The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean has unanimously agreed upon granting Observer and Associate Member status to candidate countries and institutions during the 3rd Plenary Session of the PAM being held in the Principality of Monaco between 13-15 November 2008.

The Romanian parliament has been accorded Associate membership while The Parliamentary Union of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the Mediterranean Working Group on Electricity and Gas (MEDREG) and the Fondazione Mediterraneo have been granted the Observer status. Associate Members and Observers may participate in PAM’s activities, where they may take the floor with the permission of the President, without however having voting rights.

PAM’s President, the Hon. Abdelwahed Radi, and Secretary General, Dr. Sergio Piazzi, expressed their satisfaction, adding that this is another step towards further and wider cooperation between those working in favour of a true dialogue between people from different cultures at different levels and within different sectors of the political, economic, social and cultural life. The role of PAM in the Mediterranean has also been recognised during the 3rd Plenary Session with the participation of non Mediterranean countries, Regional Parliamentary Assemblies as well as International Organisations and NGO’s.