The Future of the Mediterrannean. Which Way for Europe and North Africa
After decades of authoritarian rule, citizens in the Arab world are demanding political, social and economic participation, accountable leadership and democratic institutions under the rule of law. Europe must be swift in providing more effective support for the democratization processes underway. Indeed, the successful revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt signify a turning point requiring the EU to build new bridges with its North African neighbors. Unfortunately, debates on how to go about this have so far been held exclusively among Europeans and without those directly affected by the course of events. To expand the circle of debate, the Bertelsmann Stiftung has invited nine renowned Arab activists and intellectuals from each North African country to outline a new EU policy capable of achieving the necessary objectives at hand.
Their essays, ideas and suggestions are now available in the publication, "The Future of the Mediterrannean. Which Way for Europe and North Africa," which has been published as part of the Europe in Dialogue series. In order to foster dialogue across cultures, the publication is appearing simultaneously in English and Arabic. It will serve as a basis for discussions to be held at the Kronberger Middle East Talks, which the Bertelsmann Stiftung is hosting next week in Morocco.