Relations with the countries of the Southern Neighbourhood

Question for written answer  E-000508/2021
to the Council
Rule 138
Francisco José Millán Mon (PPE)

The programme of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council[1] includes the intention to ‘give new political impetus to the relationship with the Southern Neighbourhood of the Mediterranean’. In particular, it states that ‘the deepening and modernisation of the existing Free Trade Agreements with the Southern Neighbourhood, and progress in the ongoing negotiations with other countries in the region, will be a political priority for the Portuguese Presidency’.

Does the Council intend to relaunch the idea of a Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area, which was the major economic objective of the Barcelona Process, launched 25 years ago, for the economic and social modernisation of the southern Mediterranean region?

• [1] https://www.2021portugal.eu/media/rohpisqf/portuguese-presidency-en.pdf