Aspen Mediterranean Initiative

Palermo

18 March 2016

Hubs and networks in the Mediterranean basin: A path to sustainable growth

The large trade and financial flows across the Mediterranean region and the Middle East are major opportunities for economic recovery. They are based mainly on the new energy networks (from both conventional and renewable sources) and the expansion of the Suez Canal, in addition to the persistent role of Gulf investors (particularly through sovereign wealth funds). There are certainly significant obstacles to growth, starting with volatile commodity prices linked to greater investor caution than in the recent past.

Rome

11 December 2015

Youth Forum – New Jobs for New Generations

Emerging from discussions during the Med 2015 Youth Forum – devoted to the topic “The challenge: new jobs for new generations” – was the finding that investment in infrastructure, in the Internet of Things, and in renewable energy, along with a shift towards a greater grassroots focus, are the factors that could bring about a decisive breakthrough to the problem of youth employment in the Mediterranean.

Siracusa

6 June 2014

Arab Evolutions. The Mediterranean after the global slowdown

Kick-starting talks at this session of the Aspen Mediterranean Initiative was the observation that the arduous and variegated evolution of the Mediterranean region needs to be viewed within the prevailing global context.

Naples

5 July 2013

The changing Mediterranean: the quest for growth and the Gulf factor

Discussions at this 2-day event got underway with the observation that the Mediterranean Sea clearly connects Europe not just with North Africa, but also the Middle East, the Anatolian Peninsula, and the Persian Gulf. All these axes present opportunities for growth through greater interdependence, in spite of the current difficulties being experienced by European economies and the political uncertainty holding back those on the southern shores of the Mediterranean.

Rome

15 April 2012

Media, business and societies: a platform for change

The second Aspen Mediterranean Initiative seminar provided the opportunity to widen the network of the region’s emerging leaders as it analyzed the relationship between traditional and new media, and society and politics. Journalists, activists, bloggers and artists all shared their perceptions on the direct influence of communications on political events.

Hammamet (Tunisia)

15 June 2012

Energizing the Mediterranean economies: transitions, global competition and the search for opportunities

The Mediterranean region is very diverse and simultaneously presents elements of close interdependence: the economic crisis of the past few years has shown that each country reacts to the challenges and opportunities on the basis of specific institutional and social features, even in the presence of important contagion effects. The political transitions in some Arab countries, starting with Tunisia and Egypt, confirm these twin tendencies whereby endogenous and local factors interact with regional and international ones.

Rome

24 May 2011

From Arab spring to Arab winter? Regional trends and implications for business

Those attending this Aspen Mediterranean Initiative workshop set out to evaluate the impact of the so-called “Arab spring” on the economies of North Africa and on the wider Mediterranean region. The event, which saw the participation of key political and business figures from the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean, also marked the launch of Aspen Institute Italia’s Mediterranean Program.

Palermo

2 December 2011

Aspen Mediterranean Initiative

The Aspen Mediterranean Initiative participants concurred that the Mediterranean area is becoming even more diverse than it has been in the past, a fact which calls for special attention to be paid to the situation unfolding in various locales in the region, especially at a time of uncertain political transition in which social forces have a potentially crucial role to play.