organized in occasion of the joint report published by ISPI and RIAC
As in all regions of the world, in the Middle East and North Africa, too, ongoing trends of societies and economies were subverted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Lockdown measures, curfews and restrictions to commercial activities have had a further impact on already poor economic performances, accelerating recession and increasing unemployability rates. The drop of oil prices compromised the import-export markets, with direct, negative consequences on economic growth and the average GDP in the region. In the Mediterranean region specifically, the pandemic has then coupled with pre-existing instability on several fronts: growing tensions in the Eastern-Mediterranean region, the endless wars in Syria and Libya, and new migration flows. Trends for the future of the region, then, appear very different from previous projections. What the Middle East and North Africa will look like in 2030? What trends shall we expect will delineate in the next decade in economic, security and societal terms?
Speakers
Paolo Magri, Executive Vice President, Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), Italy
Andrey Kortunov, Director, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), Russian Federation
Elham Fakhro, Senior Analyst, Gulf States, International Crisis Group (ICG)
Tarik Yousef, Director, Brookings Doha Center, Qatar
Moderator:
Florence Gaub, Deputy Director, European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS)