The EPP supports the Union for the Mediterranean

The Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) welcomed the support expressed by the European People’s Party (EPP) to the Union for the Mediterranean during its Congress, held in Marseille on December 7 and 8.

In a document adopted on this occasion, the EPP stressed that: “The Union for the Mediterranean, which the EPP strongly supports, must be the major player in establishing a region based on peace and cooperation. There is a great potential for cooperation in the field of energy between the shores of the Mediterranean. Concerted projects, such as the partnership on renewable energy, with projects such as Desertec, euro-Mediterranean interconnections in the gas and electricity sectors, improvement of motorways and train infrastructure, and de-pollution of the Mediterranean sea, can deliver benefits for both sides”
This document underlines: “The Mediterranean should become an area of common economic development, improved political and cultural exchange, and where shared political purpose and common values, such as the respect of human rights including freedom of religion, are respected.”

The EPP highlighted that: “In an increasingly competitive international system seeing new emerging powers as global or regional actors, it is crucial for the EU to engage with them more effectively.”

In his address to the Congress, the Secretary-General Youssef Amrani urged the EU to engage in a constructive dialogue with the new leaderships in the Southern Mediterranean, in order to consolidate the shared universal values of democracy, and respect for the rule of law. In addition he underlined the availability of the UfM: “as an innovative and original framework, that will leverage the development of effective regional governance in the Mediterranean through targeted sectoral policies and specific projects.”