2005, the Year of the Mediterranean - such was the declared intention

of the European Ministers of Foreign Affairs at the Council meeting in

The Hague in December 2004. The Europe of the 25 is thus preparing

to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the signing of the Barcelona

Declaration and is turning resolutely towards its southern shores.

All are aware of the significance of the question of agriculture and food

in the construction of a Euro-Mediterranean that can hold its own

against the major continental groups in the world

As it is the case each year, this new edition of the CIHEAM annual

report gives a detailed overview on the most recent evolution of the

agricultural economies and the agro-food sector in the Mediterranean

states which are members of CIHEAM.

Observing, analysing, understanding and disseminating information

are central to the missions of the CIHEAM and are also the ambition

of the present 7th edition of the annual report. The CIHEAM aims to

make the knowledge that has been acquired on the agro-food situation

and its trends in the countries in the Mediterranean region available to

as wide a public as possible - students, journalists, entrepreneurs and

political leaders.