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DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN EURO-MEDITERRANEANCITIES AND REGIONSALGIERS, JUNE 24TH

COPPEMStanding Commitee for theEuro-Mediterranean Partnership

FACMAlgerian Forum forCitizenship and Modernity

UNDER THE AEGIS OF THEMINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRSOF ALGERIA

THE EDITORIAL

by Piero Fagone

COPPEMVia E. Amari, 16290139 Palermo (Italia)

tel. +39 091.662.22.38www.coppem.org

COPPEMINTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE

Adnan Kahveci Bulvari No:78Bahcelievler, Istanbul (Turkey)

Tel: +90 212 441 10 95www.anadolubil.edu.tr

COPPEM c/o Governorate BenhaKornish El-Nil st.113111 Egypt

tel: 0020.13.32.32.280qalyubiya_gov@hotmail.com

The IX General Assembly of Coppem, held in Palermo last May, seemed to be based on an op-erational character with reference, on the one hand, to the developments of initiatives in theworks for a long time and from the other side to some countries having great potentialities inthe perspective of strenghtening the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. In many cases, they areprojects “in progress” which are developing day by day. For example, during the Assembly ofPalermo, other meetings have been held for better defining the programme of coastal cooper-ation between Jordan, Egypt, Palestine and Israel, planned thanks to the imput of Coppem andtwo UN Agencies, Unesco and UN-Habitat. Today we can assert that such project will be im-plemented as from 2007, by involving four cities affected by terrorist violence: Akaba, SharmEl Sheikh, Gaza and Eilat. Among other things, thanks to a strong synergy amongst the in-volved cities, the ancient routes of the caravans running through the desert will be revived fortourism. As well as the idea launched by the Fiera del Mediterraneo of Palermo for implementing awide-range network of exhibitions is increasingly becoming a concrete reality: contacts witha number of Fairs have been established and the fisrt agreements have been signed too. More-over: Coppem has signed a memorandum of understanding with the promoters of the project“Sun&Wind” that intends to build bio-climatic dwellings in the Mediterranean Countries.But another chapter of the relations amongst the communities of the region seems it must bewritten by ISMETT, Mediterranean Institute for transplantation and Advanced SpecializedTherapies, created by the Sicilian Region and managed by Pittsburg University. Moreover, theInstitute based in Palermo, is the only Italian centre participating in the Community pro-gramme “Emispher” intended on implementing a telemedicine system and an e-learning train-ing programme amongst 16 medical centres from 10 Mediterranean Countries. Meanwhile thecontents of the the memorandum of understanding between the Sicilian Region and the Qa-lyubyia Governorate in Egypt, where recently a delegation of higher officials of the Sicilian re-gional government went with the aim to agree upon the definition of joint programmes, arebeing enriched.Many wonder whether EU policies for the Mediterranean today are slowed down for the re-cent entry of the European Eastern Countries in the EU. It is an issue that the representativesof the communities from the Countries have signed the Barcelona agreements for Partnershipare pointing out with the intent to fully recover the original spirit and values of the declara-tion undersigned in 1995. For this reason Coppem is looking for alliances with different bod-ies such as Universities, cultural, social and economic Institutions so as to jointly act.The awareness that Local Authorities play a decisive role in developing suitable policies of co-operation having more or less immediate effects on national governments' policies is increas-ingly spreading. And just to debate on these issues and, in particular on the “Developmentprospects of cooperation between Euro-Mediterranean Cities and Regions”, Coppem and theAlgerian Forum for citizenship and modernity have organized a meeting amongst Local Au-thorities' representatives of the Euro-Mediterranean region”. It is significant that the meetingtakes place in Algiers, a country strongly committed in developing and making effective thepublic machinery, local governments and their administrations. The Meeting follows the re-cent Assembly of Moroccan Communities which continuously invite to develop new and orig-inal forms of cooperation. But all the possible initiatives, operational programmes and ambi-tious projects shall have a common denominator in order to be really effective: that is thecommitment of political powers and local Institutions, civil society and therefore citizens, forbuilding the framework of peace.

