Events
Connectivity, Value Chains and the Green Transition: Promoting Multilateralism and Sustainable Growth Across the Shared Mediterranean Space
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Faced with the compounding challenges of post-Covid recovery and supply chain disruptions, the green energy transition and the global implications of the Ukraine conflict, trade and connectivity across the Mediterranean is assuming even greater importance in policy circles. From renewable energy and food security, new industrial and agricultural practices, manufacturing value chains and electricity connectors, the Euro-Mediterranean space is ripe with opportunities for enhanced integration.
Against this backdrop, the Policy Center for the New South and the New Med Research Network run by the Rome-based Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) are pleased to organize an international conference on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 to address the impact of these global disruptions on the potential to re-launch effective multilateral cooperation across the shared Mediterranean space.
This event will be an opportunity to reflect on the new and pre-existing challenges constraining Mediterranean Basin states from embracing the full potential of multilateral cooperation and propose sustainable pathways to enhance trade and connectivity across the shared Mediterranean space. Structured around a key-note speech and two expert panels with the participation of researchers, practitioners and policymakers, the conference will assess the present state of trade and connectivity between North Africa and Europe, taking stock of the impact of Covid-19, the green energy transition and Russia’s war on Ukraine on the potential to engender more sustainable forms of multilateral cooperation, sustainable growth and integration among Mediterranean Basin states.
10h00-10h30 |
Registration and welcome coffee |
10h30-10h40 |
Welcoming remarks Armando Barucco, Ambassador of Italy to Morocco Karim El Aynaoui, Executive President, Policy Center for the New South Andrea Dessì, Head, Italian Foreign Policy Programme, Istituto Affari Internazionali and Scientific Director, New-Med Research Network |
10h40-11h15 |
Keynote speech Patricia Llombart Cussac, Ambassador, European Union Delegation to Morocco |
11h15-12h30 |
Panel I : Mediterranean Value Chains: From Disruption to New Opportunities for Integration Moderator: Mounia Boucetta, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South Speakers: Michael Tanchum, Non-Resident Scholar, Middle East Institute – Paper giver: “The Food-Energy Nexus in the Western Mediterranean: Opportunities and Challenges for Creating Sustainable and Resilience Food Production Value Chains” (online) Massimo Deandreis, General Manager SRM Economic Research Group, Intesa San Paolo Larabi Jaïdi, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South Q&A with participants |
12h30-14h00 |
Buffet lunch |
14h00-15h15 |
Panel II: Energy and Food Connectivity in the Mediterranean: Harnessing the Green and Digital Transitions to Promote Sustainable Growth and Integration Moderator: Andrea Dessì, Head, Italian Foreign Policy Programme, Istituto Affari Internazionali and Scientific Director, New-Med Research Network Speakers: Afaf Zarkik, Economist, Policy Center for the New South - Paper-giver: “Euro-Mediterranean Region: Towards a New Resilient Bargain for Shared Energy Security” Emiliano Alessandri, Scientific Advisor, New Med Research Network Yassine Zegzouti, Research Fellow, KAS-REMENA Q&A with participants |
15h15-15h45 |
Concluding remarks Otaviano Canuto, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South Andrea Dessì, Head, Italian Foreign Policy Programme, Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and Scientific Director New Med Research Network |










