Europees Economisch en Sociaal Comité benadrukt belang macro-regionale strategie Middellandse Zeegebied (en)

The European Economic and Social Committee has highlighted the need for a Macro-Regional Strategy in the Mediterranean (EU MMRS) which will support regions facing financial and social challenges that cannot be effectively addressed by individual regions or countries in a standard way.

The EESC's call came in the form of an opinion that the Europe's civil society assembly adopted at its plenary session last week.

The Mediterranean has suffered as a whole from an on-off approach adopted by the European Union, with various initiatives and instruments being launched over the years. These initiatives have had some success, but they have not fully addressed the political, economic and social development goals initially set forth.

"The coastal areas of the EU in the southern Mediterranean have the capacity to become innovative, dynamic centres of economic and social growth by turning their unique characteristics to good use," said the opinion's co-rapporteur, Stefano Palmieri (Italy, Workers' Group). A more integrated policy for Mediterranean regions, supported by a strong action plan that clearly identifies projects chosen for their cross-regional impact and importance for economic growth, would help address the causes of the currently prevalent uncertainty by increasing the value-added of the positive achievements of previously launched initiatives and the Europe 2020 goals.

The EU Mediterranean Coastal Regions (EU MCRs) have the potential to re-start the process of economic growth in uniquely innovative ways, which will also have a positive effect on the EU as a whole. However, as the opinion's rapporteur, Stefano Mallia (Malta, Employers' Group), has pointed out, "There is an urgent need for the strategy to be concrete and of substance. Many initiatives exist on paper, but without immediate action there will be no progress". The EESC strongly recommends that this strategy be not just another paper document. Above all it must be a process.

According to the EESC, the Mediterranean MRS should be based on the following three pillars of growth: smart growth (with a particular emphasis on Blue growth), actively encouraging a knowledge-based economy supporting "innovation" and new technologies; sustainable growth, promoting a sustainable, greener and more competitive economy; and finally inclusive growth, promoting an economy which places strong emphasis on job creation and poverty reduction.

Moreover, a method must be introduced for measuring policy effectiveness, so that corrective action can be taken whenever necessary and in a timely manner, also to avoid duplication through multi-level cooperation and coordination. At the same time, reducing the bureaucratic burden of reporting and form-filling placed on NGOs, SMEs and regional authorities, particularly those in the smaller regions, which are often discouraged from participating by their lack of capacity and the discouraging task of going through and keeping up with all the bureaucratic procedures, is likewise important.

Finally, taking into account support from the EESC and the Committee of the Regions for a strategy to develop cohesion in the Mediterranean, and considering the extensive human network that both these institutions have at national and European levels, the EESC believes that it is strategically appropriate for these two institutions to host and provide leadership of the Mediterranean Macro Regional Forum, by setting up a leadership group consisting of the European Parliament, the Commission, the EESC and the CoR for support and coordination.