609 Ricard Zapata-Barrero The external dimension of migration policy in the Mediterranean region: premises for normative debate can bring, for the source, destination and t r ans i t c o unt r i e s . Mo r e ov e r, t h e agreement highlights the importance of strengthening joint management through shared responsibility with a more global and balanced approach. In terms of more concrete objectives, it emphasises the need to speed up procedures related to the migratory process and to promote regular migration within the Euro-Mediterranean area, taking into account the respective labour markets.79 Also in this line, one should note the important change in recent years in how existing relations between mobility and development are conceptualised. Adding to the paradigm “more development for less migration”, there is now greater awareness about the relations between mobility and socio-economic development. In this new conceptualisation, the relation between migratory and development cooperation policies does not aim to reduce the migratory pressure, but rather to optimise the positive impact of migration in the origin and destination countries.80 In this new conceptual framework, it is especially relevant to bear in mind that for the Euro-Mediterranean space, the causal link between migration and the North/ South economic imbalance derives from the enlargement of free trade and globalisa-tion. This fact should be considered when defining Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. Consequently, the detachment of migratory policies from the development policies of the countries of origin would be incongruous, as both have a growing geostrategic link. This change of paradigm – from “more development for less migration” to “better migration for more development” – integrated the official European rhetoric with the launch of the Global Approach to Migration by the Commission81, having found its practical expression in the organisation of the two Euro-African conferences in Rabat and Tripoli and, more recently, in the proposal for circular migration and mobility partnerships.82 We should bear in mind that the Euro-African Conference on Migration and Development, held in Rabat in July 2006, was one of the first and, at least symbo-lically, the clearest attempt to showcase the European priorities over this next period: 79 EUROMED “Ministerial Conclusions of the First Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Meeting on Migration”, 2007, Available at: http://www.eu2007.pt/UE/vEN/Noticias_Documentos/20071119Co nclusoeseuromed.htm 80 See the following publications, among others: FARGUES, Philippe. “Migraciones en el Mediterráneo: un panorama general”, in Y. Courbage, T. Yousef, G. Martine, P. Fargues (eds.). Población y desarrollo en el mediterráneo. Transiciones demográficas y desigualdades socioeconómicas. Barcelona: Icària/ IEmed, 2009, pp. 267-283, y BALDWIN-EDWARDS, Martin, op cit.2009, pp. 367-384. 81 European council, Presidency Conclusions. Annex I: Global Approach to Migration: Priority Actions focusing on Africa and the Mediterranean. 15/16 December 2005. 82 EUROPEAN COMMISSION “On circular migration and mobility partnerships between the European Union and third countries”, COM (2007) 248 final, 2007, Available at: http://eur-lex.eu-ropa. eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServdo?uri=COM:2007:0248:FIN:EN:PDF
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