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Renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood – a new agenda for the Mediterranean (debate)
Although more than 25 years have passed since the Barcelona Declaration, and more than 10 years since the events of the Arab Spring, the Mediterranean region is still facing a number of serious economic, environmental and security challenges. The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) must serve the interest of the Union, its Member States and the ENP partners at the same time. We must help our partner countries in the Southern Neighbourhood, based on shared interests. We cannot let the ENP become an educational exercise: there needs to be equality, spirit of partnership and we must turn our common challenges into opportunities. The stability of the Mediterranean region has an outstanding importance for the stability of Europe. We need to invest in education, in research and development, and in creating jobs for the region’s growing population, while also committing to combating ‘brain drain’. Furthermore the European Union must acknowledge countries like Morocco, which serve as regional examples with their results and stability. The protection of persecuted Christians is of utmost importance as well: this is another area, where we need effective cooperation with out Southern Neighbourhood partners.