The Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the 5+5 Dialogue, in their final declaration, have invited PAM parliamentarians to increase their fruitful dialogue and to provide their precious contribution in the implementation of the objectives and priorities agreed upon in Nouakchott for the well-being of the people of the region.
The Ministers met in Nouakchott, Mauritania on 16 April 2013, on the occasion of the 10th Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Western Mediterranean 5+5 Dialogue, which gathers Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, and, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain.
In their final declaration, particular emphasis was placed on civil society and in particular the inter-parliamentary dialogue, which have a key role to complement the efforts of the national Governments to consolidate peace and stability in the Western region of the Mediterranean.
PAM Secretary General, Amb. Sergio Piazzi, in presenting the final declaration adopted by the PAM parliamentarians, who had met in Nouakchott on the eve of the Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed the pivotal role of the Parliamentary Dimension of the 5+5 Dialogue in furthering the cooperation required among the countries of the Western Mediterranean Forum. In this way, they can strengthen democratic institutions and deepen integration to make the region less vulnerable to instability. “Representative democracies and parliaments are best placed to respond to political and economic challenges, and to prevent divisions emerging between leaders and the citizens”, Amb. Piazzi added.
During the PAM parliamentarians meeting, PAM President, Sen. Francesco Maria Amoruso (Italy), acting also in his national capacity as co-chair with Mauritania of the 5+5 Parliamentary Dialogue, elaborated further on specific issues of concern, such as the importance of cooperation, confrontation and especially the need for a concerted effort, and a shared commitment to contribute to the resolution of the problems of the region, such as terrorism, illegal migration, organised crime and unemployment. «Today is yet another occasion to underline the convergence and complementarity of the legislative and the executive powers for them to foster joint initiatives according to their respective mandates» Sen. Amoruso said.
PAM Vice-President and President of the Economic Affairs Committee, Sen. Lhou Lmarbouh, (Morocco), highlighted the interdependence of stability and development, where trade facilitation, job creation, support to SMEs, youth employment and education are factors that need urgent actions.
The next meeting of the Parliamentary 5+5 Western Mediterranean Forum will take place in Lisbon in April 2014, at the invitation of the Portuguese parliament.