Seminar "Spain and the Euro-Mediterranean"

In the framework of the European neighbourhood policy year, the seminar celebrated in Barcelona on June 28th and 29th had the aim to analyse the main challenges for Spain in this new framework and the possibilities to activate the Euro-Mediterranean project.

Over 60 experts, diplomats, politicians and members of the civil society related to the Barcelona process gathered there to propose actions to work from Spain.

Moreover, the results of the meeting will contribute to the definition of the priorities of the European Institute of the Mediterranean (EIMed) and other institutions in this new stage of consolidation of the Euro-Mediterranean action.

The seminar was coordinated by Juan Prat, special ambassador for Mediterranean affairs (Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ministry) and Senén Florensa, special ambassador and director-general of the EIMed.

PROGRAMME

PARTICIPANTS

ABSTRACTS

PROGRAMME

Wednesday, June 28th

Inauguration
Senén Florensa, director-general of the EIMed. (video)
Margarita Obiols, secretary of External Relations of the Catalan Government. (video)
Rafael Dezcallar, Rafael Dezcallar, director-general for Foreign Policy of the Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ministry. (video)

Introductory session
Juan Prat, special ambassador for Mediterranean affairs (FACM). (video)
Comments:
Narcís Serra, president of the CIDOB Foundation; member of the management board of the EIMed. (video)

First session
The political dimension of the Euro-Mediterranean project. Spain’s stance

- Political dialogue and security in the Mediterranean.
- Neighbourhood policy, a key subject in the Euro-Mediterranean debate. New perspectives of the Barcelona Process.
- Maghreb, a privileged partner of Spain in the Euro-Mediterranean framework.

Chaired by: Rafael Dezcallar, director-general of Foreign Policy of the Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ministry. (video)

Participants:
Anna Terrón, secretary-general of the Catalan Pro-Europe Board. (video)
Álvaro de Vasconcelos, secretary-general of EuroMeSCo.
Juan González-Barba, advisor for Mediterranean affairs in the Permanent Representation of Spain in the EU. (video)
Manuel Gómez-Acebo, assistant director-general for North Africa in the Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ministry. (video)

Introduction to the debate: Miguel Ángel Bastenier, international analyst, EL PAÍS.

Comments: Esther Barbé, professor of international relations, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Antoni Segura, professor of contemporary history, Universitat de Barcelona; Jesús Núñez, director of the Institute of Studies on Conflicts and Humanitarian Action (IECAH); Gemma Aubarell, director of organisation of the European Institute of the Mediterranean (EIMed).

DEBATE

Second session
The Euro-Mediterranean economic activities and the European Neighbourhood Policy

- The association agreements and the new action plans.
- Socio-economic development and reforms.
The Euro-Mediterranean Association and the economic and social modernisation of the southern countries.
- Competition and complementarity in the priority sectors: agriculture, tourism, industry, energy, environment, communications…
- Towards a development bank? Cooperation tools and investment in the Mediterranean.

Chaired by: Senén Florensa, special ambassador and director-general of the EIMed. (video)
Participants: Jean-Louis Reiffers, coordinator of FEMISE.(paper) (video)
Andreu Bassols, head assistant of the EuroMed Unit and of Regional Affairs, DG External Relations, European Commission. (video)
Emilio Fontela, dean of the Faculty of Juridical, Economic and Entrepreneurial Sciences, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija. (video)


Introduction to the debate: Lluís Foix, editor of La Vanguardia Digital

Comments: Luís Tejada, assistant director-general for management of the integration and economical coordination affairs of the EU, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Francesc Granell, professor of international economic organisation of the Universitat de Barcelona and honour director-general of the European Commission; Iván Martín, assistant teacher of the Department of Economy of the Universidad Carlos III in Madrid; Iñigo Moré, director of Emergent Markets; Francis Ghilès, Senior Fellow, European Institute of the Mediterranean (EIMed).


Thursday June 29th

Third sessions
Tools and stakeholders of the European Neighbourhood Policy. Social and cultural dialogue, decentralisation and governability.

- New tools of the European Neighbourhood Policy (2007-2013)
- Spanish initiative in the framework of the dialogue tools (Anna Lindh Foundation, Alliance of Civilisations).
- Local and regional stakeholders.
- Implication of the civil society in the Euro-Mediterranean dossier.
- Euro-Mediterranean activities in the cooperation plans. Priority subjects: education, genres, sustainability, governability, etc
- Cultural dialogue in the Mediterranean.
- Migration and social integration.

Chaired by: Alfons Martinell, director-general of cultural and scientific cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. (video)
Participants:
Dolores Romeo, European Commission, DG for External Relations, European Neighbourhood Policy / RELEX D2. (See paper - updated on 29 June 2006) (video)
Rafael Dochao, Desk Officer, Social, Cultural and Human Aspects of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, DG for External Relations, European Commission.(video)
Carolina Mayeur, assistant director-general of cooperation with the Mediterranean and eastern European countries, AECI. (video)
Gema Martín Muñoz, lecturer of sociology of the Arab world and the Islam, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.(video)

Comments: José Moisés Martín, president of the Euromed Platform for the Civil Forum; Eduard Soler i Lecha, coordinator of the Mediterranean Programme, CIDOB Foundation; Agustí Fernández de Losada, director of the Services of External Relations, Regional Government of Barcelona, “Arc Llatí” Net; Alberto Morillas, head of the service of Institutional Relations and Interregional Cooperation, General Secretariat of External Action, Junta de Andalucía; Concha Blat, coordinator of external relations and cooperation for the development, Delegation of Valencia in Brussels, Cooperation and Participation Department, Valencian Government; Maria-Àngels Roque, director of Mediterranean Cultures, EIMed.

Closing ceremony

Senén Florensa, special ambassador and director-general of the EIMed.

Juan Prat, special ambassador for Mediterranean affairs (Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ministry). (video)

	__Resources on the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Barcelona Process
	Dossier: Ten years after the Barcelona Process. Assessment and Perspectives: From Barcelona Process to Neighbourhood Policy. Med. 2005, Mediterranean Yearbook
	The European Neighbourhood Policy and the Barcelona Process Dossier of the Medobs (Observatory of the Mediterranean)