Maria da Graça Carvalho participates in the 7th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, which will meet on 3 and 4 March under the Italian presidency in Rome.
Maria da Graça Carvalho takes part of the 46 delegation of MEPs headed by Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament. The summit will bring together MEPs with parliamentarians from the EU's Mediterranean neighbours.
As well as discussing recent developments that have shaken the region, parliamentarians from both sides of the Mediterranean will concentrate on immigration issues, security in the area, the stalled Middle East peace process. the state of play of the Union for Mediterranean, and on mobilising EU financial instruments for the region, including the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) of the European Investment Bank. Deputies will also decide on changes to the Rules of procedure of the Parliamentary Assembly and will hand over the Presidency to Morocco.
For Maria da Graça Carvalho, member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, this meeting comes "in the right moment. Facing the changes that are occurring in some countries of the Southern Mediterranean, the European Union must support these countries in their transition to democracy".
Ms Carvalho will participate in three points on agenda of the summit: the Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs, Social Affairs and Education; the Committee on Energy, Environment and Water and the Environment protection policies in the Mediterranean.
Today at 17:00, President Buzek will open the Plenary session Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean.