PARTICIPATION BY MALTESE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AT EURO-MEDITERRANEAN PARLIAMENTARY FORUM

Hon Victor Galea Pace, MP and Hon George Vella, MP have attended the Third Extraordinary Meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Forum held in Brussels on the 8^th November 2001.

The Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Forum comprises 90 members of the parliaments of the Mediterranean partner countries, 45 members of the EU national parliaments and 45 members of the European Parliament.

The Euro-Mediterranean dialogue is one of the basic tools of the Barcelona Process, the purpose of which is to further peace, stability and regional development. In the wake of the tragic events which occurred on 11^th September, the parliamentary dimension of this dialogue takes on a role of the utmost importance. There is unanimous agreement on the need for joint action to combat the scourge of terrorism which infringes the basic rights of all human beings and for decisive steps to be taken in order to ensure that Islam is not falsely equated with terrorism. For this reason it is the task of the Euro-Mediterranean partners, and in particular its parliamentary members representing the peoples who elected them, to relaunch the dialogue.

The Hon George Vella made a contribution in the debate on the strengthening of the inter-cultural dialogue between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

The meeting which was chaired by Mrs Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament and Mr Abdelwahad Radi, President of the Chamber of Representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco, was addressed by Mr Romano Prodi on behalf of the European Commission, Mr Javier Solana on behalf of the Council of the European Union, and Mr Amr Moussa on behalf of the League of Arab States.

Malta was one of the five countries from the Mediterranean Partner countries chosen to be on the drafting committee of the Final Declaration and was represented by Hon Victor Galea Pace.

Hon Victor Galea Pace and Hon George Vela also attended the Euro-Med Parliamentary Forum Working Group which met on the 7^th November prior to the extraordinary meeting to discuss the rules of procedures. The Hon George Vella was appointed Vice President of the Working Group.