The EuroMed Market Programme – in which FCM participated as a regional expert – was concluded at the end of April, 2009, with the publication of the final study “Towards the Free Trade Area”.

The Programme had the ultimate goal of contributing to the creation of a free trade area between the European Union and its Mediterranean Partners by exploring in depth some priority topics, one of which was Auditing and Accounting (the others topics were: Customs, Competition Rules, Public Procurement, Intellectual Property Rights, Financial Services: Banking & Insurances). FCM was a major contributor in the Auditing and Accounting priority field.

The study was presented in a final conference (which took place in Barcelona on the 28th -29th of April, 2009) with the aim of arriving at agreements on conclusions and recommendations required for achieving the goals of the Barcelona Process – Union for the Mediterranean.

With regard to Auditing and Accounting, the following recommendations were made:

1. It would be necessary to use the study carried out in the framework of the EuroMed Market Programme as a basis to draft national action plans in this field for each Mediterranean Partner.
2. The participants would welcome the setting up of a central Euro-Mediterranean entity comprising representatives from both the public and private sectors, with a view to coordinating action in this field. The Federation of Mediterranean Accountants (FCM), established in 1999, should start working as hub for EuroMed cooperation activities in the field of Auditing and Accounting and be the starting point for creating an Accountancy and Auditing Central EuroMed Entity.

A video of the final conference in Barcelona, broadcasted by Euronews, is available on Youtube in English, French and Spanish:

Video of the final conference in Barcelona
Vidéo de la conférence finale à Barcelone
Video de la conferencia final en Barcelona

More information in relation to the conclusions of the EuroMed Market Programme is available on the EuroMed Market Programme website, in either English or French.

Related files:

• Final Conclusions (EN)
• Conclusions Finales (FR)
• Towards the Free Trade Area (EN)
• Vers la Zone de Libre Échange (FR)
• Towards the Free Trade Area (Arabic)
• Presentation and Results of the Working Group on Auditing and Accounting, By Paul Van Geyt, EU Expert for the EuroMed Market Programme
• Presentation and Results of the Working Group on Auditing and Accounting, By Maria Teresa Venuta, FCM Secretary General