36 Mr. Leonard asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the senior-official level meeting between EU member states and the 12 Mediterranean rim countries on 19 November 1996 succeeded in developing a work programme; if he will give details of the content of that programme; and the outcome of the follow-up Barcelona Euro-Mediterranean Committee meeting on 20 November 1996. [23985/96]

As I have already stated in response to a written question of 27 November on the same subject from Deputy Burke, the Euro-Mediteranean Committee for the Barcelona Process plays an important role in taking stock and evaluating the follow-up to the Barcelona Process. At its most recent meeting on 19 November the committee continued its work of updating the list of priority actions covering all three areas of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and carried out further work on a strategy paper for future cooperation by the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership which it is intended to present to the next meeting of Foreign Ministers to be held in April 1997.