The EU's relations with its Mediterranean neighbours: a media perspective on the potential for cooperation and communication

The two day conference, which has been granted the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Rym Al Ali of Jordan, was launched on Monday, October 13, 2008 at the Kempinski Hotel, Amman with a special focus on the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean. This conference falls under the European Commission regional programme of dialogues with the media in efforts to resolve mutual problems.

The Conference was co-hosted by both their Excellencies Mr. Naser Judeh, Minister of State for Media and Communication, and Mr. Patrick Renauld, Ambassador/ Head of the European Commission Delegation to Jordan, who made their opening remarks during the public session. The renowned media figure Ms. Randa Habib, AFP Bureau Chief in Amman chaired the morning session, while H.E. Mr. Omar Rifai, Director of the Jordan Media Institute, chaired the afternoon session.

Minister Judeh underlined the pivotal and educational role of the media in helping solidify relations, by promoting full knowledge and understanding of the other." As partners, we seek to know more about each other and our different cultures, political systems and societal, social and religious values", Judeh said, adding that the media was a major conduit by which the Euro-Mediterranean partnership could advance and achieve its objectives.

Ambassador Renauld made an appeal to the gathered media that "if the partnership between the European Union and Mediterranean countries is perceived as failure, then it is this more of a failure to communicate our messages properly". While welcoming the media to Jordan, he emphasized the importance of media feedback to help the EU do its job properly.

Andreu Claret, Executive Director of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures, spoke about the positive efforts in bridging the economic and social gaps where there has been some convergence in recent years. However, he underlined the paradox that this cultural convergence was not meant but mutual perceptions.

On the second day, Tuesday 14 October 2008, there will be three working groups on Migration, Women Journalists in leadership and Environment & Energy. Participants will then share their group reports and the conference will conclude in the evening of the same day with closing statements.