The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further strengthen their collaboration in the implementation of the G8 Deauville Partnership. The formalization of the cooperation platform between the two institutions lays the foundations for a more coordinated effort in support of the development and prosperity of the Mediterranean region.
The MoU was signed by PAM Secretary General, Amb. Sergio Piazzi and Acting Vice President of the EBRD, Mr. Johann Lankes, on the occasion of the Conference “Harnessing Trade for Growth in the Mediterranean”, organized by PAM in cooperation with UNECE and UNCTAD held at the UN Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on 31 May, 2013.
The signing of the Memorandum took place in the presence of the Heads of national Delegation of the four pilot countries identified by the partnership, namely Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, and Mauritania. Bilateral consultations followed between the PAM Secretary General, the EBRD Vice President, and the five parliamentary delegations, during which the role of national parliaments in the implementation process of the EBRD programmes and further cooperation were discussed.
The geographical extension of EBRD’s mandate to include the countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean has increased the importance of its role in addressing the challenges in the PAM region. PAM had in fact strongly lobbied for and supported entrusting of this mandate to the EBRD, as part of its parliamentary efforts to establish a dedicated mechanism to finance infrastructures and facilitate access to credit by SMEs in the Mediterranean region.
EBRD and PAM, through the Memorandum of Understanding, will explore ways in which they can cooperate in implementing their respective objectives, including through consultations, joint research and analytical studies, meetings, exchange of information and other outreach activities.
PAM and EBRD have complementary goals in the Mediterranean region. While PAM develops cooperation by promoting political dialogue and understanding between the parliaments of Mediterranean States, on the other hand the EBRD’s target is to foster the transition towards open market-oriented economies and to promote private and entrepreneurial initiatives in those countries committed to and applying the principles of multiparty democracy, pluralism and market economies.
EBRD is also very actively involved in the PAM Panel for Trade and Investments in the Mediterranean, and its contribution in the debates of the different sectoral groups, has been instrumental in translating into actions the political and legislative recommendations of the Mediterranean parliamentarians.
Background note:
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) first discussed forms of cooperation during a meeting held at the PAM Headquarters in Malta on 2 November, 2011.
PAM Secretary General, Dr. Sergio Piazzi, accompanied by PAM Senior Adviser on Energy, Eng. Alessandro Ortis, welcomed Dr. Riccardo Puliti, Managing Director and Head of Energy and Natural Resources of the EBRD, with whom issues of interest for the Mediterranean region were tackled.
Dr. Piazzi explained the role that PAM has acquired in the region and referred to the many topics being dealt with together with the delegations and parliamentarians of the Assembly’s member states. PAM Secretary General also referred to the achievements obtained by the PAM Panel on External Trade and Investments in the Mediterranean, which is an ongoing process gaining further momentum in its operational strategy. Dr. Piazzi also invited Dr. Puliti to the forthcoming PAM international high-level conference on the “Development and integration of energy networks in the Mediterranean basin”, to be held in Naples, Italy on 17 November, 2011.
Dr. Puliti, on his part, gave an overview of the EBRD’s objectives and role, saying that the Bank is interested in financing projects, together with national and commercial partners, related to infrastructure transformation, such as water, waste management, airport terminals, ground transportation, and other specific priority projects of interest to each country, such as agricultural projects and marketing. “The EBRD has gained a lot of experience in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. We are now looking towards North Africa and the Middle East, and we consider PAM as the ideal partner, since it has in place an efficient network of relations with these countries”, Dr. Puliti said.
Dr. Piazzi and Dr. Puliti agreed to establish regular contacts and to have additional discussions on those issues of common interest, in order to draw up a plan of action which would lead to further infrastructure developments in the PAM region.
Further meetings were held at the EBRD London Headquarters, between the PAM Secretary General, Amb. Sergio Piazzi and EBRD President, Mr. Thomas Mirow.