Konklusioner og anbefalinger fra UfM-PA's Økonomiske Komité vedtaget på plenarsessionen i Portugal den 11. maj 2015

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PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE
UNION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
RECOMMENDATION
of the Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs,
Social Affairs and Education
on:
The economic aspects of migration;
The protection and promotion of investments in the Mediterranean;
Cooperation in development of tourism sector among the PA-UfM countries.
Den Parlamentariske Fors. for EU-Middelhavsområdet 2014-15
UfM-PA Alm.del Bilag 8
Offentligt
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The Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs, Social Affairs and Education of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean,
1. Notes that the human mobility in the Mediterranean region is an historical fact
resulting from business traditions and ancestral ties between cultures and civilisations;
notes that human mobility, which affects all the countries in the region, has increased
owing to the political instability from which some countries are suffering, regional
conflicts and terrorism, as well as demographic trends, globalisation and the
internationalisation of the labour markets,
2. Stresses the urgent need for a common and comprehensive migration policy for the
UfM member countries and an effective cooperation with relevant regional and
international actors operating in the field of preventing and countering illegal
migration; calls on all UfM member countries to develop a common policy of
migration for the Mediterranean region and to take action to coordinate, prevent and
detect illegal migration flows; considers that we cannot postpone any longer a holistic
and humanitarian approach to a common immigration policy, shared by all the
countries of the Mediterranean region, and in any case related to them, under the
auspices of the recent orientation of the European Parliament and the requests by the
United Nations,
3. Bearing in mind that the ongoing conflict in Syria that began after the expression of
the legitimate demands of Syrian people and the humanitarian crisis that followed
presents a major threat to the peace, security and stability of the whole region,
appraises the efforts of the front-line Mediterranean countries which confront with
large-scale arrivals of asylum seekers and refugees fleeing from these countries,
emphasising that the conflict in Syria can only be ended through a genuine political
transition in line with the Geneva Communique,
4. Calls upon the UfM members to put an end to Israel’s settlement policy which is in
violation of Palestinian basic human rights, international law and UN resolutions and
denies their rights to a separate, independent state, which leads to further escalation of
tension, regional instability and conflict,
5. With regard to its insistence on the approximation of human rights based on human
principles and values, the committee appreciates the exemplary model of the policy of
the Kingdom of Morocco in the field of migration, under the patronage of his Majesty
King Mohammed VI, who presents a new introduction for the treatment of migrant
issues and problems,
6. Notes that Libya has become the number-one transit route from Africa to Europe for
illegal migration due to the absence of a government and the rule of law; welcomes
and supports the discussions currently being held under the aegis of the United
Nations towards re-establishing political dialogue with a view to forming a
government of national unity and re-establishing the rule of law, stability and security
in the country and the region,
7. Underlines that an effective protection of asylum seekers and refugees necessitates
also a fair sharing of financial burdens and responsibilities of resettlements by the
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international community; urges the international community and relevant international
and regional organisations to assume more responsibilities for the protection of the
refugees and asylum seekers taking shelter in the countries in the Mediterranean
region as well as for a fair sharing of burdens; in this regard, calls on the important
role of the civil society and non-governmental organisations in the management of
health assessments and providing operational support,
8. Acknowledging the fact that the massive influx of refugees in the front-line
Mediterranean countries restrain the capabilities of local communities to deliver
proper assistance and services to the refugees, urges the international community to
ensure the efficient implementation of the UN Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan
(3RP) and to support efforts of the national authorities in order to strengthen the
resilience of individuals, households, local communities and state institutions to cope
with the impact of the Syrian crisis on its immediate region,
9. Reiterates that education is a need and a priority for the children refugees within the
scope of the reconstruction of Syria; now calls on the international community to
support technically and with proper funding the UN ‘No Lost Generation’ Strategy in
cooperation with the national authorities, relevant international organisations and non-
governmental organisations,
10. Recalls the participation of legal migrants in economic and demographic growth,
prosperity, social and cultural richness of countries of destination and the positive
contribution of the remittances sent by legal migrants to the economic development,
creation of wealth, fostering home investments and the reduction of poverty in their
countries of origin,
