LJUBLJANA, 18 November 2011 - At the invitation of the NOVUM Institute for Strategic and Applicative Studies from Ljubljana, Director of the International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) from Ljubljana Zijad Bećirović participated at the round table entitled "After Gadafi: Perspectives of Freedom and Democracy in North Africa" which was held on Friday, 18 November 2011 from 5.30 PM to 7.00 PM in Center Evropa at Dalmatinova 4 in Ljubljana.
The Arab spring, which started in Tunisia and spread throughout North Africa and the Middle East, has triggered a wave of changes stemming from desire for freedom and democracy which build on the respect for human dignity.
What are the perspectives and challenges of freedom and democracy in the South Mediterranean countries? How are the West and the European Union changing their policy on this region? What is the meaning of neighbourhood policy, Union for the Mediterranean and development cooperation in this context, especially in the fields of mobility and migration? What are the benefits of the projects and initiatives proposed by the European Parliament, such as the establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean programmes Erasmus and Leonardo da Vinci?
Opening speech:
- Ivo Vajgl (ALDE - ZARES) - MEP
Introductory speech:
- Felicita Medved (NOVUM Institute): North Africa is changing - what about the European policy on North Africa?
Speakers:
- Dr. Primož Šterbenc: A critical view of events in North Africa and the Middle East: cultural, economic and international politics perspectives
- Dr. Janez Pirc (Institute for Ethnic Studies): North Africa: between revolution and migration continuity
- Zijad Bećirović, M.A. (IFIMES): Union for the Mediterranean: the bridge for relations between the EU, North Africa and the Middle East
Moderator: Adriana Dvoršak, M.A.
Video link: http://inovum.si/afrika/video.html
Ljubljana, 18 November 2011
