ASSEMBLEA PARLAMENTAREDELL’UNIONE PER IL MEDITERRANEOITALIANPRESIDENCY

Palermo, 18 June 2010

Bureau statement on the Union for the Mediterranean

On the occasion of its meeting held under the Italian Presidency on 18 June 2010 inPalermo, recalling the EMPA recommendation of 12 October 2008 on the role of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly within the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), aswell as the previous Bureau statements on the UfM of 20 November 2009 and 22 January2010

The Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean

(UfM):

Reiterates that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PAUfM) should be informed on all projects or strategies developed within theframework of the UfM, so as to give its opinion, and invites the various Committeesof the Assembly to hear regularly the Secretary General and the Deputy SecretariesGeneral of the Secretariat of the UfM;Reiterates the essential institutional function ensured by the ParliamentaryAssembly of the UfM in policy setting and democratic oversight as theparliamentary dimension of the Union for the Mediterranean recognised in the ParisDeclaration, emphasising the importance of fully integrating the Committees andWorking Groups making up the Assembly into the work performed at theintergovernmental level;stresses the importance of the Union for the Mediterranean as a whole andadvocates the re-convening in Barcelona of the Second Summit of the Heads ofState and Government in November 2010 – on the 15thanniversary of theDeclaration initiating the partnership – and stresses the need for the UfM to give apowerful political impetus to Euro-Mediterranean co-operation and in particular tothe resumption of the Middle East peace process;regrets the postponement of some ministerial conferences and recommends that theybe held regularly so so to offer opportunities for the ongoing projects to make realprogress, thanks also to the contribution of the Committees and Working Groups ofthe Parliamentary Assembly of the UfM;warmly welcomes the establishment of the UfM Secretariat, recommending theprompt adoption of its annual budget, in the hope that every possible synergy withthe PA-UfM Secretariat will soon be established;

ASSEMBLEA PARLAMENTAREDELL’UNIONE PER IL MEDITERRANEOITALIANPRESIDENCYemphasises the need for a strong, efficient and inclusive Union for theMediterranean able to play its role in the common commitment to addressing theworld economic crisis that is making it more and more urgent to pursue regionalintegration, to establish a free-trade area and increase investment, also by putting inplace more effective financial facilities, such as the institution of a Euro-Mediterranean Bank.

Sen. Renato SCHIFANIPresident of the Italian SenateCo-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the MediterraneanHon. Gianfranco FINIPresident of the Italian Chamber of DeputiesCo-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the MediterraneanHon. Abdelwahed RADIPresident of Morocco’s Chamber of RepresentativesVice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the MediterraneanHon. Gianni PITTELLA – representing Mr BUZEK,President of the European ParliamentVice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the MediterraneanSen. Abdel-Hadi MAJALIMember of the Senate of JordanVice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean