On 9 March 2022, The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean opens its 16th Plenary Session in Dubai, generously hosted by the Federal National Council of the UAE.
H.E. Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE and PAM President, Hon. Gennaro Migliore (Italy), will deliver the inaugural speeches. H.E. Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance of the United Arab Emirates, shall greet the PAM delegates attending in person. WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, will speak to the Assembly, and UNSG António Guterres will address a written message to the PAM MPs. The event is expected to be attended by more than 200 delegates from 23 countries, regional and international organizations.
During the first day of the event, debates will focus on the work conducted throughout 2021 by PAM 3rd Standing Committee on Dialogue among Civilizations and Human Rights, presided by Hon. Sandrine Mörch (France) and on PAM’s 2nd Standing Committee on Economic, Social and Environmental Cooperation, presided by Hon. Karim Darwish (Egypt).
Keynote speakers for this first day include:
● H.E. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar Gomm’a (Egypt), Minister of Endowments (al-Awqaf)
● H.E. Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade (UAE)
● H.E. Corinne Lepage, former French Minister for the Environment
● Ms. Kristina Mejo, IOM Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa
● Mr. Khaled Khalifa, UNHCR Senior Advisor and Representative to the GCC
● Mr. Said El Hachimi, Senior counselor at WTO and member of the PAM Panel on Trade and Investments
● Hon. Mohamed Abu El Enein (Egypt), PAM President Emeritus and Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament,
● Hon. Dehrar Humaid Belhoul (UAE), PAM Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict
On 10 March, Sen. Alia Bouran (Jordan) will preside over the work of the 1st Standing Committee on political and security cooperation. Keynote speakers will include:
·H.E. Ghada Waly, UNODC Executive Director.
·Mr. Weixiong Chen, Acting Executive Director, Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, United Nations Security Council.
·Mr. Mauro Miedico, Deputy Director, UNOCT/UNCCT, Chief of Special Projects and Innovation Branch, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).
·Mr. Annadif Khatir Mahamat Saleh, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)
During the 16th Plenary Session, fifteen recipients of the 2022 PAM award will be announced.
The Dubai Session will also prepare for the celebration of the 14th edition ever of the “Day on the Mediterranean”, which is celebrated every year on 21 March, since 2008. The theme chosen for 2022 is “The role of parliamentarians in fighting Climate Change” and it includes a drawing concur for children aged 9 – 13 in all PAM countries.
This 16th Plenary Session will mark the official adhesion of the parliaments of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to PAM.