The Mediterranean is at the intersection of three continents; Africa, Europe and the Middle East. The partner states of the EU in the Mediterranean (MEDA countries) are: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey
General overview of the economie
South of Mediterranean is a region with diverse economies .Some of them are based on oil, agriculture, tourism among others. MEDA countries have been active in structuring their economies to create favorable business environment. This has been done through macroeconomic reforms
The Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area (EMFTA) is to be established in the year 2010.This is to be accomplished through the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements negotiated and concluded between the European Union and the Mediterranean Partners, together with free trade agreements between the partners themselves. The zone will be a very important strategic economic entity comprising of 40 States and 600-800 million people
People, language and culture
The South of Mediterranean has a population of approximately 268 million .The inhabitants of the southern Mediterranean are often bilinguals (French- Arabic and English Arabic)
The region is rich with cultural traditions. Though each country has its very own cultural identity, similarities exist in the different cultures. Arab is the official language in most countries and Islam is the major religion in the region Similarities are also portrayed in aspects such as food, architecture, art, traditions and crafts, amongst others. This was as a result of travel, resettlement and colonization amongst the different countries which stimulated the sharing of ideas and experiences over time
Euro-Mediterranean partnership, environment, waterconservation and managing scarce water resources. Read more
The short and medium term Priority Environmental Action Programme (SMAP) is a framework program of action for the protection of the Mediterranean environment in the context of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. It was adopted unanimously by the euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on the environment held in Helsinki on the 28 November 1997
The program is funded through loans and grants; The European Investment Bank is ready and willing to participate. The major financial instrument for the implementation of the program is the MEDA programme which provides funding for all activities foreseen by the Barcelona Declaration.
WPF is a building block of the EU Water Initiative
The objectives of the Euro-Mediterranean Water and Poverty facility partnership. Read more
The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership comprises two complementary dimensions. Read more
New Euromed Cultural Heritage initiative : Adopt a Mediterranean Heritage.
At the MED Committee on 13 June in Brussels, the member States gave a favourable opinion on National Financing Plans (NFP) 2006 for Jordan and Morocco as well as on Part II and Part III of the Neighbourhood Regional Financing Plan 2006 (RFP). Read more
