Brussels - The European Union is sponsoring television programmes designed to promote North African societies as modern, open and emancipated, officials in Brussels said Wednesday.

The EuroMed-News project, co-financed by the European Commission using 2.16 million euros (2.85 million dollars) of European taxpayers' money, also aims to increase awareness among the local populations about what the EU does to foster cooperation and dialogue between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

It comes about nine months after French President Nicolas Sarkozy moved to beef up economic and political ties between the EU and its Middle East and North African neighbours with the launch of a Union for the Mediterranean at a summit in Paris.

Spearheaded by France Televisions, EuroMed-News brings together hundreds of broadcasters in Europe and in Algeria, Jordan, Libya, Syria, Morocco and Lebanon.

Together, they will produce 300 news features, 40 short current affairs programmes and nine 26-minute documentaries about North African society and the economy.

The producers also hope to draw youngsters' attention to such delicate issues as gender inequality and the environment.

Asked how the project's joint production teams might reconcile the differing views that exist, for instance, on women's rights in Europe and North Africa, France Televisions chief executive officer Patrick De Carolis said there would be "freedom within a common vision".

Salah Eddine Maaoui of the Arab States Broadcasting Union said the programmes would seek to promote North African women as "modern, emancipated" and ready to take "full part in the development of their country."

The EU's external affairs commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said she hoped that, "little by little, using these images, we can help these societies become more open."

The television programmes are to be broadcast to North African audiences over the next 14 months and will be made available to everyone through the internet.