary NI

Against (1)

1

Belgium NI

Abstain (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
31

Spain GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

France GUE/NGL

3

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Greece GUE/NGL

2

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Latvia GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
50

Spain Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

3

Greece Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

For (1)

3

Finland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Estonia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

RC-B7-0147/2009 - Zone de libre-échange euroméditerranéenne - PAR 13/1 #

2009/11/25 Outcome: +: 541, -: 87, 0: 1
IT DE FR ES RO PL BE HU AT EL SE BG FI PT SK LT IE DK NL SI LU EE MT LV CY CZ GB
Total
69
83
64
43
22
43
18
19
17
22
17
14
11
17
12
11
8
10
21
7
6
5
5
8
6
17
53
icon: PPE PPE
231

Belgium PPE

3

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Slovenia PPE

3

Luxembourg PPE

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

2
2

Czechia PPE

2
icon: S&D S&D
165

Finland S&D

2

Ireland S&D

2

Netherlands S&D

3

Slovenia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
68

Lithuania ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

2

Denmark ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
51

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Greece Verts/ALE

1
3

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

3
icon: EFD EFD
26

Greece EFD

2

Finland EFD

For (1)

1

Slovakia EFD

Against (1)

1

Lithuania EFD

2

Denmark EFD

2

Netherlands EFD

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
15

France NI

For (1)

1

Romania NI

1

Belgium NI

For (1)

1

Hungary NI

For (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (1)

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
30

France GUE/NGL

3

Spain GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Latvia GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
42

Hungary ECR

Against (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

Against (1)

1

RC-B7-0147/2009 - Zone de libre-échange euroméditerranéenne - PAR 13/2 #

2009/11/25 Outcome: -: 321, +: 294, 0: 13
FR EL DK FI SE CY ES AT EE MT LV IE CZ BE SK DE PT LU LT SI NL RO BG HU IT GB PL
Total
63
22
11
9
17
6
42
17
5
5
8
9
18
14
12
85
17
6
11
7
22
22
14
19
69
54
43
icon: S&D S&D
164

Finland S&D

2

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

2

Netherlands S&D

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
48

Greece Verts/ALE

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
3

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

3
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
30

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

1

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Latvia GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1
icon: NI NI
16

France NI

For (1)

1

Belgium NI

For (1)

1

Romania NI

1

Hungary NI

For (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (1)

3
icon: EFD EFD
25

Greece EFD

2

Denmark EFD

1

Finland EFD

For (1)

1

Slovakia EFD

Against (1)

1

Lithuania EFD

2

Netherlands EFD

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
69

Denmark ALDE

Against (2)

2

Finland ALDE

For (1)

Against (1)

2
4

Estonia ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Luxembourg ALDE

Against (1)

1

Lithuania ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

Against (2)

2
2
icon: ECR ECR
42

Latvia ECR

Against (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

Against (1)

1

Hungary ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: PPE PPE
233

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Finland PPE

3

Cyprus PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

Against (2)

