regards-citoyens

Prologue

Collaboration between the Euromed Non-Governmental Platform, the voice of a plural and diverse civil society, and Friedrich Ebert Foundation, has brought an added value to the institutional partnership in the Mediterranean region. The willingness of this Foundation, known for its credibility and efficiency in following up social and political transitions in the Mediterranean, and its approach of opening new perspectives through practical proposals, has found an echo in the determination of civil society, as expressed through the Euromed Platform, to make its voice and contribution heard amidst the preoccupying social and economic situation in the Region.

Participants at the 2008 Civil Forum in Marseille decided that the Platform should not restrict its activities to Civil Forums only. Instead, the conclusions of the Civil Forum’s workshops should constitute a basis for deepening dialogue and involving researchers, civil actors and journalists in order to generate clear, practical and responsible proposals which will enable civil society to elaborate and promote genuine initiatives.

The Seminar on social and economic issues, organized with the European Commission’s support and in close partnership with Friedrich Ebert, was indeed the first of this series of meetings. This Seminar was of great importance considering its subject and because it succeeded to show that social and economic issues could be a key to understanding the dynamics of social change and their impact on unemployment and labour, development, democracy, peace and equality in the Mediterranean area.

This important Seminar took place following Marseille’s Civil Forum, the Euromed Conference of Employment and Labour Ministers, the attack against Gaza, and the beginning of the global economic and financial crisis and its negative impact on Mediterranean societies, especially in the South, which badly affected development and free trade. This Seminar was characterized by a positive working methodology involving many researchers and actors, as well as 6 specialists in order to guarantee the quality of knowledge and professionalism, and facilitate multiple approaches. These specialists met during a preparatory meeting in Rabat before meeting in Cairo. The Seminar provided an opportunity for genuine and responsible dialogue which resulted in the elaboration of 31 measures and a number of specific recommendations which will be promoted and advocated by the organizers, mainly Ebert Foundation and the Euromed Platform, among all concerned institutions.

The main conclusion of this Seminar was that the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership now requires a genuine social dimension that will help increase and develop employment opportunities in the region, generalize social security, and promote the role of development as a key element for stability and prosperity. It will as well contribute to regional solidarity and make the economic and social councils act as a powerful body generating proposals and taking action together with the productive forces. This social dimension will eventually lead to real peace in the Mediterranean to help it achieve progress and prosperity in conditions of stability and continuous development.

I would like to extend special thanks to the participants and to Friedrich Ebert Foundation which has proved its deep conviction in joint action with civil society through the Euromed Non-Governmental Platform. We look forward to deepening this collaboration.

I am grateful as well to all the researchers and specialists and to our Egyptian friends for their efforts to ensure success to this meeting. I hope this publication will motivate you to contribute with us to establishing together a genuine social dimension in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

President of the Euromed Non-Governmental Platform)
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