COPPEMNEWSTWO-MONTHLY BULLETIN EDITED BYTHE STANDIND COMMITTEE FOR THEEURO-MEDITERRANEAN PARTNERSHIP

EDITORFabio PellegriniASSISTANT EDITORLino MottaEDITORIAL DIRECTORPiero FagoneEDITORIAL STAFF Roberta PuglisiGiovanna CirinoNino Randisiredazione@coppem.orgTRANSLATIONS MADE BY(french) Stefania Di Caro(english)Roberta ItaliaStefania Di Caro(arabic)Roberta ItaliaPHOTOGiuseppe GerbasiGRAPHIC PROJECTLuigi Mennella PRINTED BYOfficine Grafiche RiunitePalermo

of the works. The participation in themeeting of the Minister for Foreign Af-fairs Mohamed Bedjaoui is very impor-tant, and it shows the importance as-cribed to this event by the AlgerianGovernment also through the participa-tion of deputed ministers in charge ofLocal Governments and Cities. Otherimportant personalities will take part inthe event from the Ministry for Partici-pation and Investment's Promotion, theDirector General of the Algerian Cham-ber of Commerce and some leaders ofregional and local communities. More-over also the organizing Committee ofthe III Euro-Arab Conference, due to beheld in Dubai on the next February, willtake part in the event. Also the Confer-ence of Dubai is another important ac-tion that Coppem, together with otherbodies in charge of celebrating the Con-ference, intends to place in the complexand, at the same time, extraordinarymosaic of the creation of the great freetrade area in the region and, more ingeneral, of that “Euro-Mediterraneancitizenship” which is more insistentlydebated at political as well as culturaland sociologic level, practically intend-ing to prefigure a new life dimensionable to find common roots.

CITIES AND REGIONS ARE LEADING ACTORS OFDEVELOPMENTIn Algiers Coppem-Facm Meeting on the cooperation between local authorities

On the long and difficult way of the Eu-ro-Mediterranean Partnership, there is anew stage to enlarge and strengthen therelations of collaboration already estab-lished and establish new ones character-ized by solidarity and cooperation as wellas by a deeper mutual acquaintance. Thisis the meaning of the meeting thatCoppem and the Facm (Algerian Forumfor citizenship and modernity) have pro-moted on June 24th in Algiers focusingon the topic “Development prospects ofcooperation between Euro-Mediter-ranean Cities and Regions”. “This meet-ing- Facm's President Noureddine Sbiasaid- is also the occasion to reveal aCountry where democracy and econom-ic activities are growing and introduceLocal Authorities' actors and partnerswho, through their commitment and thepowers assigned to them, manage andsupport sustainable development in Al-geria. The meeting will be also the placeto illustrate policies for development im-plemented by central bodies and localauthorities to face those phenomena in-fluencing the factors for developmentsuch as poverty, unemployment as well asthe disastrous effects of terrorism on theAlgerian society and economy”. But themeeting in Algiers has especially a con-

structive value both in Coppem's inten-tions and in Facm's programmes. “In theframework of the partnership imple-mented by Coppem, we intend – Sbiasaid – a series of initiatives concerningprojects of cooperation and town-twin-nings so as to achieve, through a jointaction, immediate effects for people. To-day, regions are not only an accumula-tion of interests but they are able tomake efforts for answering present needsand projecting them into the future in-telligently and with suitable actions be-ing fully and concretely aware of workingfor safeguarding peace and security”. Justthe exchange of experiences amongstdifferent cities and regions and the set-ting-up of tools for partnership are one ofthe main topics of the meeting togetherwith those concerning the strengtheningof information and training channels forgood governance and sustainable devel-opment. Within the meeting, the work-shop focusing on “Cities management atgood governance-proof and cooperationbetween Euro-Mediterranean cities andregions” will have particular relevance,from which concrete guidelines and pro-posals should emerge. The guidelinesworked out will be summed up in a paperthat will be submitted to vote at the end

JUNE 2006 1

Algiers, panoramic view

INSTITUTIONS AND DEMOCRACY

A survey on Algerian administrative system dealing with the issue of “Transition” too

