News Release
 |
|
|
Chris Patten
|
|
No. 79/03
December 11, 2003
EU-SYRIA: CONCLUSION OF THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR AN
ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT
The European Union and
Syria have reached an understanding at technical level on all remaining issues
in the negotiations for a
Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement. The body of the Agreement will now
have to be politically approved by both sides (Council Working Group for the EU)
with a view to initialling the agreement before the end of the year, paving the
way for Parliamentary ratification from both sides.
Commissioner for
External Relations
Chris Patten said: "When concluded, this agreement will complete the
network of Association Agreements with all our Euro-Mediterranean partners. It
will provide a solid platform for the EU to support Syrian efforts to carry out
political and economic reform. The clauses that the agreement includes regarding
respect for human rights, non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and
fight against terrorism, will enhance our ability to engage with Syria on these
important issues."
EU
Trade Commissioner
Pascal Lamy
said: "This is an important stepping stone in our long established goal
of creating a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area. This agreement will help
Syria better integrate into the world economy and paves the way for other
initiatives, including possible future membership of the World Trade Organisation.
We should now work together to ensure that trade opening is also achieved by Mediterranean
countries between themselves."
The
EU-Syria Association Agreement covers political, economic, social and cultural
relations.
On
the political side, the agreement provides a framework to conduct regular political
dialogue consultations on international issues of mutual interest, fostering mutual
understanding and promoting the convergence of views. In particular, the agreement
includes essential provisions on a) respect for the democratic principles and
fundamental human rights established by the
Universal Declaration on Human Rights, b) cooperation to counter the proliferation
of
Weapons of Mass Destruction and their means of delivery, in line with the
conclusions of the November
Foreign Affairs Council; and c)
Anti-terrorism: exchange of information and joint efforts to prevent and fight
against terrorism, including as regards implementation of relevant UN resolutions.
On
the economic chapter, the Association Agreement foresees the creation of a free
trade area between the EU and Syria, contributing to the creation of a larger
Euro-Mediterranean area by the envisaged date of 2010. The agreement covers trade
in goods, services, public procurement, rules for the protection of intellectual
property rights, as well as dispute settlement provisions in line with those in
the WTO. The agreement also foresees co-operation in a large number of areas including
on customs, transport, tourism or environment.
The
Association Agreement also comprises a chapter on co-operation in social and cultural
matters. Cooperation will extend to a wide range of fields, from education and
culture to the fight against crime, money laundering drugs and terrorism as well
as for the re-admission of nationals and non-nationals illegally arriving on the
territory of one party from the other. Regarding co-operation in the field of
Justice and Home Affairs
in particular, the agreement includes provisions on: institution-building and
strengthening the rule of law, movement of persons, control and prevention of
illegal immigration, legal and judicial co-operation, fight against organised
crime, money-laundering, racism and xenophobia, drugs and drug addiction as well
as corruption.
Following signature and pending parliamentary ratification of the agreement, both
parties have agreed to an early entry into force of the trade chapter of the Association
Agreement (those provisions subject to Community competence) by means of an interim
agreement.
The
EU has already concluded Association Agreements with all other Mediterranean partners
in the Barcelona
Process: Algeria,
Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Palestinian Authority,
Tunisia, Turkey and Syria.
Background
In
the Barcelona Declaration (1995), the 27 Euro-Mediterranean Partners agreed on
the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area (EMFTA) by the target
date of 2010. This is to be achieved by means of the Euro-Mediterranean Association
Agreements negotiated and concluded between the European Union and 9 out of the
12 Mediterranean Partners, together with free trade agreements between the partners
themselves. The other 3 Partners, Cyprus, Malta and Turkey are covered by Association
Agreements dating back to the 1960s and 1970s which had envisaged eventual membership
of the European Union (which is now the case of
Cyprus and Malta) and provide inter alia for customs unions with the European
Union (completed with
Turkey and well advanced with Cyprus).
The
scope of the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements goes well beyond trade.
The details differ from one agreement to another but all agreements contain certain
common features along the following lines:
Political provisions. Respect for human
rights and democratic principles are an essential element of the Agreements and
the architecture of each Agreement is such as to enable it ultimately to be suspended
in the event of major human rights violations; a political dialogue is provided
for at various levels and at regular intervals. Other political standard clauses
include provisions to counter Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction,
as well as to prevent and fight terrorism.
Trade. Free trade is to be established
in accordance with WTO rules over a transitional period which may last up to 12
years as regards tariff dismantling by the partners; trade in agricultural products
is to be "gradually liberalised"; gradual opening up of trade in services;
legal approximation in a number of key areas such standards, customs matters,
competition and intellectual property rights are also covered by the Association
Agreements.
Other economic provisions. These provisions
are aimed at the greatest possible harmonisation between the EU and the Partners.
They include maintenance of a high level of protection of intellectual property
rights, gradual liberalisation of public procurement, adjustment of provisions
relating to competition, state aid and monopolies; provisions on capital movements;
economic co-operation in a wide range of sectors (e.g., industry, environment,
energy, transport, customs, etc.).
Financial co-operation. The Agreements
provide for EU financial assistance for the Partners (except Cyprus, Israel and
Malta), the main areas for such co-operation and for an economic dialogue, but
no amounts of financial assistance are specified.
Social and cultural co-operation. The
Agreements contain provisions on workers' rights and other social matters; as
well as for the re-admission of nationals and non-nationals illegally arriving
on the territory of one party from the other.
Institutional and final provisions.
An Association Council (ministerial) and Committee (officials) are set up as well
as an arbitration procedure. The Agreements are of unlimited duration and may
be denounced with a six-month period of notice. After signature, each Agreement
has to be ratified by the European Parliament, by each EU member state and the
Mediterranean Partner before it enters into force. This explains the long delay
between signature and entry into force.
The
EU is the main trading partner of the Mediterranean countries, absorbing around
50% of their exports. Main EU imports from the region are textiles, agriculture,
machinery and chemicals.
The
EU is also negotiating a free trade agreement with the
Gulf Cooperation Council, the regional grouping of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
For
more information
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/syria/intro/index.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/bilateral/regions/euromed/index_en.htm
|
Press Contacts:
|
Anthony Gooch
202-862-9523
|
Maeve O'Beirne
202-862-9549
|
