Parliaments and civil society cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership

Abstract

We discuss aspects cooperation among the civil societies in the Euro-Mediterranean area, paying particular attention to the role that national parliaments, as well as the European Parliament, can play in facilitating the participation of civil society in the Euro-Med Partnership. We do not cover the EMP as a whole, but deal with the following aspects: 1. an appraisal of the problems caused by the lack of democracy and a vibrant civil society in the southern Mediterranean states; 2. an analysis of parliamentary cooperation within the EMP framework in recent years; and 3. proposals for more parliamentary input in the EMP's third basket (recommendations and conclusions).