Mohamed TaibiSocio-anthropologist, reseacher, member of FACM na-

tional office and Coppem member

Organization of local authorities andregionalization in Algeria:Algerian public authorities have under-taken, albeit slowly and hesitatingly,some practices that seem to prioritizelocal community management. The re-port by Sbih, an expert and old master-mind of the Algerian public administra-tion, proposes a deep restructuring ofthe management framework and ofthose public bodies that deal with theglobal management of public authority-based issues and with the decisions forwhich the national and local govern-ment are responsible. The political andeconomic crisis has dramatically dis-closed the Algerian structural malfunc-tioning. The transition from a formermanaged and strongly centralized econ-omy to a so-called market economy hasrevealed both the resistance and the ob-

solescence of an administration lackingimagination and flexibility. In thiswake, along the worsening of develop-ment problems exacerbating intopoverty and unemployment, the au-thorities of the country are realizingthat the administrative framework ofthe country needs deep but progressivereview. The heart of the country’s func-tioning is represented by public landsadministration and local governance.While offering a dispassionate diagnosisof the Algerian administration func-tioning, by highlighting its paradoxicaland vicious features, the Sbih report hasalso presented an array of measures andproposals allowing for a beneficial har-monization between the Rule of Lawframe of mind and the mission of a neu-tral and effective public administration.On its part, the Algerian public opin-ion, through the press, has never ceasedto denounce the distortions and arbi-trariness of some public administrationsectors. The civic society came up witha series of considerations and engagedin a debate that attracted all civic soci-ety actors, who strongly marked the de-liberations. The national economic andsocial council has devoted itself to deepreflection on this issue, the FACMarranged several meetings, in which acontradictory debate on all govern-ment-related issues developed and isplanning to arrange a future meeting onurban government and city-manage-ment with a view to deepening the dis-cussion. Public authorities have becomeaware of the public administration defi-ciencies that are eroding developmentand squandering wealth. The costs of alow and ineffective administration af-fect the public treasury, thus shapingnests of corruption and ending anychance for modernization in the Alger-ian public administration. Although

the principle of permanent rotation ofthe administrations in charge of localcommunities (prefectures, departments,municipalities) has allowed for the dis-connection of interest networks and re-duction of patronage, the evaluation ofthe results and the outcomes are far be-hind people’s expectations. The reviewsof the wilaya code (prefecture) and ofthe municipality are to be considered asparts of a strategy that strengthens localdemocracy and allows local public au-thorities to be responsible for and en-gage directly in local public affairs man-agement.

Human capital and the need for mod-ernization in public affairs manage-ment Algeria and countries alike that weresubject to administrative violence andto the paradoxes of the colonial admin-istrative system under the Indigenatohave a representation founded on theresistance against some public adminis-tration actions. Moreover, the tenden-cies towards autonomy, which devel-oped from the collapse of political cen-trality, hand in hand with excessive cen-tralism at the basis of the rising nationalstate, represent paradoxes and a socio-logical hindrance to the development ofthe local public action in general. Inno-vation, founded on objective analysesrather than ideological slogans, allowsfor better harmonization of the publicauthorities’ intervention tools both inpublic affairs management and in thecommand of development in general aswell as of human development in its cul-tural and political aspects.

Democratization and decentralizationThe issue of local democracy is first ofall a matter of human and social capitaldevelopment. It is not only a question

2 COPPEMNEWS

• the raising impact of anthropologi-cal frameworks, whose obsolescence interms of tribalism, patronage, con-frérisme and ancient legitimacy mech-anisms threatens to annul the socialscope and significance of democracy,which builds upon citizenship andcompetence.• The situations of potential distor-tion of the democratic act: while theresistance and the opposition to de-mocratization of Arabic political sys-tems can be justified in the light of so-ciological, ideological and historicalconsiderations of the system – and itneeds to be insistently pointed outthat some western countries did offersupport and help far before and be-yond the second world war – todaythese systems seem to progressivelygive up when confronted with theneed for democracy. On their left side,Arab systems are pressed by the move-ments demanding modernization, al-though they often do not build uponmodernity, and these are compressedby conservative and traditionalistforces, which in some cases stronglyand violently call for going back tothe origin of the religious politicaltradition. In this situation, Arab sys-tems, each in its way but all with dif-ficulty, strive to find an option thatpreserves the continuity of the system,the structural balance of the state,which often doesn’t correspond to thesystem, and the need for a democrati-zation process with some chances tooutlive this confusion, whose broad-ness cultivates uncertainty and evenhints at re-questioning.In this frame of mind, local authoritiesand local government institutions arechallenges that cannot be ignored, letalone neglected, in the light of thecurrent Algerian experience.

