Press Release: European Commission adopts negotiating proposal for services and investment talks with Mediterranean countries, Brussels, 24 June 2005

The European Commission adopted 24 June 2005 a proposal to open negotiations on the liberalisation of services and investment with the EU's Mediterranean partners. These negotiations will mark an important step towards the creation of a genuine free trade area around the Mediterranean, as envisaged in the Barcelona Declaration of 1992. The liberalisation of services and investment will bring considerable economic benefits throughout the Euro-Med zone, and can be part of a wider strategy to boost trade within the region itself.