During the last two decades the South Med-region has been trapped in cycles of interest and disinterest, the transition from euphoria and hope to disappointment and frustration, with the feeling of never being able to take off and move forward. After the migration crisis, limiting the EU strategy vis-à-vis the region to the short-term management of a safe and negative agenda would disregard the region’s strengths and risks hindering the potential for long term development and stability.
What are the key elements for building a positive agenda which can meet the interests of both shores of the Mediterranean? How to strike a balance between political ambition and feasibility?
The Euro-Mediterranean Network for Economic Studies – EMNES, the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association – EMEA and the Centre for European Policy Studies -CEPS, organised the lunch time meeting event “How important is the Southern neighborhood for the future of Europe?”, which took place at CEPS, on 14.11.2019.
Fathallah Sijilmassi former SG of the Union for the Mediterranean and member of EMNES Advisory board, Michael Koehler, Deputy Director General, EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid – ECHO and Prof. Rym Ayadi, Director of EMNES and President of EMEA, shared their views on how to look at the future of the region and the Euro-Med relations in a strategic and constructive way. The meeting opened with a welcome address by Dr. Cinzia Alcidi, Head of Economic Policy Unit of CEPS.