of decentralization, which in some casesends up with being decentralization ofprivation and poverty, but a question ofthe central state being unable to workout an integrated development strategy,and hence gets disengaged on weakness,not on principle. In demographicallysignificant and geographically enor-mous countries, centralization has over-shadowed development, used up ener-gies and doped the beaurocratic power.Local resistance and territorial identi-ties develop with a view to a consistentdecentralization that can be imple-mented but through a factual democra-tization. This involves the creation of alocal political representation that isable to empower the local opinion thusfostering the factual advancement ofthe local civic society. In the case of Al-geria, there sure exist opportunities forpositive evolution and terrorism hasconfirmed the importance of localdemocracy management in the promo-tion and maintenance of political, eco-nomic and cultural balances.

Decentralization and good govern-mentThe frame of mind and the purposes aswell as the tools applied in the decen-tralization processes are all elementsimpacting on governance. The institu-tional architecture and the high-rank-ing officials’ performance are govern-ment factors. Local representation, vol-untary contribution by the civic societyand above all the freedom of the pressare factors that reduce the damages oflocal and central autarchy and allow fora transparent management of local in-terests. Our country, which has under-gone a crisis, is now suffering the con-sequences of disrupted local manage-ment. The rigid actions of the Algerianjustice and the clear steps forwards in

flexibility of control and audit whenimplementing projects show a real pos-itive political will striving, not withoutdifficulty, to set up modern manage-ment and control devices, which couldshape a local and national governmentframework matching the requirementsof the universal government.

Territory and government administra-tive organization The administrative organization of theterritory goes beyond the technical andlegal fields. It is the heart of the politi-cal philosophy of a state. The manage-ment of territories primarily concernspolitical balance and wealth distribu-tion devices. Good government indica-tors result from the management of thedisparities between regions and space.The intervention of public authoritiesto bridge the regional divide, by settingup specific regional developmentbanks, allows for considering povertyand privation as a national and not re-gional phenomenon, which demandsnational solidarity. In the case of Alge-ria, also with reference to the issue ofdemographic and urban balance, publicauthorities have implemented empow-ering policies for the integrated devel-opment of the highland and South-Sa-haran Algerian regions.

Local authorities’ challenges in coun-tries in democratic emergency Countries on their way to democrati-zation, which doesn’t necessarily meanthat there is real ongoing democracy,tackle the issue of local authorities de-mocratization as their initiation stepin democracy. As transitologists, wehave noticed that the democratizationof local authorities was and still is amajor question as it copes with a dou-ble challenge:

JUNE 2006 3

FROM THE ASSEMBLY AN IMPULSE TO PROGRAMMES Wide scope to ongoing projects and to new operative methodologies

There were delegations and representa-tives of the most important local institu-tions from the 35 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean area at the IX GeneralAssembly of Coppem held in Palermo inthe worderful setting of Villa Malfitano.It was the occasion not only for imple-menting a series of executions (recogni-tion of Balance variations 2006 and fi-nal balance 2005) but also for takingstock of Commissions’ activities and ofPartnership situation and prospects: Itclearly emerged that, while EU policiesand actions for partnership don’t re-spond to general needs expressed in theBarcelona Conference, confirming theconcerns showed on the occasion of itstenth anniversary, Local Authorities aremaking joint efforts to enlarge coopera-tion and dialogue, that is basic precon-dition for development and peace poli-cies in the tormented Mediterranean re-gion. After welcome speechs by SicilianAuthorities, the Assembly getting to theheart of the works agenda, approved thecomposition of the delegations from thefollowing countries:

