The Terms of Reference state that this study should evaluate the effects of the current Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Agreement for the EU and the Mediterranean region, in order to assist policy makers in defining the next steps in the Euro-Mediterranean trade Road map till 2010 and beyond.1 In particular the study should:
• Provide quantitative, qualitative and sectoral assessments of the impacts of the Euro- Mediterranean free trade area on trade and investment in order to clearly evaluate which effects for the EU and the Mediterranean region the partnership brought so far. In this context, particular attention should be given to South-South integration, e.g. the Agadir Agreement;
• To point out the partnerships' strengths and weaknesses and point out how to further enhance trade and economic integration in the Euro-Mediterranean region;
• To suggest future actions and instruments to be taken to address the weaknesses identified, with a view of realizing the goal of a well functioning Euro-Mediterranean FTA by 2010 and beyond. The study should define the opportunity of pursuing additional negotiations on a number of non tariff and regulatory issues with a view to establish deep and comprehensive free trade agreements in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
The study was to focus on the most active partners of the Euro-Mediterranean FTA i.e. Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan and Israel, which will be referred to as MED5 in this study, and focus on all aspects of the trade and investment relations. An important aspect of the study was to obtain the perception of the economic operators in the EU-MED region with respect to the present FTA and the prospects for future deeper integration.