Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA UfM)

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean is the evolution, initially of the Euro-Mediterranean Forum and then of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, which, according to the Joint Declaration of the Paris Summit for the Mediterranean (13 July 2008), constitutes the legitimate parliamentary expression of the Barcelona Process.

The PA UfM aims at providing parliamentary impetus and support to the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in the framework of the Barcelona Process and acts as a forum for discussing all issues that relate to Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, including the implementation of Association Agreements between the EU and non-EU member states participating in the Assembly. The Assembly adopts non-binding resolutions and recommendations on these issues.

The PA UfM convenes once a year and consists of 280 members, as follows: 132 members from the national parliaments of the 28 EU member states (83 members, 3 members per national parliament and 2 members from the United Kingdom) and the European Parliament (49 members), 8 members from the parliaments of Euro-Mediterranean Partners (Albania, Bosnia – Herzegovina, Montenegro, Monaco), 130 members from the parliaments of the 10 founding Mediterranean Partners (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey) and 10 members from the Parliament of Mauritania. The composition of the Assembly is expected to be revised in view of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU. Participation to the PA UfM is governed by the principle of equal representation. Every national delegation has a number of votes, equal to the number of members of the delegation. In the case of Cyprus: 3 members equate to 3 votes. 

The Bureau of the PA-UfM consists of four members appointed for a four-year mandate: two members from the Euro-Mediterranean countries, one appointed by the EU national parliaments and the European Parliament as the fourth member. For the 2016 – 2020 period, Bureau members are Italy, Egypt, the EP and Turkey. The members of the Bureau assume the Presidency of the Assembly successively, for one year each, and as a collective body they are responsible for coordinating the work of the Assembly, as well as for managing its relations with other bodies and organizations.

The Cyprus delegation to the PA UfM consists of three members of the House: Mr. Averof Neofytou, head (DISY), Mr. Costas Costa (AKEL-Left-New Forces) and Mr. Pavlos Mylonas (DIKO).  

The PA-UfM has five standing committees: Committee on Political Affairs, Security and Human Rights, Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs, Social Affairs and Education, Committee on Energy, Environment and Water, Committee on Improving Quality of Life, Exchanges Between Civil Societies and Culture and the Committee on Women's Rights in Euro-Mediterranean Countries. The House of Representatives takes part in the first three Committees. 

In addition to the regular activities of the Assembly, annual Summits of the Presidents of the Parliaments of the Member States are held.

Website: https://paufm.org