21 February 2025, Rome, Italy – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) concluded its 19th Plenary Session, generously hosted the Speakers of the Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies in Rome, with the election of the PAM Presidency and Bureau for the biennium 2025-2026.
In accordance with Article 25 of the PAM Statutes, and following the decision taken at the Bureau meeting in December 2024, the Assembly implemented the 4+1 electoral formula for each geopolitical group, ensuring the inclusion of both Israel and Palestine within the Bureau to reinforce PAM’s strategic role in fostering peace in the Middle East.
As part of this decision, the Bureau for the next biennium will be composed of five members from the Northern Geopolitical Group and five members from the Southern Geopolitical Group, maintaining a balanced representation while ensuring continuity and inclusivity in PAM’s leadership structure, which will also include the President of the PAM Women Parliamentary Forum.
Hon. Giulio Centemero (Italy) was elected, by acclamation, PAM President for the biennium 2025-2026. As Head of the Italian Delegation to PAM, Hon. Centemero has been a dedicated advocate for regional cooperation, economic development, and multilateral diplomacy. During the 2023-2024 biennium, he served as PAM Vice-President and President of the 2nd Standing Committee on Economic, Social, and Environmental Cooperation, and represented the Assembly at the WB and IMF fora.
Expressing gratitude for the confidence placed in him, Hon. Centemero reaffirmed his commitment to dealing with pressing strategic challenges in the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions; promoting common actions against climate change and economic inequality; combating disinformation and misinformation; and sustaining the reconstruction of confidence and renewed support for multilateralism.
Hon. Centemero additionally expressed his idea to establish a PAM Youth Forum, aimed at creating employment opportunities for furthering the well-being of the new generations.
Hon. Centemero will be supported by the newly elected PAM Vice-Presidents representing both geopolitical groups.
From the Northern Geopolitical Group: Sen. Carlotti (France); Hon. Vaturi (Israel); Hon. Đurović (Montenegro) and Hon. Roque (Portugal), reconfirmed as President of the 3rd Standing Committee on Dialogue among Civilizations and Human Rights. From the Southern Geopolitical Group: Sen. Al-Ali (Jordan); Hon. Qasem (Palestine); Sen. El Kihal (Morocco); Hon. AlSubaey (Qatar) and Hon. Yagoubi (Algeria), PAM Rapporteur on AI. Sen. Al-Ali will serve as the new President of the 2nd Standing Committee on Economic, Social, and Environmental Cooperation, and Hon. El Kihal as the new President of the 1st Standing Committee on Political and Security-Related Cooperation.
In his closing remarks, H.E. Hon. Enaam Mayara, outgoing PAM President, reflected on the Assembly’s significant achievements during his tenure and expressed confidence in the new presidency team to carry forward PAM’s mission.
The 19th PAM Plenary Session concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening parliamentary cooperation and addressing shared regional challenges through commitment to PAM mandate and values, collective action and legislative engagement.//