Related: Absences casts shadow over Euro-Med summit

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair speaks during the final news conference of the Euro-Mediterranean Summit meeting in Barcelona November 28, 2005. (Photo: Xinhua)

    BARCELONA, Spain, Nov. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Leaders from the European Union (EU) and the Mediterranean states on Monday launched a wide-ranging program to reinforce the Euro-Mediterranean partnership over the next five years.

    The so-called five-year work program outlined proposals for concrete progress in four areas critical for the future of the region: political and security partnership; sustainable socio-economic development and reform; Education and socio-cultural exchanges; migration, social integration, justice and security.

    The leaders agreed to work together to reach a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict in a bid to promote a peaceful, stable and secure Euro-Mediterranean region.

    The Barcelona Declaration in 1995 set the target of creating a free trade zone by 2010. With only five years to go, action is needed to make a reality of that ambition, noted by leaders from both shore of the Mediterranean sea.

    Deepening economic integration between the EU and Mediterranean countries through liberalization of trade in agriculture and services, regulatory convergence and enhanced investment will be key objectives in the years ahead.

    The leaders said that a road-map should be agreed while south-south regional integration also needs to be accelerated.

    Ensuring a more equitable access is also a central objective of the work plan. The EuroMed summit has set some fixed goals, notably to halve illiteracy by the end of 2010 and guarantee access to primary education for all children, boys and girls alike, living on the southern bank of the Mediterranean.

    In their work plan, the leaders also promised to promote legal migration opportunities and reduce significantly the level of illegal migration and trafficking in human beings.

    In addition to these priority areas, the work program also covers social reforms, environment, weapons of mass destruction and counter-terrorism.

    The EuroMed partnership brings together the 25 EU member states and 10 Mediterranean partner countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.

    However, nearly all Arabic leaders, including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Moroccan King Mohamed VI and Jordan's King Abdullah II, were absent from the two-day meeting. Enditem