With the adoption of a joint declaration last night in the Cypriot city of Paphos, the 11th summit of the Mediterranean member states of the EU (MED9) ended, Euronews reported.
Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, Italy, Malta, Croatia, Slovenia and France participate in the initiative. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, also took part in the meeting in Paphos.
The participants in the meeting are demanding a ceasefire along the entire Blue Line (the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel – ed.) and the provision of humanitarian aid to Lebanon. The sovereignty of both Israel and Lebanon must be preserved and guaranteed, and any operation that violates it must cease, the parties say.
In the declaration, the MED9 countries confirm their commitment to a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue on the basis of a bi-zonal bi-communal federation with political equality of the two communities based on UN resolutions. The text recalls that the Cyprus issue is a pan-European one, and emphasizes the need for Turkey to avoid unilateral actions that could destabilize the peace process and negotiations.
Regarding the Eastern Mediterranean, the countries of the group emphasize the importance of cooperation with Turkey, as well as the application of international law, including maritime law.
In relation to migration, the European Mediterranean countries insist on a comprehensive and common European response to the challenges. In this context, they recognize the progress in this direction through the adoption of the European Asylum Agreement and call for the expansion of cooperation within the EU to strengthen repatriation policies.
The MED9 countries declare their unconditional support for the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and are committed to providing multilateral assistance to the country and its people as long as it is needed, BTA reports.