Algeria, substitution of the alternatemember Nacer-Riad Bendaoud with MrsChouebila Bisker, senior executive atEconomic and Social National Councilwho decides to join the I Commission;Resignation of the alternate memberLakhdar Khaldoun. Hungary, adhesion of a new alternatemember: Mrs Katalin Sabjan, Secretary ofInternational Affairs at the HungarianLocal Authorities National Association. Lithuania, Vytautas Kvietkauskas, Direc-tor of the Association of Lithuanian LocalAuthorities, from whom we previously re-ceived its membership, decided to jointhe IV Commission.Palestine, substitution of Osama Al Farrawith Maged Abu Ramadan, new APLa’sPresident and Mayor of Gaza.Estonia, substitution of Jaanus Tamkiviwith the new President of Estonian CitiesAssociation, Mr Lepik.France, adhesion of a new member, MrsLucile Schmid, Regional Councillor at Ilede France, Paris, who decided to join theV Commission on Equal Opportunities.Tunisia, adhesion of Mrs Najoua

Mahjoub, member of UNFT (TunisianWomen Union) of Sousse.Still concerning appointments, the As-sembly approved the appointment ofMuzzafer Baca (Turkey) as Vice Presidentof Coppem and Tamer Al Haja, governorof Aleppo, as vice president of the IICommission.Once concluded this first part of works,Secretary General Lino Motta informedthe Assembly about the various activitiesand meetings on the agenda. Meanwhile,the Congress of local and regional au-thorities (CPRLE) has accepted Coppemas observer member. Concerning themeetings on the agenda, the followingare particularly important: the PresidencyCouncil enlarged to Commissions’ vicepresidents due to be held in Algiers onJune 23rd –24th, coinciding with themeeting on “Development prospects ofcooperation between Euro-Mediter-ranean cities and regions” organized to-gether with FACM; on July 17th inPalermo, the 50th anniversary celebra-tion of ISIDA (Higher Institute of Enter-preneur and Top Managers) with the par-ticipation of representatives from the Eu-romed area. At the end of September, thePresidency Council enlarged to Commis-sions’ vice presidents will meet in Cha-nia, Greece. Coppem is committed to or-ganize the III Conference of Euro-Arabcities due to be held on 7th February2007 at Dubai. Soon at Innsbruck,CEMR General Assembly will be held,and Fabio Pellegrini, Founder Presidentof Coppem, will take part in also on be-half of the Committee. Concerning theASEM (Euro-Mediterranean Develop-ment Agency), the following joined:Marseilles, Qalyubiya Governorate, andthe Euro-Arab Chamber of Commerce.Motta stressed that 300 adhesions at leastfrom cities, provinces and regions of theEuro-Mediterranean area are needed. “

4 COPPEMNEWS

Palermo, IX General Assembly of Coppem

gested to set-up a sixth Commission hav-ing the task to coordinate and put intopractice the indications of all the otherCommissions. Rabinovich informed thatthe LACDE (Local Authorities Con-fronting Disaster and Emergency), whosenext conference will be held at Bombayto discuss about how Local Authoritiesare facing natural disasters as well as thosecaused by human beings and invited thepresent Local Authorities to take part infor a wide solidarity. Tamer Al Hajia (Syria), elected as vicepresident of the II Commission, confirmedhis country's commitment for humanrights and dialogue between peoples. Afterhaving stressed that Aleppo city, of whichhe is the Governor, is the capital of culture2006, he stressed the need to enlarge dia-logue. Syria -he added – wants to extendthe debate on tolerance to young genera-tions in order to encourage mutual under-standing. On the basis of these considera-tions, he suggested to Coppem to holdnext meetings at Damascus or Aleppo. Fabio Pellegrini (Italia), Founder presi-dent of Coppem, suggested to considerthat the Islam doesn't support terrorism inall its components, and the echo and dev-astating effects this tragic phenomenonhas brought about, must not be confusedwith the Islam at all. Terrorism must befaced with joint actions. Europe's ap-proach to the victory of Hamas in Pales-tine shouldn't penalize Palestinian peo-ple, but respect Palestinian people's dem-ocratic vote by not fomenting its destruc-tive component. It is necessary to thinkover programmatic policies that can driveto positive actions. Pellegrini thinks theremust be continuity amongst governments,so respecting undertaken commitmentsand recognising Israli State are basic ac-tions, otherwise the dialogue can't be car-ried out. Pellegrini reminded this aspectbecause the European approach has been

