European External Action Service

10/28/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/28/2024 07:04

Union for the Mediterranean: Opening remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the 9th Regional Forum

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Union for the Mediterranean: Opening remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the 9th Regional Forum

28.10.2024
Barcelona
EEAS Press Team

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Tengo que empezar por dar las gracias a España, una vez más por la hospitalidad, y gracias a ti, ministro [de asuntos exteriores, José Manuel Albares], por el continuo apoyo a esta organización y por la labor que España realiza en favor del Mediterráneo, y la paz en la región.

Quiero señalar y agradecer en particular la presencia entre nosotros hoy de Nadia Calviño, la presidenta del Banco Europeo de Inversiones, cuya contribución será decisiva para impulsar nuestras políticas de cohesión en el Mediterráneo.

Por supuesto, agradezco al secretario general [de la Unión por el Mediterráneo, Nasser Kamel], a mi co-chair, el ministro de Jordania [para los asuntos exteriores, Ayman al Safadi], y a todos ustedes.

Dear friends,

We know that our common Mediterranean region is on the edge. We know [about] the dire situation.

The Spanish Minister, [José Manuel Albares,] has described it very well in detail. I am not going to repeat his explanation because I share completely his approach.

Just to remind that there is another focus for us Europeans, which is Ukraine, where the Russian illegal war of aggression has existential implications for us - but it has not altered our strong commitment to our partners in the south. Not before the 7th of October, nor after.

Our Southern neighborhood has always been one of the main points of focus for the European Union. But we know the situation in the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean.

We know very well how Israeli extremist Ministers have engineered repeated violations of the status quo of the Holy Site. For example, we know how the war has been expanding to Lebanon, how in the West Bank lethal violence has expanded the war. We know the cycle of retaliatory attacks is engulfing the entire region, in particular in Lebanon.

In this context, the European Union calls for an immediate ceasefire across the Blue Line and for the application of the [United Nations] Security Council resolutions.

It calls for the role of the Lebanese Armed Forces and for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) condemning the unacceptable attacks that the Israeli Defence Forces are doing against UNIFIL structures and personnel.

The most important concern today is the dire situation of the people in north Gaza. The direst, the most acute humanitarian crisis since World War II. The way this war is being taken against civilians has grave concerns and puts too many unanswered questions.

All United Nations organizations, from the International Red Cross to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to the World Food Program, to the World Health Organization are warning about the situation there.

We have to do something more than just expressing concern. We should go out of this meeting with a stronger commitment to put pressure in order to stop this dramatic situation.

I want also to remind you that during our last [United Nations] General Assembly, we launched the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. This Global Alliance should serve as an umbrella under which all global partners can bring their contribution in order to implement the Two-State Solution.

The key word is implementing. Stop saying that we support [it]; start doing [it]. Start acting in order to make this solution be implemented.

That is why I am happy to [hear] that on the next days is going to be the first meeting of the technical groups in order to continue this process in Riyadh, followed by a second one in Brussels - I hope by the end of November, before the end of my term.

After, others will be hosted in Cairo, Amman, Ankara, and Oslo, focusing on concrete actions and points identified by the participants.

We have to [remember] also the situation in Iran. The Israeli retaliatory attacks against Iran, as confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), occurred amidst the severe and growing regional tensions. It is crucial to use all our channels of communication to lower these tensions and contribute to de-escalation.

Before hearing your views, I want to emphasise that the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) was born out of the Barcelona process.

In 1995, just immediately after the killing of [Former Israel Prime Minister, Yitzhak] Rabin - when the peace process was jeopardised by this assassination - here in Barcelona, the Barcelona process was launched to make everybody contribute to peace, stability, and security in the Mediterranean. This has to be strengthened by all means available.

Today we have the opportunity to discuss what this Union for the Mediterranean can do to help to create stability.

It is 15 years [since the creation] of the UfM. During these 15 years, this organisation has had a growing role in regional integration, in dialogue, [and] in cooperation. But we do more [than that], [and] we have to do more.

The UfM was created from a shared political will to revitalise efforts to transform the Mediterranean area into an area of peace, democratic cooperation, and prosperity. These were the words of the Paris Summit declaration in July 2008.

How far are we of these objectives? We need to [go] back to this spirit today.

Today is a moment to launch a new wave of reforms on this organisation in order to make it stronger and able to contribute better to policy shaping, and bringing concrete solutions.

We, [the] European Union, will remain committed to helping reform and strengthen the organisation - but it has to be done.

The Secretary General [of the Union for the Mediterranean, Nasser Kamel] and the two co-chairs have to actively push for reforming this organisation.

Otherwise, it will be slowly becoming unable to fulfill the mandate given in Paris in 2008, following the crisis of 1995. This is my hope, and this is the commitment of the European Union.

Thank you.