On 15 October 2020, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) participated in the Virtual Global Parliamentary Forum organized and co-hosted by the World Bank and the IMF. The event provided an opportunity for parliamentarians from around the world to openly discuss with experts from international organisations and financial institutions about the most pressing challenges faced by legislative bodies during the Covid-19 pandemic.
On the occasion, PAM was represented by the Honourable Giulio Centemero, Co-Chair of the PAM Panel on Trade and Investments and a PAM representative to the World Bank and IMF.
The Forum focused on strategies and best practices for addressing the complex and unprecedented socioeconomic challenges arising from the pandemic. The sessions examined the role of public policies in achieving a green and inclusive recovery post Covid-19.
In his intervention, Hon. Centemero highlighted the need for societies to improve their resiliency and preparedness for future global challenges, and urged the implementation of policies which can foster the development of circular and low-carbon economic models. Hon. Centemero remarked as well that legislative reforms in favour of a green transition are of particular importance to the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions, where the impacts of climate change are already tangible.
In support of these objectives, PAM has organised a series of initiatives dedicated to the economic recovery in the Mediterranean countries. In particular, the PAM Panel on Trade and Investments has launched the “Start Up Market” project, which, as illustrated by Hon. Centemero, aims at establishing a digital platform to connect entrepreneurs and investors in the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions. As the economic recession has caused a contraction of global capital flows, expanding the capacities of domestic industries is vital for accelerating the recovery and for boosting technological innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship.
The Global Parliamentary Forum provided for a valuable exchange of ideas and proposals tailored towards addressing the primary concerns of parliamentarians responding to the COVID-19 crisis. As clearly emerged during the event and as strongly advocated by PAM, only the combined efforts of policymakers, financial institutions and entrepreneurs can guarantee more inclusive and green economic systems and more resilient societies.