The MCA Foundation Advisory Council states that:
- The Israeli-Palestinian conflict persists, maintaining its destabilizing effects in the region;
- Terrorist actions continue, with more and more victims;
- Migration flows, linked to economic and climatic reasons and the need to escape current conflicts, are increasing;
- Global warming is growing in the Mediterranean, about 20% faster than the global average, endangering marine and terrestrial ecosystems, food and water resources, sustainable economic development, health and human security without sufficient measures to curb this trend is taken;
MCAF ADVISORY COUNCIL STATEMENT - BARCELONA 8 MCAF MEETING
The political and social situation is deteriorating and producing popular uprisings, supported mainly by young people, resulting from the difficulties of daily life, the lack of freedom and social justice, which lead to questioning the political systems. The Council also notes the return of authoritarianism more and more removed from democratic values and expresses its great concern at these degradations.
Lebanon is rebelling against an unjust system and a corrupt political class. Algeria does not succeed in satisfying the popular demands that for several months have been expressed. Tunisia has democratically elected a new president of the republic supported by youth, the fight against corruption and the need for jobs. However, the unknowns related to the magnitude of the challenge fears disturbing disappointments for the future. France, Italy and Spain are also experiencing protest movements in the established political and economic systems.
The hopes of the 2011 uprisings in Libya and Syria have turned into wars; in Egypt the dictatorship is back. The Advisory Council concerns on the current situation in Turkey and Syria and the latest military movements in the area. The Advisory Council condemns the armed conflicts taking place in the Mediterranean region.
In addition, outlying conflicts have negative repercussions for the peace and the stability in the region. These are mainly Iraq and its internal clashes, Iran-Saudi Arabia antagonism and finally the Sahel, source of trafficking of all kinds and terrorism.
Facing this situation, which is still plus more degraded, the Advisory Council strongly shows its concern, especially as the various institutional approaches launched in the Mediterranean área seem to stagnate: the Barcelona Process, the European Neighborhood Policy and the Union for the Mediterranean.
The Advisory Council invites citizens’ circles to continue their activities in order to improve the conditions for peace, social justice and the dignity of peoples. In addition, the Council is addressing the decision makers with representation mandates to provide real answers to all these questions.
The Advisory Council is convinced that Mediterranean youth is working to find peaceful and democratic solutions to the problems affecting the region. It addresses the MCAF so that it develops its axes of reflection and its actions to contribute to the emergence of a true Mediterranean citizen conscience.
Barcelona, November 9, 2019.