Partnership in social, cultural and Human affairs: Developing human ressources, promoting understanding between cultures & exchanges between civil societies
The participants recognize that the traditions of culture and civilization throughout the Mediterranean region, dialogue between these cultures and exchanges at human, scientific and technological level are an essential factor in bringing their peoples closer, promoting understanding between them and improving their perception of each other.
In this spirit, the participants agree to establish a partnership in social, cultural and human affairs. To this end:
They reaffirm that dialogue and respect between cultures and religions are a necessary precondition for bringing the peoples closer. In this connection they stress the importance of the role the mass media can play in the reciprocal recognition and understanding of cultures as a source of mutual enrichment.
They stress the essential nature of the development of human resources, both as regards the education and training of young people in particular and in the area of culture. They express their intent to promote cultural exchanges and knowledge of other languages, respecting the cultural identity of each partner, and to implement a lasting policy of educational and cultural programmes; in this context, the partners undertake to adopt measures to facilitate human exchanges, in particular by improving administrative procedures.
They recognize the essential contribution civil society can make in the process of development of the EuroMediterranean partnership and as an essential factor for greater understanding and closeness between peoples.
They accordingly agree to strengthen and/or introduce the necessary instruments of decentralized cooperation to encourage exchanges between those active in development within the framework of national laws: leaders of political and civil society, the cultural and religious world, universities, the research community, the media, organizations, the trade unions and public and private enterprises.
On this basis, they recognize the importance of encouraging contacts and exchanges between young people in the context of programmes for decentralized cooperation.
They agree to strengthen cooperation by means of various measures to prevent terrorism and fight it more effectively together.
They underline the importance of waging a determined campaign against racism, xenophobia and intolerance and agree to cooperate to that end.
See the full text of the Barcelona Declaration at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/euromed/bd.htm
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