Wednesday, 15 May - Introducing her resolution outlining a policy for the Mediterranean region, Mathilde van den Brink (N, Soc) reminded the House of the Community's binding agreements with Mediterranean countries. She supported the idea of a CSCE style conference for the region to deal with the economy, security and human rights questions with the European Community playing a positive role. She also sought a commitment from the President-in-Office to resolving the Cyprus question but, in reply, Mr Poos did no more than offer his support for the UN initiative.

Raymonde Dury (B, Soc) expressed her concern about what she felt was a potentially destabilising situation in the mediterranean countries where she said, the population of 200 million was likely to double in the near future with little prospect of jobs for the young people living there. The Community did therefore, have a special responsibility towards helping its neighbours and Commission President Jacques Delors agreed. EC financial assistance to the region was to be increased threefold, he said, and to be targeted on economic reforms including help for private companies, the environment, improving agricultural production and training. In addition the Commission would be offering improved trade concessions.