Barcelona, 23-25 April, 2007

The agro-food sector in the Mediterranean region plays a socio-economic role which goes beyond its main function as a food products supplier. Moreover, in Southern Mediterranean Countries the agro-food sector still accounts for a high proportion of GNP and employment and helps to reduce poverty, restrict emigration and protect the environment.

An efficient agro-food chain should contribute to meet the changing demands of urban populations as well as to improve food security in poor rural populations. Trade plays an important role in the development of specialised agricultural systems, where there is a significant presence of Mediterranean products, such as fruit and vegetables, olive oil and wine. Markets for Mediterranean products have become more and more complex due to the social demands for enhanced quality and safety standards, as well as to the changing supply chain, which requires improved coordination among economic agents, including farmers, co-operatives, traders and retailers.

A question is posed on how Mediterranean agricultural systems adapt to trade liberalisation.

The Barcelona process, launched in 1995, encompasses economic, political and social cooperation between the EU and Southern Mediterranean Countries with the aim of establishing a Mediterranean Free Trade Area by 2010. Other trade liberalisation processes, such as the WTO negotiations and the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA), are currently in the Agenda of the Mediterranean region, though lacking of significant progress with regards to agricultural trade. Intra-regional trade is still limited, preventing the emergence of a genuine Mediterranean market for food products.

In the context of changing EU agricultural policies, the New Neighbourhood Policy, the EU Enlargement and multilateral trade negotiations the Mediterranean agro-food system faces a number of serious challenges for which closer international co-operation is essential.

Food quality and sustainable agriculture are key goals to the policy agenda for Mediterranean farming systems. Food production is constrained by the serious degradation of the natural resources due to an inefficient use of water resources, soil erosion, desertification, water-logging and salinity. A better management of natural resources, a balanced rural development and the co-operation between Mediterranean countries are needed in order to develop a sustainable agricultural development strategy and an intra-regional market.