The priorities of the EP Presidency of the PA-UfM

The European Parliament Presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean set the priorities for their work during the 14^th Plenary Session held on 28-29 April 2018, in Cairo.

The European Parliament Presidency is focussing on migration and looking to find solutions that go beyond an intergovernmental approach by involving parliamentary diplomacy.

In his speech in Cairo, European Parliament’s Vice-President David Maria Sassoli said the EP Presidency was working to set up the new secretariat, including the nomination of a Secretary General ad interim, and assess the budgetary needs.

 The Cairo plenary also endorsed the decision to strengthen links with the UfM seat in Barcelona. The PA-UfM Bureau, together with the Political Committee Chair, would undertake a mission to Israel and Palestine, where they would meet their counterparts from the Knesset and the Palestinian Legislative Council. 

 The assembly lay emphasis on terrorism and the need to address its root causes including poverty, social exclusion, and unemployment. The EP Presidency highlighted the ways towards the prevention of terrorism through the exchange of information, tackling the financing of terrorism through the freezing of funds, clamping down on radical online content and investigating the links between terrorism and the arms trade.

The plenary approved the following committee recommendations by consensus:

 ·         Political Committee: The role of Mediterranean parliaments in combating terrorism and preventing violent extremism.

·         Economic Committee:  Digital Revolution, Education and Job Creation in the Euro-Mediterranean Region.

·         Culture Committee: Consolidating the values of tolerance and dialogue between cultures for combating extremism and terrorism.

·         Women’s Committee: The role of women on combating radicalisation, extremism, violence and terrorism in the Euro-Med.

·         Environment Committee: The committee tabled no recommendation. Instead, the plenary endorsed the committee’s proposal for a select working group to draft a fresh recommendation.