2

Czechia PPE

2

Belgium PPE

3

Luxembourg PPE

3

Slovenia PPE

3

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0222_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0222_EN.html
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0147_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0147_EN.html
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0148_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0148_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0149_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0149_EN.html
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0150_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0150_EN.html
docs/5/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-7-2009-0147_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-7-2009-0147_EN.html
events/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20091124&type=CRE
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=20091124&type=CRE
events/2
date
2009-11-25T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2009-0091_EN.html title: T7-0091/2009
summary
events/2
date
2009-11-25T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2009-0091_EN.html title: T7-0091/2009
summary
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 136-p5
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 128-p5
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-2009-222&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0222_EN.html
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-2009-147&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0147_EN.html
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-2009-148&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0148_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-2009-149&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0149_EN.html
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-2009-150&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2009-0150_EN.html
docs/5/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=P7-RC-2009-147&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-7-2009-0147_EN.html
events/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2009-91
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2009-0091_EN.html
activities
  • date: 2009-11-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20091124&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2009-11-25T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=17707&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2009-91 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0091/2009 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
committees
    docs
    • date: 2009-11-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-2009-222&language=EN title: B7-0222/2009 type: Oral question/interpellation by Parliament body: EP
    • date: 2009-11-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-2009-147&language=EN title: B7-0147/2009 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2009-11-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-2009-148&language=EN title: B7-0148/2009 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2009-11-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-2009-149&language=EN title: B7-0149/2009 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2009-11-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-2009-150&language=EN title: B7-0150/2009 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2009-11-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=P7-RC-2009-147&language=EN title: RC-B7-0147/2009 type: Joint motion for resolution
    events
    • date: 2009-11-24T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20091124&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament summary: O-0116/2009
    • date: 2009-11-25T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=17707&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
    • date: 2009-11-25T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2009-91 title: T7-0091/2009 summary: Following the debate which took place during the sitting of 24 November 2009 on Oral Question O-0116/2009 to the Commission on the state of play of the Euromed 2010 Free Trade Area, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the Euro-Mediterranean economic and trade partnership ahead of the 8th Euromed Ministerial Conference on Trade – Brussels – 9 December 2009. The resolution had been tabled by the EPP, S&D, ALDE, and Greens/ALE groups. While acknowledging certain improvements, Parliament deplores the fact that the Euro-Mediterranean partnership's main objectives are still far from being achieved. It stresses that the success of this process and of the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area (FTA) in particular, requires a sustained effort from all parties and greater involvement of civil society and of the people on both shores of the Mediterranean. The process of Euro-Mediterranean integration must, once again, become a political priority for the EU. Numerous difficulties, not only economic but also political, such as the Middle East conflict, have had a considerable negative impact on the development of this process, and of the FTA in particular. Members deplore the fact that for these same political reasons, the ministerial meeting of Euromed Foreign Affairs Ministers which was to have been held on 24-25 November 2009 in Istanbul was postponed and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is not moving forward. It calls for meetings scheduled within the UfM framework to continue to be held and for a permanent secretariat to be established in Barcelona . Parliament regards the current obstacles as an indication that the deepening of economic relations must progress hand-in-hand with a deepening of political relations . It believes that genuine regional and economic integration can be achieved only if concrete progress is made in settling existing conflicts and in the field of democracy and human rights. The resolution calls on the Commission, the Member States and the southern and eastern Mediterranean countries (SEMCs) to take into account the effects of the financial, economic and environmental crisis by incorporating social and environmental concerns into the economic and trade partnership to a greater extent . In view of the fact that youth and female unemployment is the most pressing social issue in the Mediterranean countries, Parliament calls on the governments of the (SEMCs) to implement consistent and effective employment and social protection policies in order to mitigate the effects of the crisis. It goes on to underline the following: the importance of the regional integration of the SEMCs and of increasing South-South trade, which is still under-developed, and accounts for only 6% of the SEMCs’ total trade. EU institutions are asked to respond positively to requests for technical and financial support to promote such South-South economic integration; the need to strengthen the cumulation of origin system, since it is a useful customs tool for revitalising trade in the area, and to update rules of origin in order to take account of the interests of the Euromed partners; the importance of ensuring the right of the SEMCs to control the speed with which they open up their trade and to control their national strategies for economic and social development; in view of the difficulties faced by Euro-Mediterranean textile producers in the context of growing global competition, the need to strengthen the North-South partnership, and to promote SEMCs’ activities with higher added value, based on creativity and innovation, and not only on business outsourcing; the need to create a Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Development Bank, which would secure donors from both shores of the Mediterranean and would be able to attract the FDIs which the Euro-Mediterranean region is lacking. Parliament takes the view that the FTA should be complemented by the phased introduction, subject to conditions, of free movement for workers , while taking account of the situation on the European employment market and current thinking in the international community on the links between migration and development. Members regard it as a matter of urgency to establish procedures to facilitate the granting of visas, in particular for the stakeholders in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, students, university staff and socio-economic players. They also stress the need to reduce the cost of transfers of remittances by migrant workers so as to maximise their use in the local economy. Parliament moves on to ask the Commission to keep it fully informed about progress on the association agreement with Syria , the signing of which was recently postponed by Syria. It considers that there are some concerns, such as bringing Libya back into negotiations for an association agreement and, more generally, into the UfM. In view of the Palestinian situation , specific measures should be taken to assist the population with a view to integrating this area into Mediterranean trade flows, and a solution should be found to address the issue of certification of origin and subsequent preferential treatment under the EC-Israel Association Agreement applicable to goods coming from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Parliament further considers that a balanced Road Map based on a broad consensus and, inter-alia, a positive social and environmental impact assessment, could be a useful instrument for re-launching economic and trade cooperation in coming years, and it calls on the Euro-Mediterranean Trade Ministers to endorse it at their ministerial meeting in December 2009. Lastly, Parliament stresses the role of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) within the partnership, as the democratic body bringing together parliamentarians from both shores of the Mediterranean around the three pillars of the Barcelona Process. It calls for stronger cooperation on economic affairs between the EMPA and the Commission and Council.
    • date: 2009-11-25T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
    links
    other
      procedure/legal_basis/0
      Rules of Procedure EP 128-p5
      procedure/legal_basis/0
      Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 128-p5
      procedure/subject
      Old
      • 6.20.03 Bilateral economic and trade agreements and relations
      • 6.40.05 Relations with the Mediterranean and Southern European countries
      New
      6.20.03
      Bilateral economic and trade agreements and relations
      6.40.05
      Relations with the Mediterranean and southern European countries
      procedure/subtype
      Old
      Debate or resolution on oral questions
      New
      Debate or resolution on oral question/interpellation
      activities
      • date: 2009-11-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20091124&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
      • date: 2009-11-25T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=17707&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2009-91 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0091/2009 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
      committees
        links
        other
          procedure
          reference
          2009/2719(RSP)
          title
          Resolution on the Euro-Mediterranean economic and trade partnership ahead of the 8th Euromed Ministerial Conference on Trade, Brussels, 9 December 2009
          legal_basis
          Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 128-p5
          stage_reached
          Procedure completed
          subtype
          Debate or resolution on oral questions
          type
          RSP - Resolutions on topical subjects
          subject