Forum Cooperation
Shaping the Future Mediterranean: Education, Technical and Vocational Training for Sustainable Development On the occasion of the 7th edition of the “ROME MED – Mediterranean Dialogues”, the Italian Ministry of
Forum Migration
Even in the post-pandemic era, global migration will not “disappear”. There are now an estimated 281 million migrants worldwide, around a third of which live either in the EU27 or in
Think Thanks and Civil Society Forum
In loving memory of James G. McGann For the 7° edition of the Rome MED Dialogues, to be held on 2-4 December 2021, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Forum Youth
Since its first edition in 2015, the Rome MED Conference has promoted a Youth Forum with the purpose to gather young promising leaders distinguished for their innovative ideas and projects.
Women’s Forum
in loving memory of Tosca Barucco PROGRAMME 15.00 – 15.10 | OPENING REMARKS Marina Sereni, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy 15.10 – 16.00 THE MEDITERRANEAN
Parlamentary Forum
Over the course of this year, the broader Mediterranean region has witnessed several developments and progress alongside numerous challenges. These have in part included the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the fragile
OPENING CEREMONY
MED – MEDITERRANEAN DIALOGUES is the annual high-level initiative promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and ISPI (Italian Institute for International Political Studies) in Rome with the
BRINGING MULTILATERALISM BACK IN: RENEWED AMBITIONS FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION
“] Multilateralism has been one of the key pillars of the global institutional architecture since the end of WWII and has played a central role in the promotion and sustainment
CIRCULAR APPROACHES FOR THE MIDDLE EAST SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
As the world confronts the dire consequences of climate change, policy makers have started to recognize the importance of the idea of a circular economy. Far from regarding only certain countries, economic circularity is
SEEDS OF HOPE AGAINST PROPHETS OF DOOM: RELIGION-GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS FOR A NEW POLICY OF MEDITERRANEAN UNITY
Recent events like the international community withdrawal from Afghanistan, the 9/11 20th anniversary of as well as the sight of the end of the pandemic, seems to signal the twilight of an era of twenty years crisis which has
THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE MENA REGION AND THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN ENGAGEMENT
The end of the NATO mission to Afghanistan has determined a significant turning point in Allied as well as Washington’s political and military engagement in Central Asia and the Middle East. In the aftermath of the 2011 Arab Springs, America refocused its resources and engagement abroad, raising questions about the
SPECIAL DIALOGUE WITH AYMAN SAFADI
Over the past year, Jordan has faced several challenges while also simultaneously seizing new opportunities having arisen from the transforming international and regional environment. While still hosting some 670,000 registered Syrian refugees, the country has suffered from the dire economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. The economic recovery has become
CONVERSATION ON THE FUTURE OF YEMEN
After six years of uninterrupted conflict, Yemen is still deeply suffering from an indefinite state of war with no clear way on to move forward. Against this backdrop, the continuation
SPECIAL DIALOGUE WITH OLIVIER VARHELY
The Southern Neighbourhood has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the European Union, which continues to be the most important economic partner for the Mediterranean region. The 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Process in 2020 provided the opportunity to restate that strengthening the Euro-Mediterranean partnership remains
THE ROAD AHEAD: DESIGNING THE FUTURE OF MIDDLE EAST ECONOMIES
As the world starts to gradually recover from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic diversification is proving to be both a challenge and an opportunity for Middle East countries. In a world threatened by climate change and in constant technological evolution, it becomes necessary
DEALING WITH MIGRATION: REVITALIZING PARTNERSHIPS IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD
Despite the fact that the pandemic has plunged the global economy into a severe recession and forced most of the world into lockdowns over the past two years, migration across the Mediterranean region has not “disappeared” and is not
CLEAN ENERGY FOR ALL: OPPORTUNITIES FOR COOPERATION IN THE MENA REGION
The Middle East and North Africa is amongst the world’s most vulnerable regions in regard to climate change. Challenged by increasing temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, water stress and projected sea level rise,
PUBLIC DEBT AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN THE MENA REGION
The MENA region has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, also in economic terms. With a view to reduce the sever health and social impact, governments of the area have further increased their public debt: the average debt level in the region has grown from 46% to 54% of GDP. Combined with a decline in
SPECIAL DIALOGUE WITH RIYAD AL MALKI
The past year has seen several relevant developments for the Palestinian territories. On the international level, the inauguration of the Biden presidency and the restoration of US funds to UNRWA have contributed to the improvement
ACROSS THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ: TOWARDS A NEW REGIONAL COOPERATION ARCHITECTURE?
