The ninth Euro-Mediterranean Meeting, held on Monday and Tuesday in the Portuguese capital Lisbon, will focus on peace in the Middle East and creating a Mediterranean Union.
The European Union (EU) foreign ministers, under the leadership of Portugal, holder of the six-month rotating EU presidency, will meet their Mediterranean counterparts from Algeria, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.
The first day of the meeting began with a working dinner on the Middle East peace process, from which Palestinian and Israeli foreign ministers hoped to gain the impetus needed to end their long-running conflict.
The meeting will also focus on creating a Mediterranean Union, which was first proposed by France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, who would like such an organization to be formed in France at a June 2008 Summit.
The European Commission, however, has objected to the idea, saying it risks duplicating projects currently under way as part of the Euro-Med group, which was formed in Barcelona in 1995.
Portugal's Foreign Minister Luis Amado said it would be timely for Portugal to join the Euro-Med, although it has no Mediterranean border, as its membership is essential for peace in the region and to create a new EU-Mediterranean strategic relationship.
Source: Xinhua
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