From 1976 to 1990, trade relations between Europe and the Mediterranean countries were governed by the Global Mediterranean Policy, agreed at the 1972 Paris Summit. Bilateral trade and co-operation agreements with Mediterranean countries were negotiated, granting free access to EC markets for manufactured goods. A special regime was agreed for Greece, Turkey, Malta and Cyprus with the intention of paving the way for a customs union or eventual EC membership for these countries.

A more important turning point, however, was the Conference of Barcelona in November 1995. Here, for the first time, the 15 EU Member States and 12 countries to the south and west of the Mediterranean (Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta) agreed on a Euro-Mediterranean Partnership based on the Barcelona Declaration. This entails the creation of a free-trade economic zone, envisaged for 2010.

Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (MEDA Program)

The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership's principal financial instrument up to 2007 was known as the MEDA program. Implemented by DG EuropeAid, the program offered technical and financial support measures to assist the economic and social reform process in the Mediterranean partner countries.

The MEDA program covered Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta.

The objectives of the MEDA program were to reinforce political stability, to establish a Euro-Mediterranean free-trade area, and to develop economic and social co-operation. The fight against poverty was identified as an objective, alongside "the improvement of social services, especially in the area of health, family planning, water supply, sanitation and housing". There was no specific regulation in the area of basic education.

Because the program initially consisted of pre-accession aid to the Southern European countries, its general outlook was closer to the structural funds than to traditional Community development assistance. The MEDA countries received different treatment from other aid recipients; Community institutions, including the European Parliament, tended to use different principles for the provision of aid to developing countries and other regions. In general, Community policy towards poverty eradication was not seen as applying to the Mediterranean region, despite the high levels of poverty in many of its countries. The same criticism was leveled at the TACIS program, which governed relations with the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

As of 2007, the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) replaced both the MEDA and TACIS programs. (Legislative regulation: EC REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument: http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/pdf/oj_l310_en.pdf)

The European Partnership Instrument

The overall goal of the instrument is to enhance co-operation and progressive economic integration between the European Union and its neighboring partner countries. Particularly, this is an instrument for assistance to those countries which are not likely to become part of the European Union in the next future. It also aims at sustaining partner countries' efforts in promoting good governance and equitable social and economic development.

The central element of the European Neighbourhood Policy is the bilateral ENP Action Plans agreed between the EU and each partner. These set out an agenda of political and economic reforms with short and medium-term priorities. Implementation is jointly promoted and monitored through sub-Committees.

An important aspect of the ENP, and the strategic partnership with Russia, is to markedly improve cross-border co-operation with countries along the EU's external land and maritime borders, thus giving substance to our aim of avoiding new dividing lines. The ENPI will therefore support cross-border contacts and co-operation between local and regional actors and civil society.

Websites for further information:

On ENPI funding : http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/funding_en.htm