The European Union (EU) and Mediterranean countries announced plans for free trade talks, with the aim of establishing a free trade area in the region by 2010.

The two groups made the statement following the 5th trade ministers' conference of EU-Mediterranean countries, which ended Friday in the southern Moroccan city of Marrakesh.

Representatives from EU's 25 member nations, and 10 Mediterranean countries, agreed unanimously to start the talks on opening up the service market, expecting that the dialogue would further reinforce the partnership between the two sides and promote economic integration in the region, the statement said.

It was already agreed that the planning and implementation involved must abide by international rules, including the regulations of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The talks will also take into consideration the economic level of Mediterranean countries as a whole, as well as the degree of individual country's development respectively.

The EU agreed to recognize the developing country status of the Mediterranean countries in the negotiations.

The Austrian Economic Affairs and Labour Minister, Martin Bartenstein, said that it was an important step for both sides to launch the talks as part of the process of strengthening bilateral economic ties.

The two sides had made substantial progress in their efforts to set up an EU-Mediterranean free trade area, but there was still a long way to go, said the minister, whose country currently holds the EU rotating presidency.

The EU trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, called for the countries attending the conference to make joint efforts to establish the free trade area as soon as possible.

There existed great potential between EU and Mediterranean countries for economic and trade cooperation, the commissioner said.

The establishment of a free trade area between the two sides would promote prosperity and stability in the region, added Mandelson.

Since 2001, the conference has been held annually for trade ministers from the EU and Mediterranean countries. Previous conferences have been held in Belgium, Spain, Italy and Turkey.

The EU and Mediterranean countries launched a program called the "Barcelona Process" with an eye to boost all-round cooperation among the EU nations and countries in the Mediterranean region, during a meeting in Barcelona, Spain in November 1995. The program now covers 25 EU members and 10 Mediterranean countries.

As the major trade partner of the Mediterranean region, the EU buys 70 percent of its exports.

Source: Xinhua