Since the beginning of 2021, the Gulf region has undergone significant diplomatic re-openings as well as attempts to appease relations among countries, including the Al-Ula agreement, the 2021 Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and
HOW YOUNG GENERATIONS CAN SHAPE A GREENER FUTURE
In 2021, the world was still deeply crippled by the long-lasting socio-economic consequences of the pandemic which affected every aspect of the lives of societies across the entire Mediterranean. Specifically, this has posed several important challenges for the youth globally in relation
CONVERSATION ON THE FUTURE OF SYRIA
Ten years after the outbreak of the civil war, a political solution for the Syrian conflict appears to still be far away. In October, the drafting process of the Constitutional
“MEDITERRANEAN COMMON GOODS”: A POSITIVE AGENDA FOR THE FUTURE FOR THE BROADER MEDITERRANEAN
Confronted by unprecedented challenges, the Broader Mediterranean needs a new approach to defend common interests and values as well as developing shared ambitions. Socio-political and economic cleavages have overshadowed the potential of the region as “common good”. In order to address the shared challenges currently being experienced by the two shores and
CONNECTING THE BROADER MEDITERRANEAN: ENHANCING INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
Connectivity is the backbone of the MENA region’s economic prosperity and is crucial to relaunch growth in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Enhancing connectivity and strengthening participation in global value chains is key for many economies of the region, as they claim to play an increasing role
NORTH AFRICAN STORM: THE INFLUENCE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON STABILITY AND SECURITY
in collaboration with Atlantic Council Ten years after the Arab uprisings, many of the socio-political and economic challenges which fueled demonstrations in North of Africa still need to be addressed. The Covid-19 pandemic has
EU-SAHEL RENEWED COOPERATION: PROSPECTS FOR THE STABILIZATION OF THE REGION
The Sahel is a crucial area where European and African interests largely converge. Since 2012, the region has been confronted with growing security challenges – including jihadist terrorism, illicit trafficking, and human smuggling – that have all negatively impacted
BUILDING UP SUPPLY CHAINS’ RESILIENCY IN A POST PANDEMIC MEDITERRANEAN: REGIONAL TRADE, DIGITALIZATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION
in collaboration with PMI As the pandemic now appears to be on a slowly subsiding trajectory, its impact on international trade will be long-lasting. The closure of borders
SPECIAL DIALOGUE WITH PAOLO GENTILONI
The European Union was severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic but it proved to be capable of effectively tackling its socio-economic consequences. In March 2020, EU leaders suspended the
LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND: RE-SHAPING SOCIAL CONTRACT FOR AN INCLUSIVE POST-COVID 19 RECOVERY
The MENA region is facing a number of socio-economic challenges, which the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to amplify, including increasingly high rates of youth unemployment, disruption in core health services, drops in household
LIBYA AT THE CROSSROADS. WHAT EUROPE AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CAN DO
in collaboration with ECFR and KAS Despite the progress made since the October 2020 ceasefire agreement, in Libya authorities face a myriad of challenges as they try to
DECARBONISING ENERGY FACILITIES IN THE BROADER MEDITERRANEAN
Energy transition has become a political and economic imperative. It implies, however, a long-lasting effort of adaption and several fundamental challenges: the MENA region and especially oil and gas producing countries will be drastically transformed by the systemic changes induced by decarbonization policies and
GOVERNANCE IN CRISIS: WHAT FUTURE FOR SECURITY SECTOR INSTITUTIONS IN THE MENA REGION?
This panel will provide the opportunity to discuss the main challenges and prospects regarding security sector governance in the MENA region by drawing upon the key findings of the
SPECIAL DIALOGUE WITH JOSEP BORRELL
Five years after the launch of its Global Strategy, the European Union faces increasing complexities in its neighborhood and at the global level. In its pursuit to expand its global role, the EU has embraced a more autonomous
SPECIAL DIALOGUE WITH MOHAMMED BIN ABDULRAHMAN AL-THANI
Over the past year, Qatar has continued to carry out a mediation-oriented foreign policy to affirm its role in international diplomacy. This has been particularly evident considering recent developments in
SPECIAL DIALOGUE WITH ABDALLAH BOU HABIB
Over the last two years, Lebanon has faced multiple and intertwined challenges within a political, economic and financial crisis further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Beirut Port explosion. Liquidity problems, poor energy and
CLOSING CEREMONY
Welcome to the closing session of Rome MED 2021 MED – MEDITERRANEAN DIALOGUES is the annual high-level initiative promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and ISPI (Italian Institute