Our members – he added – must con-tribute to achieve such objective”. On the basis of a project carried out for afew years, the Herimed Association hasbeen established, and among its objectivesthere are initiatives for preserving and en-hancing cultural heritage. Cultural bodiesfrom ten States have joined it. Mottatalked also about the Socio-Sanitary Co-ordination Centre of the 35 States; hehopes for further developments in thenext months so as to have concrete toolsfor partnership and coopeartion. An im-portant thing is the entry of the Mediter-ranean Institute for Transplantation andAdvanced Specialized Therapies as ob-server member of Coppem. After havinginformed about the setting-up of the Com-mission for equal opportunities and aboutrequsts for joining it already reached, Mot-ta announced the institution of the “Semed’Arancia” prize to be awarded every yearto great European and Mediterranean per-sonalities have distinguished themselvesfor their commitment for cooperation andpeace as well as for cultural, social and eco-nomic relations. Other initiatives to beheld in Greece and in Syria are ongoing.Continuing to talk about the initiativespromoted by Coppem, Mustafa Aydin(Turkey) emphasized the inauguration ofCoppem representative office at Istanbul,where central government's authoritiesand numerous representatives from localcommunities took part in. In particular,the Minister of Public Works and Settle-ments Faruk Ozak suggested to launchgreat common projects and provide withrich contents the initiatives already under-taken. With the speech of Adly Hussein,vice president of Coppem, the debatemoved to great issues relevant to EU poli-cies for the Mediterraneanand to thethreat of terrorism. As for Partnership,there are gaps it is necessary to cover fornot endangering the value of the

Barcelona declaration. Concerning theterrorist attacks, Hussein has invited localcommunities to work for isolating thisphenomenon and checking hostile feel-ings against Muslim people that seem tobe spreading in Europe.Noureddine Sbia, President of the Alger-ian Forum for citizenship and modernity,after having talked about the contents ofthe Meeting jointly promoted withCoppem on June 24th in Algiers, indicated the cooperation between localauthorities as one of the basic instrumentto overcome the challanges that Mediter-ranean peoples have to face.Fikri Kose, Mayor of Maltepe (Turkey) re-sumed the issue of the prospects openedby the joint work with Coppem and theactivity of the representative office in Is-tanbul, while Athos Germanos represent-ing the Greek-Cypriot Republic, afterhaving welcomed the election of MuzzaferBaca as Coppem Vice President and con-gratulated with him for this importantrecognition, he pointed out that Turkeyhas started the process to be member ofthe EU, and the Greek-Cyprot Republicis an effective member. A decision in thisdirection - he said- could contribute toimprove the relations in the Mediter-ranean between Cyprus and Turkey, inview of Turkey’s EU membership.Gina Fasan (Italy), addressing to theGeneral Assembly regards from the FriuliVenezia Giulia region, outlined the linesof a project which will be realized thanksto Coppem and its vice president AdlyHussein, focusing on the cooperation be-tween Alexandria and the city ofAquileia, where excavations have un-earthed part of the ancient built-up area.A meeting could be held in September inorder to better define such initiative. Also Avi Rabinovich (Israel) congratulat-ed Muzzafer Baca on his election asCoppem vice president and then he sug-

