European Parliament
Iva Zanicchi  (PPE ).
(IT)
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the Mediterranean area has always played a major geopolitical role in European history. The latest example, the Arab Spring, has highlighted the strategic potential of the social and political links between the two sides of the Mediterranean. I therefore consider it right to support the implementation of a macro-regional strategy in the Mediterranean basin as the best way of addressing common challenges and encouraging development and integration among its peoples. Although I think the macro-regional strategies need better alignment of funding and more efficient utilisation of existing resources, they are undeniably an essential tool for Europe’s cohesion policy.

