The 2022 edition of the Euro-Mediterranean Summit of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions ended, Wednesday in Marrakech, after two days of intense debates and exchanges and the formulation of a series of proposals for the future of this common space.
This summit, which was attended by economic and social councils and similar institutions from 30 countries, provided an opportunity to discuss ways of mitigation and economic and social reconstruction, as well as the various opportunities revealed by the Covid-19 to promote sustainable development of the Euro-Mediterranean region.
Placed under the theme “Covid-19: the role of civil society in the reconstruction and resilience of the Euro-Mediterranean region”, this meeting was also an opportunity to exchange and discuss the role of civil society organizations, the contribution of digitalization and prospects for Euro-Mediterranean cooperation for better resilience and a successful post-Covid-19 recovery of the region.
Speaking on this occasion, president of the Euromed Follow-up Committee within the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC EU), Ioannis Vardakastanis, noted that the Mediterranean area is endowed with enormous potential in renewable energies, which are able to allow it to succeed in the energy transformation necessary to mitigate climate change, especially in this area which is exposed to a series of environmental problems, including water scarcity and coastal erosion.
He said that the EuroMed Summit is an essential mechanism for dialogue and exchange to accompany the Euro-Mediterranean process and improve social and environmental welfare, calling for strengthening cooperation in this area given the untapped potential of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.
For his part, Mohamed Alaoui, member of the Bureau of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (EESC), stressed that “this event represents for our consultative assemblies of Africa, Europe, the Near and Middle East, a crucial event to make our voices heard on the revival of our cooperation and the most appropriate means for the buiding of an area of peace and prosperity shared for the populations of the Euro-Mediterranean region”.
