The 6th High level Meeting of parliaments of the “5+5 Dialogue” member States took place in Marseille, on 27th-28th October, generously hosted by the French National Assembly, on the occasion of the 5+5 Dialogue Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers. This Forum brings together Algeria, Spain, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Mauritania, Portugal and Tunisia.
The Parliamentary debate, organised and coordinated by the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), discussed the parliamentary dimension of the main topics raised during the parallel “5+5 Dialogue” Ministerial meeting. Sen. Lhou Lmarbouh (Morocco) and Hon. Michel Vauzelle (France) opened the Meeting of the parliamentarians.
The parliamentarians, following a series of round tables on the current issues facing the Mediterranean, agreed on a final document with a number of recommendations, which were presented, during an ad hoc meeting, to the co-Presidents of the 5+5 Dialogue Forum, namely, the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Marc Ayraut and the Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar.
On Libya, the delegates underscored the need for further national dialogue and a political solution, and the need to safeguard the national integrity of the country, while stressing the urgency to assist Libya to build its own institutions, also with the help of parliamentary diplomacy, including through the collaboration of PAM and the UN Special Representative.
The fight against terrorism and possibly its eradication, depend mostly on socio-economic development, with a focus to reduce extremism, marginalisation and precariousness.
With regards to the situation in the Middle East and its repercussions on the 5+5 region, the delegates highlighted the issue of the Syrian refugees and the need to relaunch the Middle East Peace Process, with the aim to achieve the two State solution, backed by the international community. The threat represented by ISIS terrorists abandoning Mosul and Rakka, and their probable return to the countries of origin, was highlighted.
On the economic front, a number of proposals were once again mentioned, such as the establishment of a regional free trade zone, access to funding by SMEs and TPEs, the role of a Mediterranean Energy community, and the regional economic integration through a Union of the Great Maghreb.
Particular attention was dedicated to unemployment and youth, suggesting a better link between skills, training and business requirements, which could be achieved through the setting up of a professional tool connecting universities and enterprises in the Northern and Southern shores of the Mediterranean.
With regards to climate change, the 5+5 parliamentarians pinned their hopes on the upcoming COP22 Conference which will represent an opportunity to implement the Paris Agreement. In the recommendations the delegates undertook to support and accompany the implementation of this agreement through all necessary legislative tools.
The parliamentarians observed that the unprecedented scale of the migration phenomenon has caught by surprise the capacity of the single states, which has exposed the cultural and political weakness of Europe in dealing with migration collectively. The situation in the Sahel, and its implications for the Mediterranean, will require dedicated attention by the parliamentarians.
Finally, the delegates reiterated unanimously the need to further reinforce the parliamentary dimension of the 5+5 Dialogue – Western Mediterranean Forum and agreed that PAM, given its mission in the regional parliamentary dimension, should be linked to all the activities related to the 5+5 Dialogue, including the environment, education, tourism and security.