The Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean is holding today in Rome, its 22nd meeting, hosted by the Italian Parliament. PAM President, Sen. Francesco Amoruso (Italy), is presiding over the works of the Bureau meeting.
The PAM Bureau members and other special guests will discuss a number of issues falling under the three PAM Standing Committees, dedicated respectively to the political, economic and social spheres.
Under the first Standing Committee the debate will be mainly dedicated to the Middle East situation, including both the Israeli-Palestinian Peace process and the conflict in Syria. Among the topics, the humanitarian aspect of the civil society in Syria and the consequences related to the displacement of the population internally and in Syria’s neighbouring countries, is expected to feature prominently. On this occasion, the Bureau will also welcome the new Chair of the Ad hoc Committee for the Middle East, Hon. Justyne Caruana (Malta), who replaces Hon. George Vella (Malta), who was recently appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Within the framework of the Second Standing Committee, Sen. Lhou Lmarbouh (Morocco) will refer on the recent activities organized within the PAM Panel for Trade and Investments in the Mediterranean, namely the 3rd Meeting of the Panel Steering Committee and the meeting of the Executive members of the Energy Group, held in Morocco, and the Joint Trade Conference organized by PAM and the UN Inter-Agency Cluster, held in Geneva at the end of May 2013. Hon. Lmarbouh will present the conclusions of these strategic meetings and the Bureau will discuss the way forward for the implementation of the suggestions and proposals expressed by both the public and private stakeholders who actively participated at these events.
Furthermore, the Bureau will also discuss the role of PAM in the intercultural domain following the signing of two memoranda of understanding with the UN Alliance for Civilizations and the Anna Lindh Foundation, which consolidate previous cooperation and strengthens future initiatives and opportunities.