In their final declaration, the ministers of the countries of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership emphasised the contribution of the information society, research and innovation to business competitiveness, to new job creation and to tackling the challenges of globalisation. They recognised the role of the public and private partnership in developing the ICT sector and highlighted the requirement for further liberalisation and the opening up of the electronic communications markets. They re-affirmed their commitment to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.
According to the Slovenian Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Ms Mojca Kucler Dolinar, the second EUROMED ministerial conference has given new impetus to Euro-Mediterranean dialogue. "Services, such as e-health, e-learning and e-administration, give added value to the quality of life of users. Therefore, we must promote innovation and investment in research in the ICT sector", said the President of the EU Council. She also added that in developing the electronic communications and information society services, innovation and investment was the very area where a joint incentive by Euro-Mediterranean partner countries could assure significant results. At the conference, which represents the continuation of efforts to achieve the objectives of the Barcelona process, the Ministers agreed that cooperation in the area of ICT might constitute a model of cooperation in building bridges between the countries north and south of the Mediterranean Sea. At the close of the meeting, the participants also agreed on further action and regular meetings in future, which will offer a solid basis for monitoring the progress made in cooperation in the area of the information society.
