HIGHLIGHTS OF 2010: QUESTIONS STILL OPEN IN 2011
The Middle-East at the core of our agenda
Once again in 2010, the debates on the Middle-East were amongst the most closely followed by observers. 2009 had already been a widely acknowledged success, bringing together Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni, along with a substantial Palestinian delegation. The speakers tried to address the most controversial issues of what is recognized today as one of the most inextricable conflicts worldwide. The United-States, the European Union, Palestine, Morocco, Israel, Egypt, Hungary, representatives of the Mediterranean civil society, religious groups and experts tried to engage in a constructive dialogue. During these debates, the Palestinian diplomacy, represented by Saeb Erakat, presented its new negotiation strategy for the first time: achieving the recognition of a Palestinian state before the end of 2011, with East-Jerusalem as its capital.
A new direction for the South
Since MEDays’ first edition in 2008, the Amadeus Institute has always strived to offer a platform for South-South dialogue. Whether within the frame of the Union for the Mediterranean, the Euro-African partnership, or through an intercontinental partnership (Africa, Asia and Latin-America), South-South cooperation represents an undeniable opportunity for economic growth for emerging and developing countries. In 2010, the Forum’s ambition was to allow experience sharing on different development models and trajectories throughout the South. This unprecedented initiative during a nongovernmental international conference has put to light a whole new dimension of cooperation areas among Southern countries.
Climate change and unconditional support to the IPCC
Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, President of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Nobel prize laureate 2007 (jointly with Al Gore), honored the Amadeus Institute by joining the proceedings in Tangier. After a rough 2010 year for the IPCC, the Amadeus Institute chose to award him the 2010 MEDays Prize for the Environment and Sustainable Development, as an acknowledgment of the institution and its President.
The dangers of austerity
Economic matters have always had a central place in MEDays. Since its inception, the Forum has strived to carry the voice of the South within the debates on world economic governance. Big concern surround the austerity policies that are being implemented in the developed economies in an attempt to tackle rising debt levels; excessive debt among the developed economies has led to a movement towards fiscal consolidation, seen today as an absolute prerequisite for sustained growth. Experts have put forth the necessity of coming back to sustainable budgetary situations, without jeopardizing growth perspectives.
