“Spain faces the Mediterranean challenges” (French)

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3 March, 2017

L’Espagne face aux enjeux méditerranéens édito de Vicent GARCÉS RAMÓN à EUROMED-IHEDN

03.03.2017

After joining the EU, Spain called for the Mediterranean to be a priority for European policies, and in 1995 it promoted the Barcelona Conference at which the Barcelona Process was born. With the creation of the UPM in 2008, we have reached a new stage in which Spain has lost some of its influence in the Mediterranean, despite the withdrawal of the Spanish troops from Iraq in 2004, which had established a very good image of Spain in the southern Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean – an important bridge towards Europe: Pan African Parliament President

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2 March, 2017

Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, 02.03.2017

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the basis of the strategic importance of and the interconnections between the Euro-Mediterranean region and the African continent as geopolitical areas for stability, security, democracy, harmonious economic, cultural and social development, as well as the peaceful cohabitation of their peoples.

The Memorandum was signed during the opening ceremony of the PAM 11th Plenary Session in Porto, Portugal, on 23 February 2017, by Hon. Roger Nkodo Dang, PAP President, and H.E. Sen. Lhou Lmarbouh, PAM President. The two Presidents conceived the idea of the agreement on reinforced cooperation on the occasion of the COP 22 conference last September.

Hon. Dang, in a brief address, recalled the common challenges facing the Mediterranean and the African countries, such as Climate change and youth migration. Hon. Dang called for a more humane approach and solutions while underlining that the Mediterranean is an important bridge towards Europe.

PAM President, Sen. Lhou Lmarbouh referred to the benefits of parliamentary cooperation based on the principles of respect of human rights and freedoms, social justice, the promotion of democracy, and the supremacy of law with regards to the interests of all States and peoples.

Priority objectives of both Assemblies are aimed at guaranteeing the security of their peoples, and furthering cultural, economic, political, religious and social integration, based on the principles of rule of law and, at the same time, promoting respect for human rights. Sen. Lmarbouh concluded by recalling the strategic importance of PAM and PAP as independent and equitable international organizations.//

“Citizenship has an important role to play in the Mediterranean”

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1 March, 2017

ATALAYAR, 28.02.2017

ENTREVISTA A VICENT GARCÉS, ex Eurodiputado y presidente de la Fundación Asamblea de Ciudadanos y Ciudadanas del Mediterráneo (FACM)

Esma Kucukalic

Pie de foto: “Sólo el optimismo de la voluntad frente al pesimismo de la realidad permite avanzar en el Mediterráneo actual, en el que la ciudadanía tiene un papel muy importante que jugar”

Un área geográfica en la que viven casi 500 millones de personas. Un espacio cultural diverso, cuna de civilizaciones, pero hoy escenario de guerra, del hambre, de la desesperación de los que huyen, y de la desigualdad de los que en ella conviven. El Mediterráneo marca la agenda de la geopolítica, aunque la misma parece vislumbrar su fracaso en el reflejo de este mar. ¿Está quizá en la ciudadanía la última esperanza para que el Mediterráneo como espacio político, social y ambiental deje de convulsionar? Hablamos de ello con Vicent Garcés, presidente de la Fundación Asamblea de Ciudadanos y Ciudadanas del Mediterráneo (FACM), una red ciudadana de diálogo, propuesta y acción decidida a crear una comunidad de los pueblos del Mediterráneo.

ARLEM Local leaders urge concerted international action to stabilise Mediterranean

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24 February, 2017

CoR, 23.02.2017

The MCA Foundation has attended the 8th ARLEM plenary in Malta where local and regional leaders from across the Mediterranean and the European Union have urged national governments and the international community to work more closely with mayors and governors to help stabilise North Africa and the Middle East.

The conflict in Libya and the challenges of migration and climate change were particular concerns for the mayors, governors and regional representatives at the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), which met in Malta on 23 February.

