EUROPEAN UNION TRADE MINISTERS WILL HOLD TALKS WITH COUNTERPARTS FROM NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST ON FRIDAY TO PUSH FORWARD EFFORTS TO CREATE A FREE-TRADE AREA AROUND THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA BY 2010, AP REPORTED. THE MINISTERS, MEETING IN THE MOROCCAN CITY OF MARRAKECH, WILL OPEN NEGOTIATIONS ON LIBERALIZING TRADE IN SERVICES AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR BUSINESS TO OPERATE AROUND THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION AS PART OF A DECADE-LONG DRIVE TO FREE UP COMMERCE. THE OPENING OF SERVICES TRADE BETWEEN THE EU AND THE COUNTRIES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN WILL BENEFIT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND STIMULATE INVESTMENT, EU TRADE COMMISSIONER PETER MANDELSON SAID THURSDAY. LAUNCHING THESE SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS IS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE ON THE ROAD TO A EURO-MEDITERRANEAN FREE TRADE AREA, HE SAID IN A STATEMENT. THE TALKS WILL BE THE FIFTH SUCH GATHERING BETWEEN TRADE MINISTERS OF THE 25-NATION EU AND THEIR OPPOSITE NUMBERS FROM MOROCCO, ALGERIA, TUNISIA, EGYPT, JORDAN, THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, ISRAEL, LEBANON AND SYRIA. THE EU IS ALREADY THE REGION'S MOST IMPORTANT TRADING PARTNER FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES, ACCOUNTING FOR ABOUT 45 PERCENT OF THEIR IMPORTS AND EXPORTS, WITH TWO-WAY TRADE TOTALING 82 BILLION (US$99 BILLION) IN 2004. -- SPA 20 06 LOCAL TIME 17 06 GMT
