The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) actively participated in the VIII MCA Foundation Meeting on Youth in the Mediterranean, held from 7 to 10 November 2019 in Barcelona, Spain, kindly hosted by the European Institute of the Mediterranean.
The conference brought together more than 120 participants from 18 different countries with an age average of 34, and highlighted the role of the youth, certainly the most vulnerable but also those with the best potential in our society.
PAM was represented by Hon. Yana Chiara Ehm, PAM Vice-president and President of the PAM 3rd Standing Committee on Dialogue among Civilizations and Human Rights.
The Meeting approached 4 thematic axes, distributed in working agoras around the following themes: culture and identity; economy, mobility and climate change; empowerment and citizenship, and new technologies and democracy.
In her address at the opening session of the conference, Hon. Ehm pointed out the importance to promote encounters between cultures, religions, communities, especially with and for the youth, as a direct way to achieve peace in the Mediterranean and in the whole world. To foster a culture of peace and non-violence, as well as a common understanding of a global society, young people should be supported, to implement innovative approaches. In this regard, Hon. Yana stressed the need to provide access to education and the labor market, as it is a great opportunity to close the gap between the ageing Northern and the poorer Southern countries, and to combat radicalization.
As an outcome of the meeting, the FACM Advisory Council issued a final declaration calling for action regarding the various institutional approaches launched in the Mediterranean, such as the Barcelona Process and the European Neighborhood Policy, and requesting decision-makers to provide real answers to the current challenges. Finally, the Council encouraged youth to find peaceful and democratic solutions to the problems affecting the region.
Additionally, the “Statement of the Young Participants” was published, declaring their responsibility, right and duty to build up a greater future in cooperation with other generations. Universal values including solidarity, dignity, for all, with a particular focus on women and environment should be strengthened. The statement also highlighted the interconnection between youngsters all over the world, especially through social media, as an opportunity to take part in social movements and revolutions, as well as to find and to create development opportunities, fostering new approaches such as fair trade and social economy.