The Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area was on the agenda of a meeting between EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Trade Ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) today in Brussels. Participants also discussed how to enhance economic integration and how to boost Euro-Mediterranean trade and investment. The Conference also saw the launching of the EU Export Helpdesk in a fifth language, Arabic.
"Since 1995, we have made significant progress in deepening trade relations in the Euro-Mediterranean region", said Commissioner Karel De Gucht. "The EU remains strongly committed to an ambitious agenda that can enhance growth and prosperity on all sides of the Mediterranean. I am also proud to announce that we are launching an Arabic version of our Export Helpdesk today. This is an important step to better address the needs of the economic operators in the region."
Co-chaired by Egypt, France, Belgium (as presidency-in-office of the EU) and the European Commission, the conference highlighted the importance of pursuing a common and ambitious trade agenda beyond 2010. Ministers endorsed measures to facilitate the trade of Palestinian products to Euro-Mediterranean markets. These include a future proposal by the Commission to grant duty- and quota-free access for all Palestinian products, the possible accession of the Palestinian Authority to the Agadir Agreement and the strengthening of the Palestinian administration in the area of trade.
Moreover, Ministers set Euro-Mediterranean working priorities for 2011. They agreed to focus on initiatives that can bring the partnership closer to economic operators, such as a Trade and Investment Facilitation mechanism to provide centralised information on trade and investment flows, regulations and conditions in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Jointly combating piracy and counterfeiting is another priority. Key representatives of the Euro-Mediterranean business community attended part of the meeting and contributed a useful practitioners' angle to the debate.
In the margins of the Ministerial meeting, Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Minister Steven Vanackere signed bilateral protocols, creating a mechanism which will allow a more efficient settlement of trade disputes between the EU and Egypt, and the EU and Lebanon.
News source: EU Press Room link: article
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