Disappointing Results of Barcelona Process on Human Rights Criticized by EU Delegates

Strategic Insights -

Critics argue that the Barcelona Process has fallen short in promoting human rights in the Mediterranean region, with some pointing to the lack of human rights projects in the MEDA 2005-2006 program. The European Parliament's Human Rights Sub-committee hearing in Brussels on July 11 highlighted the seeming inability of the Barcelona Process to create a "policy" area in the Mediterranean, and the use of administrative and technical language as a shield for governments' lack of political will.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Barcelona Process has been criticized for its lack of human rights projects, with Sandrine Grenier, coordinator of the Euromed human rights network, stating that the EU is "all talk and no action."
  • Khaled Fouad Allam, a sociologist, highlighted the seeming inability of the Barcelona Process to create a "policy" area in the Mediterranean, which has grown in the last ten years both in terms of function and border perception.
  • Italian Socialist MEP Pasqualina Napoletano criticized a "cynical pact" between EU leaders and governments in the southern Mediterranean, where human rights are ignored in exchange for immigration control.
  • Gijs de Vries, the EU's first Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, emphasized that no-one can be deported to a country where their basic rights would not be protected.
  • A representative for Amnesty International criticized the EU's practices with regard to human rights and requested that certain conditions be added to the EU/Mediterranean cooperation to guarantee basic principles of justice.

Statistics:

  • The MEDA 2005-2006 program lacked human rights projects, according to Sandrine Grenier.
  • The Mediterranean region has grown in the last ten years both in terms of function and border perception, according to Khaled Fouad Allam.
  • The Italian and Libyan governments proposed the creation of transit camps in the North of Africa, as cited by Pasqualina Napoletano.
  • Amnesty International criticized the EU's practices with regard to human rights, citing the example of the Algerian government's use of torture in its fight against terrorism.

Sources:

  • "Hearing on 10 years of the Barcelona Process" by the European Parliament's Human Rights Sub-committee, July 11
  • Statement by Sandrine Grenier, coordinator of the Euromed human rights network
  • Statement by Khaled Fouad Allam, sociologist
  • Statement by Pasqualina Napoletano, Italian Socialist MEP
  • Statement by Gijs de Vries, the EU's first Counter-Terrorism Coordinator
  • Statement by Amnesty International representative