State (CFSP/CSDP) By Mediterranean Riga, 5 March. , ent Excellencies Ladies and Dear friends, ent), and. the UfM. and. inviting.

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1 State play the European Neighborhood Policy. Interparliamentary Conference for the Common Foreign Security Policy the Common Security a Defence Policy (CFSP/CSDP) By Fathallah Sijilmassi, Secretary General o the Union for the Mediterranean Riga, 5 March 2015 Dear Minister Rinkevics (Minister Republic Latvia) ) Foreign Affairs the Dear Co-panelists,, Dear members Parliame ent Excellencies Ladies Gentlemen, Dear friends, I would like at the outsett to thank the President the Saeima (Latvian Parliame ent), the twoo Chairmen both the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Defence, Internal Affairs Corruption Prevention Committee, forr organizing inviting the UfM at thiss Conference. It is a great pleasure to be here today, among such distinguished participants,, to be given the opportunity to exchange with you on such an important issue.

2 We are fortunate to t engage in these discussionss coinciding with the Latvian Presidency the Council the European Union. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Latviaa for an already successful EU Presidency. You will easily understd that I will focus my intervention on the Southern Neighbo orhood, but let me startt by stating strongly that we need to look at our region fromm a holistic approach, thus integratingg the EU both its Eastern Southern Neighborhood within a broad perspectivee growth, stability security. This is the reason why I am happy to be b here today eager to hear know more about the Eastern partnership perspectives, as well ass sharing with you some ideas regarding the UfM.. It is bearing in mind this holistic approach that we, at the UfM, have built strong partnerships with the Council the Baltic Sea States in order to work together in areas cooperation synergies. We identifiedd common projects initiatives which could be interest to both regions as it has been the case for example inn maritime affairs, environment transport, In the same spirit,, I have had the opportunity too engage a multiple very fruitful consultations with countries such as Sweden, Finl, Germany, Pol the Baltic states many others in the region, because we are all engaged in the collective management our environment.

3 As far as the Southern Neighborhood is concerned, the year 2015 is undoubtedly crucial, since in parallel to the ENP review the context in the region we are also celebrating the 20 th anniversary the Barcelon na Process, whose acquis forms f the basis Unionn for the Mediterranean. --- At this stage I would like to highlight six dimensionss that are increasingly essential in Mediterranean region: underlining the Euro- 1) The need for global balanced approaca ch between security development. There is no doubt that security related issues rank very high in the priorities in our region : terrorism, radicalism, illegal migration, crisis in Libya Syria all the related impacts consequences need to be addressed urgently, collectively efficiently. But it is important that all these issues be dealt with a comprehensivee approach in orderr to tackle them consistently permanently. The global balanced approach between security development needs to be confirmed for at least three reasons:

4 - long term stability lies in growth d development, - Theree are crisis in the region but theree are also encouraging success stories d manyy pillars stability. We should indeed bear in mind the numerous opportunities existing in the region, in the form large business opportunities potential reinforced economi c competitiveness, both in the region beyond. I have in mind Africa the Gulf countries. This economic bloc as a whole fers a real answer to the global challenges o competitiveness, job creation, economic growth d ultimately, to the well-being f the populations. - Today more than ever, inter-cultural dialogue the human dimension cooperation shouldd be placed at the forefront our discussions in order to bridge understing between people d fight all forms racisms, intolerance exclusions. I am sure wee are all fully convinced that tangible truly sustainable answers to existing security challenges must be found in economic growth, social progress prosperity. 2) The principle co-ownership. I would like to recall thatt the Union for the Mediterranean is the only institution gathering together the 28 EU member states,

