9-10 March 2022 – Dubai, UAE. In the afternoon of March 9, PAM President, Hon. Migliore (Italy), opened the session dedicated to the work of the 2nd Standing Committee, while Hon. Karim Darwish (Egypt), in his capacity as President of the 2nd Standing Committee, introduced the main past and future activities of the Committee.
During the working session, several keynote speakers enriched the discussion : H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade and H.E. Corinne Lepage, former French Minister for the Environment, who addressed a video message. Additionally, the 2nd Standing Committee saw the remote participation of Dr. Said El Hachimi, Senior counsellor at the WTO and member of the PAM Panel on Trade and Investments.
The Co-Chair of the PAM Panel on Trade and Investments, Hon.Giulio Centemero (Italy), updated the Assembly on the MoU with INNEXTA, which will help promote alternative market to support SMEs. In addition, he reminded the important contribution of PAM in its efforts to help the Lebanese healthcare system, by providing medical equipment to hospitals in the country.
Hon. Dragan Krapović, Chair of the PAM Sectorial Group on Tourism and Head of the Montenegro Delegation, addressed the latest challenges and opportunities for the tourism industry and on its vital role for the economic recovery of the regions.
Successively, President Darwish moderated the debate on the Report and Draft resolution on the Economy, elaborated by Hon. Maksimčuk (Croatia) and presented by Sen. Achour (Algeria).
The debate on the resolution addressed a variety of issues, from the recent rise in the prices of energy, raw materials, fertilizers and wheat, which could turn into a global food security crisis as result of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
In addition, PAM members had the opportunity to voice their concerns on the necessity of fostering economic cooperation in key sectors like tourism and the Blue Economy, also in the framework of a well-planned energy transition, in order to support countries that need technical assistance in preventing the erosion of costal areas.
Successively, the resolution was unanimously adopted by all PAM Member Parliaments. In this context, PAM Members have also agreed on further supporting PAM’s effort in establishing an Economic Community for Renewable Energy for the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions.
Finally, PAM members discussed the resolution on the Environment and Climate Change prepared by Hon. Perea (France), which analyzed the outcome of the 2021 COP26 in Glasgow.
In particular, PAM members stressed the importance of the COP as a means to promote international coordination to counter the impacts of Global Warming. In this context, the Assembly welcomed the efforts of Egypt and the UAE to respectively host the COP27 and the COP28. In addition, PAM countries underlined the emergence of new challenges related to Climate Change, such as the increase in the number of future “environmental refugees” and in pollution-related diseases.
Moreover, many countries stressed the importance of technology in countering the impact of Climate Change, by addressing water scarcity concerns, crops losses and deforestation. PAM Members agreed on the risks of greenwashing in addressing environmental issues, while stressing the crucial role that renewable energies, such as green and blue hydrogen, can play in the energy transition process of the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf countries.
PAM Members unanimously adopted the environmental resolution. The 2nd Standing Committee also agreed on using the upcoming COP27 as an opportunity to reconvene in Egypt to support the country in ensuring a fruitful COP27 through a dedicated debate of its parliamentary dimension.