11. Emphasises that investments play an important role in the economic development of
countries as they foster job creation, improved productivity, the transfer of new
technologies and the development of the local economies,
12. Welcomes that in the overall amount of foreign direct investments made in the
Mediterranean Partner Countries a significant part belongs to European Union
member countries and stresses that although such investments have already reached
very large sums, they are still far from reflecting the potential that exists in the
countries of the region, urges the regional and international financial institutions to
provide more financial support and facilities to the public and private investors in the
Mediterranean Partner Countries,
13. Emphasises that increasing trade and investments between the EU and the
Mediterranean helps economic recovery and democratic transitions; considers that in
order to attract investments, it is essential that the political and economic stability of
the region be bolstered through a solid legal framework and by making every effort to
foster sustainable political and institutional stability and SME-targeted strategies and
entrepreneurship, as well as promoting and strengthening vocational and life-long
training; recalls the creation of the Euro-Mediterranean trade and investment
facilitation mechanism and calls for it to be implemented rapidly,
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14. Notes that legal arrangements defining a comprehensive framework of the protection
and promotion of foreign direct investments should take into account also the sensitive
issues and claims of the hosting countries such as protection of environment, rights of
workers, transfer of technologies etc. and calls on EU member countries to include
relevant clauses on these issues in the agreements to be signed with Mediterranean
Partner Countries,
15. Emphasises the pivotal role that tourism plays in the economic development of many
Mediterranean countries, and highlights the wide array of benefits that tourism
generates, among which creating new job opportunities for any community including
the youth and the women segments; alleviating poverty; fuelling economic
development by attracting more trade and better flow of goods and services; indirectly
supporting other industries such as agriculture, construction sector, food production,
retail etc.; bringing about a sense of pride and identity to the community; raising
awareness towards different lives, cultures, traditions, history and culture; stimulating
the need for the preservation of cultures that otherwise might have become extinct;
encouraging the conservation of ecosystems; enforcing the introduction, development
and the use of novel technologies and innovations to sustain a more refined natural
resources management reveal as the most significant ones,
16. Stresses the need to take account of the issue of security and the impact of terrorist
threats on tourist activities and development in the Mediterranean region and in
Europe; emphasises that it is important, in conjunction with all the parties involved, to
tighten the measures that govern tourists’ security without hampering the need to
strengthen exchange of information among the countries of the region while
improving the quality of information given to tourists and tour operators,
17. Emphasises the wealth of historical and cultural heritage found at historical and
archaeological sites in the Union for the Mediterranean countries; considers that the
member countries should make every effort, with the help and support of international
institutions (such as the UN, UNESCO, the EU and the African Union) to preserve
and protect this heritage of humanity, for both its cultural wealth and its status a
source of tourism and economic wealth; deplores the fact that some cultural sites are
subjected to looting, destruction and pillaging,
18. Welcomes the mobility partnerships concluded between the EU and Morocco and
Tunisia, which are designed to facilitate the movement of persons and to promote the
common, responsible management of existing migration flows, in particular through
the simplification of visa-granting procedures; calls on the EU and the other UfM
member countries to conclude similar mobility partnerships that could have a positive
impact on the development of tourism in the region,
19. Shares the decisions taken by the EC in these past few days and wishes the swift
success of the immigration initiatives launched by President of European Commission
Juncker and High Representative Mogherini.
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2014-2015 Activity Report
Over the 2014 and 2015 working period, the Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs,
Social Affairs and Education held two meetings: on 1 December 2014 in Ankara, and on 26
January 2015 in Barcelona.
In this period, the Committee focused on the following issues:
-The economic aspects of migration;
-The protection and promotion of investments in the Mediterranean;
-Cooperation in development of tourism sector among the PA-UfM countries.


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Den Parlamentariske Fors. for EU-Middelhavsområdet
Til:
Dato:
Delegationens medlemmer og stedfortrædere
10. juni 2015
Konklusioner og anbefalinger fra UfM-PA's Økonomiske Komité vedta-
get på plenarsessionen i Portugal den 11. maj 2015
Hermed konklusioner og anbefalinger fra UfM-PA's Økonomiske Komité, der
blev vedtaget på UfM-PA’s 11. plenarsession afholdt i Lissabon, Portugal den
11. maj 2015.
Med venlig hilsen
Susanne Henriksen,
UfM-PA’s sekretariat
Den Parlamentariske Fors. for EU-Middelhavsområdet 2014-15
UfM-PA Alm.del Bilag 8
Offentligt