Is a new Mediterranean possible? An intercultural dialogue that starts from civil society, especially young people, and gets rid of black and white views, prejudices, reviving partnership between the two sides of the sea? This is the question that opened the 10th anniversary meeting of the Anna Lindh Foundation in Naples, under the aegis of the Italian Presidency of the EU. "We have shown that it is possible to change things", President of the Foundation, Andre Azoulay, told the opening session. "150,000 young people have attended our meetings in recent years. We are opposed to the idea of a world in black and white. We have confidence in the ability of each of us to listen to the other and we are trying to identify the framework for the best road map." "There is no future, no common destiny or identity if each of us is unaware of our differences," he said. Hosted by the Mediterranean Foundation, the Anna Lindh meeting, which will conclude on Thursday, brings together 250 delegates from 42 countries on the two shores of the Mediterranean, including political leaders, representatives of local associations and institutions, but above all young people, bloggers, activists.
"Why did we lose the Arab Spring?" asked Asma el Ghoul, a Palestinian girl who lost her family in the civil war and who was twice imprisoned. "We had no ideological organisation and this is why the Spring has brought us Isis," she said. Sirine Ben Brahim, a 22 year-old Tunisian, spoke of the elections in the country, won by the secular party Nida Tounes. "We feel we can take steps into the future," he said.
Produced in association with AGI – Media Partner
The Anna Lindh Foundation is co-funded by the European Union and the 42 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the position of the EU or any UfM Member State.