|
A
DIFFERENT and more volatile "north-south"
problem exists today. It too concerns the
peoples of the richer north seeking to improve
the fortunes of the poorer south.
But
this time it is more localised and refers
to the economic gap that might be ameliorated
with more trade between the countries on
the north side of the Mediterranean with
those on the south.
The
key objective of the trade partnership between
the countries of North Africa, in the eyes
of the European Commission (EC), is the
creation of a deep Euro-Mediterranean Free
Trade Area.
Its
aim, said the EC website, is to remove barriers
to trade and investment between both the
EU and southern Mediterranean countries
- and among southern Mediterranean countries
themselves.
Euro-Mediterranean
Association Agreements are in force with
most of the partners with the exception
of Syria and Libya.
The
scope of these agreements is essentially
limited to trade in goods and a number of
bilateral negotiations are on going or being
prepared in order to deepen the association
agreements.
These
on-going or future negotiations are related
to further liberalisation of trade in agriculture,
liberalisation of trade in services, accreditation
and acceptance of industrial products and
regulatory convergence.
It
is hoped that one day a Euro-Mediterranean
partnership will include Algeria, Egypt,
Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco,
Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.
Together,
the region represents 8.6 per cent of total
EU external trade. The Union for the Mediterranean
aims to establish a common area of peace,
stability, and shared prosperity in the
Euro-Mediterranean region, said the EC position
paper.
EU-southern
Mediterranean relations at bilateral level
are managed mainly through the Euro-Mediterranean
Association Agreements. Nearly all countries
have concluded association agreements with
the EU.
Preparations
are going to deepen these agreements through
the establishment of deep and comprehensive
free trade areas.
But
negotiations for a Framework Agreement between
the European Union and Libya are currently
suspended.
Steps
towards the signature of the initialled
Association Agreement with Syria are also
currently suspended.
But
other agreements covering trade in goods
and are complemented with a number of additional
ongoing negotiations and preparations for
future negotiations.
These
talks are being held with a view to opening
additional agricultural trade, liberalising
trade in services and investment, negotiating
agreements on accreditation and acceptance
of industrial products and establishing
deep and comprehensive free trade areas.
Deepening
south-south economic integration is a key
goal of the Euro-Mediterranean trade partnership.
It is an essential element towards the establishment
of a fully-fledged Free Trade Area, said
the EC paper.
But
regional economic integration between southern
Mediterranean countries is still limited:
intra-regional trade is a small fraction
(5.9 per cent in exports and 5.1 per cent
in imports) of the countries total trade.
This
is one of the lowest levels of regional
economic integration in the World. The EU
supports the strengthening of trade relations
among southern Mediterranean countries.
For
example, the Agadir Agreement between Tunisia,
Morocco, Jordan, and Egypt, in force since
2007, remains open to other Arab Mediterranean
countries.
Israel
and Jordan have signed a Free Trade Agreement.
Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco,
the Palestinian Territories, Syria and Tunisia
have signed bilateral agreements with Turkey.
And negotiations are underway between other
Mediterranean countries to establish similar
agreements.
The
EU works closely with each of its southern
Mediterranean partners to support economic
and social transition and reform, taking
into account each country's specific needs
and characteristics. These programmes are
funded under the European Neighbourhood
Policy.
The
EU is present on the ground in the region
through delegations in Algeria, Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian
Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.
Trade
relations are part of the EU's overall political
and economic relations with the region and
building a framework of peace and stability
is a permanent goal however long it takes.
|
