Several days ahead of the Euro-Mediterranean Summit in Barcelona, which will mark 10th anniversary of the cooperation, the decision to open the negotiations confirms that the EU is determined to give new impetus to the economic integration across the Mediterranean.
The decision of the EU ministers shows that the EU is ready help the Mediterranean countries to face the economic challenges of the 21st century, European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said. He added that the objective was to establish a free trade region in the Mediterranean by 2010. The liberalisation of services and investments is the key part of our strategy to achieve that, Mandelson said.
Following the decision of the Council of Ministers, the Commission will call on Mediterranean partners to start negotiations on services and investments in early 2006.