5+5 dialogue - 11th Meeting of the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Western Mediterranean (Lisbon, May 22, 2014)
Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, participated on May 22 in Lisbon in the 11th Meeting of the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Western Mediterranean. This dialogue brought together 5 countries on the northern shore (Spain, France, Italy, Malta and Portugal) and 5 countries on the southern shore (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, and Tunisia).
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss regional issues and the common challenges faced by the 10 countries – both in the area of security, with the situation in the Sahel-Sahara region, and in the economic field. The discussions were also focused on climate change and issues relating to mobility, migration and development. The meeting was preceded by an economic forum for Western Mediterranean companies, the second edition of which is taking place today.
The 5+5 dialogue allows the 10 Western Mediterranean countries, which are close in terms of geography, culture and history, to engage in extensive dialogue and to develop cooperation in all areas. During the summit in Malta in October 2012, President Hollande called for the development of the “Mediterranean of projects,” in order to respond to the needs of young people, notably with respect to jobs.