5 9 Arab Mediterranean countries, plus Israel, I Turkey the Balkans. But perhaps more importantly: all these countries meet around the same table t with one main guiding principle: co ownership. Co-ownership entails that the interests aspirations both Northern Southern Mediterranean countries are taken into account. This iss illustrated by the fact that the UfM is led byy a joint Co-Presidencyy the EU, from the North, the Hashemitee Kingdom Jordan, from the South. The UfM is the framework wheree the North d the South work together to define a common agenda a based on shared interests. It is nott the North working withh the South, it is North South working together. This shared conviction on the need to jointly address these common challenges explains why, in the framewo ork the UfM, we have witnessed in the last years the revitalization this institution the regular holding f UfM ministerial conferences, which have strongly contributed towards building a common Mediterraneann agenda on a wide range fields, notably women empowerment, transport rt, industrial cooperation, environment t climate change, c digital economy, enabling us to develop manyy concrete regional projects initiatives in these areas. We need to consolidate this positive trend enlarge it to new strategic issues. The informal ministeria al meeting between the EU Southern Mediterra anean countries on

6 April 13th direction. in Barcelona will be an important step in this 3) Coherence with the European Neighborhood Policy. Thanks to the holding the Northern Co-Presidency by the European Union in March 2012, we are working closely with the EU institutions we do it consistentlyy with the European Neighborhood Policy. I would like to praise Mme Mogherini Commissioner Hahn commitment t to the UfM the Southern Neighborhood as well as that all our colleagues at the EeAS the Commiss sion. I am convinced that the current review the ENP will allow us to further reinforce thiss partnership a thuss fully draw on existing synergies. 4) The need to build on existing instruments to strengthen the synergies between them based on a result oriented approach. I know that every now then, there is always the temptation to rethink the model. But today if we look at the needs, priorities challenges the people we work for, the key words are actions results. I believe we can all collectively work within the framework the existing institutions but we certainly need n to strengthen the synergies complementaritiess between those institutions. This is why initiatives such as Amici for f the funding investments in the region are so important. This is also why

7 I support the initiative byy some member states, such as Spain, to organize beforee the end thiss year a high level meeting all the institutions engaged in euro mediterranean issues. And I am sure thatt the ENP review will retain this approach as a strong pillar. 5) The need to promote regional integration.. if we take t the UfM zone as a whole- that s it, all 28 EU member states plus the 15 Southern Eastern Mediterraneann countries- consider it as an economic bloc, taking into account all exchanges that take place within this zone: z then 90% trade exchanges take place between EU countries, 9% between EU countries Southern Mediterranean countries, only 1% between Southern Mediterranean countries. This figure points directlyy to the main challengee the Euro- regional integration. It should be the underlyingg objective on any endeavour in the region, not only o as a driverr for Mediterranean region is to face in thee yearss to come: economic growth in i the South ( in the North as well, course), but also as the best guarantee for political stability. I would also enlarge the perspectivee by saying that, whether on the level economic potential or on the level political stability in the Sahel-Sahara region, the Europe- ever before. 6) a multi-stakeholder approach. The ability to establish close interactions with all actors stakeholders the Mediterranean-Africa junction is today more evident than region is crucial to move cooperation forward.

8 In this respect Parliamentarians hold a very v important role. We have regular intense interactions with the Parliamentary Assembly the UFM. Ass you may know, a meeting the delegation the Europea n Parliament to the Parliamentary Assembly the Union for the Mediterranean will take place next week in Strasbourg, in the run up to the Summit UfM parliaments to take place next 11/12 May in Lisbon. I would like here to praise the role Martin Schultz as the President the European Parliament inn his strong efficient support to the UfM the euro-mede diterranean partnership. I am also committed to work with the different relevant committees the EP the PA UFM, would like to pay a speciall tribute to Elmar Brok. I am also conviced the need to continue working with all Euro-Mediterranean actors stakeholders. We pursue our objectives by encouraging consensuss building, developing regional sub-regional among all stakeholders from the Mediterranean region. In doing so, we strive to strengthen ourr relations with our networks, fostered dialogue exchange institutional partners, namely with those belonging to the UfM institutional framework, such as the Parliamentary Assembly the UfM, the Euro-Mediterranean Regional Local Assembly (ARLEM), the Anna Lindh Foundation, also with a wide range partners s directlyy related to the operational activities, with the aim f achieving greater leverage Let me conclude by saying once more that t the importance the challenges opportunities must lead us to a

9 comprehensive global strategic approach for region. Year 2015 is the right moment to decisions. the whole take right Thank you for your attention.