Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers for Foreign Affairs

The Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers for Foreign Affairs culminated with the unanimous adoption of the "Tampere Conclusions" on Tuesday, 28 November. According to Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, this was in itself an important achievement, as it was only the second time that the Foreign Ministers had been able to adopt conclusions unanimously. The 8th Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers for Foreign Affairs brought together foreign affairs ministers from the EU Member States and their counterparts from the Mediterranean basin, as well as figures such as the CFSP High Representative Javier Solana, European Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner and the Secretary General for the Arab League Amr Mahmoud Moussa. The positive evolution in the Middle East was welcomed by all the ministers present. The Head of French diplomacy made it quite clear that resumption in aid to the Palestinian Authority was now envisaged. “Strong” intentions have been imputed to the German presidency (in the first half of 2007), which would like to put its stamp on developments in this dossier. The lengthy final declaration made a traditional list of the different acquis and ongoing projects in all areas of activity including immigration, education (towards the creation of a EuroMed Erasmus), the strengthening of the role of “civil society”, women's rights, and above all real progress in essential sectors like transport, energy and, in particular, funding for cooperation. EIB vice president, Philippe de Fontaine Vive hoped that the EU would grant the banking institution, which manages FEMIP (the financial instrument used for EuroMed cooperation) “support in keeping with the political stakes at play”. This wish was granted the very day in Brussels by the Council of ministers of the economy and finance, which set out an envelope of €8.7bn for 2007-13 as part of a strengthened FEMIP contribution.