MCAF participates at the 11th PAM assembly in Porto on security, refugee crisis and cooperation

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24 February, 2017

MCAF / PAM 24.02.2107

The MCA Foundation has participated at the 11th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) held on 23 and 24 February 2017 in Porto, in the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal. The two assembly sessions dealt with refugee crisis, security challenges, migration, containment of extremism and economic, social and environmental cooperation in the countries of the Mediterranean basin.

Barcelona protest to support refugees draws thousands

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20 February, 2017

BBC, 18.02.2017

Some 160,000 people have demonstrated in Barcelona to demand the government allow more refugees into Spain from war-hit areas such as Syria.

Marchers carrying placards and banners- many in the Catalan language – accused the Madrid government of dragging its feet over the issue.

They say it has not honoured its pledge made in 2015 to allow more than 17,000 refugees into Spain within two years.

Over that time, Spain has accepted only about 1,100 refugees.

Presentación del proyecto “La Sostenibilitat al Plat” en el mercado “De l’horta a la plaça” (spanish)

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13 February, 2017

CERAI, 13.02.2017

El pasado 29 de enero, en el marco del mercado de productos de proximidad que por segunda vez se ha celebrado en la Plaza del Ayuntamiento de Valencia, se presentó el proyecto La Sostenibilitat al Plat, en el que CERAI está trabajando con 3 colegios de la ciudad de Valencia para avanzar hacia un modelo de comedor escolar sostenible. Se trata de los colegios Santiago Grisolía, Fernando de los Ríos y Benimaclet, los tres de titularidad municipal.

Actuaciones históricas. Los momentos más impactantes del concierto por los refugiados (spanish)

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12 February, 2017

La Vanguardia, 12.02.2017

Albert Doménech

15.000 personas claman en el Sant Jordi a favor de la acogida en un espectáculo de más de tres horas con reivindicaciones, dardos políticos y mucha emoción.

Emoción y reivindicación se han abrazado con fuerza en una velada para la historia en el Palau Sant Jordi que ha acogido el concierto para las personas refugiadas impulsado desde la plataforma ‘Casa nostra, casa vostra’. La cita, que ha contado con la dirección escénica de la Fura dels Baus, y la producción y colaboración de grandes marcas como Primavera Sound y Canet Rock, ha derivado en un multitudinario clamor de 15.000 voces a favor de convertir el país en una tierra de acogida para aquellas personas que huyen forzadas de situaciones difíciles o persecuciones en su país de origen, y han visto como sus vidas quedaban estancadas y se alejaban de su esfera familiar. Sí, pelota en el tejado de la clase política.

Huérfanos del Mediterráneo (spanish)

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10 February, 2017

proactiva — 9 1 2017 PROACTIVA OPEN ARMS RESCATA INMIGRANTES REFUGIADOS EN EL MEDITERRANEO CENTRAL CON BAJAS TEMPERATURAS

El Periódico, 10.02.2017

Emma Riverola, Escritora.

Yo nací en el Mediterráneo. Y jugué en tu playa, corrí tras las olas y elevé construcciones de arena que siempre, siempre, acababas invadiendo. ¿Cuántos castillos has derribado? Quizá lleves la cuenta. ¿Recuerdas los rostros de todos los niños que te han retado? En las playas de Castelldefels. O de Capo Vaticano. O quizá, ¿por qué no?, en Tartús. Menta y perejil. Y el canto del almuédano antes del amanecer. Niños que construyen muros para protegerse de tu capricho o fosas para tratar de domarte, y contigo descubren que no todo es posible.

Qua Vadis, Transatlantic Values?

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8 February, 2017

The Huffington Post 08.02.2017

Aylin Unver Noi, Senior Fellow, Johns Hopkins University SAIS-CTR
MCAF Advisory Council and Istanbul Cercle member

The 70-year Transatlantic alliance between the United States and the Europe was formed around common values and norms that demanded commitment not just to democracy, the rule of law and human rights, but also to the values of a liberal economy that supported free, fair and open rule-based trade. It was this international liberal economic order that emerged after World War II that led to the establishment of the World Bank, IMF, and free and open trading system through the GATT (1948) and later the World Trade Organization (WTO-1994) and regional trade agreements.