The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, convening in Barcelona, Catalonia on 19^th and 20^th November 2009:

The Mediterranean Sea is often regarded as a fault-line between civilizations. The waters of the Mediterranean separate the European continent from the African one, at some points by a distance of only a few kilometers;

The Barcelona Process emerged during the Spanish Presidency in 1995 from the decision of the European Union and twelve neighbouring countries from the south and east of the Mediterranean region to establish a perspective of partnership and association. After more than eleven years of implementation, the outcome of this space for a deeper dialogue between both shores of the Mediterranean Sea showed contradiction, excessive bureaucracy and budgetary constraints;

That was the main reason why in 2008 the European Union re-launched its Mediterranean cooperation with a stronger strategy named the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean, which was established at the Paris Summit for the Mediterranean in July 2008. The Partnership now includes all 27 member states of the European Union, along with 16 partners across the Southern Mediterranean and the Middle East;

This re-launching aimed to infuse a new vitality into the Partnership and to raise the political level of the strategic relationship between the EU and its southern neighbours. While maintaining the acquis of its predecessor, the Barcelona Process, the Union for the Mediterranean offers more balanced governance, increased visibility to its citizens and a commitment to tangible, regional and trans-national projects;

Some of the most important innovations of the Union for the Mediterranean include a rotating co-presidency with one EU president and one president representing the Mediterranean partners, and a Secretariat based in Barcelona, Catalonia, that is responsible for identifying and promoting projects of regional, sub-regional and transnational value across different sectors;

The Mediterranean area is gaining importance again, not only politically but also from an economic point of view; the Mediterranean region is also increasing its role while achieving the highest volume of shipping trade in the world in the 21st century. This anticipated expansion will be in part due to growth as a result of the Europe-Asia trade corridor, complemented by the projected enlargement of the Suez Canal. The Southern European Mediterranean ports will gain importance in global trade if they are efficient and cost-effective;

In this context, the Catalan ports –mainly Barcelona- should play a similar role to the Belgian and Dutch ports, which in the 20^th century were at the forefront of the expansion of trade across the Atlantic Ocean.

Calls upon:

-         The upcoming Spanish Presidency of the EU to focus on strengthening the political role of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean, as a meeting place and not as a cultural dividing line between the North and the South;

-         The Member States of the European Union to move towards the establishment of a EuroMediterranean free trade area in line with the objectives laid down by the original Barcelona process from 1995. It would also enhance the credibility of the policy among the neighbouring countries and be coherent with the liberalising proposals that from the liberal side we have also promoted. This process has to be accompanied by a clear strategy on energy supply from the exporting to the importing countries, namely from the North African to the European countries;

-         The members of the Union for the Mediterranean to strongly promote democracy, the rule of law, the principles of good governance in general, and respect for human and individual rights, gender equality and the environment, as well as the promotion of individual freedom, economic competitiveness and free market economy. These deep reforms must not be the result of cooperation with the EU only, but also of the internal reforms of these countries themselves;

-         The members of the Union for the Mediterranean to take joint measures to prevent illegal immigration from Africa to the EU and to cooperate closely on the operational level of border controls, patrolling on sea c.a.

-         The ELDR member parties to support the political parties in those not fully democratic UfM countries that clearly strive for democracy, human rights and free market economy.