Strengthening the Mediterranean Policy of the European Union: establishing a Euro-Mediterranean partnership

This Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament deals with strengthening the European Union's Mediterranean policy and establishing a "Euro-Mediterranean" partnership. Its main purpose is to start a debate with a view to a possible Euro-Mediterranean conference in 1995 and to define the Community's strategy towards this changing region of the world. It deals mainly with the Maghreb, the Mashrek and Israel, but also stresses the importance of the Community's special relations with Turkey, Cyprus and Malta with a view to their accession to the Union. This communication mainly points out that: - the pre-accession strategy with the countries of eastern Europe does not affect the Community's commitments in the Mediterranean region; - Europe and the Mediterranean are interdependent at several levels: environment, energy, emigration, commerce and investments; - the Community's objective should be a partnership with the countries in the region, starting by liberalizing trade, providing financial assistance (the Commission is quoting a figure of ECU 5.5 billion between 1995 and 1999), strengthening cooperation in all areas (including interregional), gradually setting up an association, the details of which will be decided at a later date, and developing political dialogue at the highest level.