EuroNews Arabic into fifth day – Brings Europe and the Mediterranean closer

Benita Ferrero-Waldner

EuroNews Arabic has now entered into its fifth day of round the clock broadcast of Arab language programmes, bringing Europe and the Mediterranean region closer together and increasing knowledge of each other.

The service, with programmes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, was launched on July 12, at the Arab World Institute in Paris, the day before the Summit on the “Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean.

It is the eighth language version of EuroNews and was introduced following a successful bid for a competitive tender from the European Union. On 6 December 2007 in Brussels, the Channel and the European Commission signed a service agreement to extend the Channel’s programming to include Arabic.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy said “we have arrived at a crucial juncture in relations with our Mediterranean partners. With the launch of the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean at the Paris Summit on 13 July we are injecting fresh energy into our partnership , increasing co-ownership of the process and working for tangible, real and visible results for citizens in the region. “

“Thus EuroNews in Arabic will be an integral part of our efforts to bring Europe and the Mediterranean region closer together and to increase our knowledge of each other,” she added.

Seventeen Arab-speaking journalists were recruited to meet the needs of this EU financed project, according to the information available on its website.

Under distribution agreements signed by EuroNews, the Arab language version of the channel can be seen in the Maghreb and Mashreq countries and the Gulf States.