Today's Date:

France/Spain relations

21st Franco-Spanish seminar – Interview given by Michel Barnier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the Spanish public television channel RTVE’s “24 Horas” programme (excerpts).

Barcelona, September 16, 2004

BARCELONA PROCESS/MAGHREB/AID

THE MINISTER – (...) It’s a partnership process between the European Union and the countries on the other side of the Mediterranean, particularly the Maghreb countries. Earlier, I talked to Miguel Moratinos about a fairly specific idea: in the same way as, in the EU – with the structural funds – we help our poorest regions and those in the greatest difficulty, we could provide for instance some Maghreb regions with specific, very operational assistance over a sufficiently long period to create progress and development. (...)

WESTERN SAHARA CONFLICT/BAKER PLAN

THE MINISTER – The Western Sahara issue is a difficult one going back a long way. There will obviously have to be a political solution to create the conditions for an integrated Maghreb. What I can simply say is that we, Spanish and French, agree on the need to encourage the political dialogue, in the United Nations framework of course, between all the parties. (...)./.