Division 18

Regional cooperation shall be complementary to bilateral cooperation and shall address the three main areas of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. Among the aspects and fields of economic and social development suitable for financial support mentioned in the Barcelona Declaration and in Annex II to the MEDA Regulation, the following are indications of the main thrust of current regional indicative programmes between the Community and Mediterranean partners. Due account shall be taken of the progress made at the meetings organized in the context of the follow-up to the Barcelona inter-ministerial conference. The overall aim shall be to encourage better understanding between the partners through increased knowledge of regional problems in the political, economic, social and cultural fields, facilitating the exchange of best practice and transfer of know-how and promotion of joint projects of common interest. Furthermore the European Union will continue to provide support to the Middle East Peace Process.