The Euro-Mediterranean context

The context in which OpenMed operates is the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. In 1995, during the conference in Barcelona, the Mediterranean countries decided to establish the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership to develop a common area of peace, stability and prosperity through the strengthening of security and political dialogue, developing an economic, social and cultural partnership.

On 13th July 2008 in Paris, 43 heads of state and government met to establish the “Union for the Mediterranean”, committing themselves through a joint paper to transform the Mediterranean into an area of peace, democracy, cooperation and prosperity.
The draft "Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean" has, in fact, the objective of consolidating and enhancing cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

The MEDA programme, launched in 1995, was until 2006 the main financial instrument for the implementation of Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and its activities.

From 2007 until 2013, the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) replaces the previous external assistance programmes provided by the European Commission (MEDA and part of TACIS) and is designed to create a zone of prosperity and good neighborly relations between the European Union and neighboring countries, creating the operating instrument of the Neighborhood Policy (ENP) activities.

Through the of multilateral cross border cooperation instrument "Mediterranean" (ENPI CBC MED 2007-2013), sub-programme of ENP, the EU is funding projects of cooperation between the countries that belong to the North shore and the south shore of the Mediterranean sea. The actions of cooperation defined in the programme are complementary to those provided under the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, which continues to be key in relations between the EU and Mediterranean countries

ENPI CBC MED has a contribution of around 173 million euros for the period 2007-2013 (+ 10% co-financed by participating countries), derived in part from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and partly by the resources of Heading 4 - "EU as a global partner" of the EU budget. The Joint Operational Programme, approved on 14 August 2008 by the European Commission with Decision No 2008/020-284, sets priorities and measures to be implemented as well as the allocation of resources and the modalities of administration of the programme.

The territories eligible to the program ENPI CBC Meds are represented by 117 regions belonging to 19 different states. The countries currently participating in the program are 15, including 7-EU Countries (Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain) and 8 Mediterranean Partner Countries (Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco , Syria, Tunisia).

The four priorities of ENPI CBC MED are:

1. Promotion of socio-economic development and enhancement of Territories

2. Promotion of environmental sustainability at the basin level

3. Promotion of better conditions and modalities for ensuring the mobility of persons, goods and capitals

4. Promotion of cultural dialogue and local governance

The programme ENPI CBC MED provides up to 5,000,000 euros for each strategic project and up to 2,000,000 for standard project approved.
A feature of capital importance is that the costs of projects considered eligible are supported by 90% by EU and for the remaining 10% by the partners involved.

The Autonomous Region of Sardinia was chosen as the Joint Management Authority of the Programme and the Joint Technical Secretariat is located in Cagliari.

Other European programmes for co-operation among Mediterranean countries:

EuroMed Heritage IV
Invest in Med
Youth in Action 2007 - 2013
Tempus IV
Erasmus Mundus
Lifelong Learning Programme - Jean Monnet Action 2007 - 2013
Culture 2007 - 2013 *
Media 2007 - 2013 *
Instrument for Stability 2007 - 2013

* With Third Countries that have signed with the EU association or cooperation agreements

Further scenarios