EU urges deeper integration of five Maghreb nations

(BRUSSELS) - The European Union on Wednesday urged the five Maghreb nations of northern Africa to draw inspiration from Europe and deepen their regional integration in the aftermath of the Arab Spring.

"The Maghreb is a region with enormous human, economic and cultural potential," said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. "We welcome the calls from partners in the region for closer cooperation and deeper integration between them.

"Citizens on both sides of the Mediterranean stand to benefit," she added.

A paper presented by Ashton for discussion with Maghreb leaders dubs it "one of the least integrated regions in the world" though studies show deeper ties could increase the wealth of Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia by 1 to 2% of GDP a year.

Ashton notably called for stronger political dialogue, in particular regarding security and defence, as well as human rights and democratisation.

The EU could underpin efforts to modernise the judiciary in those countries and provide support for the media, she said.

The 27-nation block could also support anti-terrorism through regular contacts between EU military experts and local counterparts as well as technical advice.

The EU favoured initiatives such as the Arab Maghreb Union and the 5+5 group -- a forum including the Maghreb nations and five southern European states.

In the economic field, Ashton insisted on the importance of developing energy cooperation, saying integration in this area would bring benefits both to partner countries and, in the longer term, to the European Union by opening the way for the export of renewable energy from Maghreb towards the EU.

Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said the EU executive "looks forward to discussing these proposals with the governments of the countries concerned, as well as with representatives of business and civil society".