The Covid-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated that security as a concept extends beyond the military realm, as what started as a health risk has so far spilled over to other significant spheres of society, giving rise to new threats across different countries. Climate, the environment, food, water: these are all dimensions to be included in a holistic concept of security, ultimately adopting human development as the compass for future action.  

How to build back a better security environment for all in the Mena region?  

How to encourage a positive spillover from cooperation on soft dimensions of security to cooperation on hard dimensions?

Qu Dongyu, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Ahmed Al-Mandhari, Director, Regional Office for Eastern Mediterranean, World Health Organization (WHO)

Baiba Braže, Assistant Secretary General, NATO

Serwan Esmaeil, Secretary General, Council of Representatives, Iraq

Valerie N. Guarnieri, Assistant Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP)

Nasser Kamel, Secretary General, Union for the Mediterranean (UFM)

Washio Eiichiro, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Japan

Wu Hongbo, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on European Affairs, China

Moderators:
Dlawer Ala’Aldeen, President, Middle East Research Institute (MERI), Iraq
Enrica Toninelli, RAI