Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly

The EU has a Mediterranean partnership, called the Barcelona Process, which is deepening cooperation between the EU and the countries of the Mediterranean region. The Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) is the parliamentary dimension of the Barcelona Process.

The EMPA was set up in 2003 to monitor the Barcelona Process and implementation of Euro-Mediterranean association agreements. It replaced the earlier Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Forum.

The purpose of the EMPA is to provide parliamentary stimuli for the development of cooperation between the EU and the Mediterranean region, adopt stances on the Mediterranean partnership and implementation of association agreements as well as to issue recommendations and declarations for deliberation at Euro-Mediterranean ministerial conferences.

The membership of the EMPA comprises the parliaments of the EU member states, the European Parliament as well as the parliaments of the EU’s cooperation partners in the Mediterranean region (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey).
Half of the Parliamentary Assembly’s 240 parliamentarian members are from the EU countries.The Parliamentary Assembly meets annually.

The EMPA has three committees, which are:

• the Committee on Political Affairs, Security and Human Rights;
• the Committee on Economic, Financial and Social Affairs and Education; and
• the Committee on the Promotion of the Quality of Life, Human Exchanges and Culture.

The Eduskunta sends a three-member delegation to the EMPA: Representatives Liisa Jaakonsaari (Chair.), Petri Neittaanmäki and Jari Vilén. The delegation’s secretarial tasks are handled by the secretariat of the Foreign Affairs Committee.