JUNE 2006 5

firm and cautious and therefore a concreteone. Coppem is a practically unique toolin the Euro-Mediterranean context,therefore drawing up provisions and in-structions has direct effects on this region.Concerning transport – he added – at Eu-ropean level we are discussing about mar-itime transport, coastal navigation, Corri-dor S, but these issues must be discussedwith Med Partner Countries; it is neces-sary to mobilize technical expertise andresources, and to be aware of which arethe European directions in the Mediter-ranean area. Concerning the migration is-sue, for example, it is necessary to findconcrete points of implementation. Michele Raimondi, Programmes and Pro-jects Coordinator of Coppem, summed upSecretariat's activities during 2006: the or-ganization of the Euro-Arab towns Con-ference due to be held at Dubai on Febru-ary 2007; the participation in the confer-ence on environment at Alexandria(Egypt) organized by the Governorate incollaboration with the World Bank, themeeting with Coppem members fromEastern European countries (in April atWarsaw), the meeting of the II CoppemCommission has preceded the Assemblyin order to discuss about migration issues,and the meeting to launch the programmefor regional coastal cooperation focusingon Tourism, between cities of Jordan,Egypt, Palestinian Authority and Israel.Moreover, he announced that a number ofprojects have been partially financed. Andmany other are on evaluation stage.He informed we are working to create aMediterranean network of Fairs enablinginterchanges and provide with assistancethe economic dealers, jointly conceivedwith the Fiera del Mediterraneo auto-noumus body, based in Palermo.Next initiatives concern the participationin the Meeting in Algiers on cooperationbetween the Euro-Mediterranean cities

and regions (June 24th), a meeting inChania (Crete) on September 16th, andthe organization of a Congress of magis-trates and jurists on illegal immigrationand fight against terrorism, foreseen in thesecond half of the current year. On the last April, at the precence of theMinisters for Public works and Settle-ments, Coppem representative office ofIstanbul was inagurated, while the agree-ment for opening an office at Poznan inPoland is under way, it will function aslink with local authorities and regions ofthe European Eastern Countries, andsoon the Offices of Cairo and Rabat willbe operative.Raimondi outlined also I Commission ac-tivities, the survey on the Euro-Mediter-ranean socio-sanitary systems to promoteexchanges. The drawing- up of memoran-dum of understanding with Universities.On this point, on May 5th a meeting withthe Rector of Palermo University hasbeen held to discuss about exchanges ofstudent and graduated between Palermoand other Universities of the Euro-Mediterranean countries. A ScientificCommittee has been established in whichthere are Prof Said El Dakkak (Egypt) andDr. Mohammed Taibi (Algeria) fromOran University. In Enna in the Scientif-ic Committee established according tothe memorandum of Understandingsigned by Coppem and Enna University,two Coppem members have been includ-ed: Prof. Mosbah (Tunisia) and Prof. AliAbu Ghanimeh (Jordan). Rinaldo Bontempi (Italy), President ofParalleli Northern-West Insitute ex-pressed particular interest in Coppem andnoted how the Institute is a political at-tempt to involve Italian north-westernRegions in the dialogue for paece, sincethese didn't adopt this issue as a basic one.Prof.Bruno Gridelli (Italy), Medical andScientific Director ISMETT (Mediter-

ranean Institute for Transplantation andAdvanced Specialized Therapies), illus-trated its activities by emphasing its direc-tion towards the Mediterranean context.Mohammed Taibi (Algeria), socio-an-thropologist, reseacher, member ofFACM national office and Coppemmember, outlined a close analysis on localauthorities' functioning and services sup-plied to citizens in his country. Taibi em-phasized the efforts that central bodieshave done in this direction, but he doen'thide the strong obstacles there are still to-day for a solid modernization process ofbureaucratic machine and Algerian socie-ty, which is intent on new citizenship'stargets. In this new perspective, decen-tralization and a modern and efficient ad-ministrative machine play a basic role, be-ing aware that transition to a real and fulldemocracy is based on local authoritiesdemocratization. Pasquale Assennato (Italy), representa-tive of International Office at PalermoUniversity, suggested to implement a co-operation programme of education. Stu-dents' mobility at European level has pro-duced an integration of education pro-grammes. Palermo University has a grow-ing interest in opening to the educationalinternationalization paths. At present, inthe Mediterranean area the better mo-ment is that of post-lauream education. Itis important to favour education meetingssuch as Postgraduated Masters and PhDstrough a closer joint work to create, forexample, joint PhDs or technical stafftraining. Furthermore cultural heritageenhancement and safeguard is a fieldwhich can find synergies for educationpaths by providing with professional skills.As well as fishing sector is very important,or the common problem of water re-sources. For a joint path aiming at a bettereducation of our graduates it is necessaryto involve civil society and industry world

6 COPPEMNEWS

ASSEMBLEAGENERALEIX

the circulation of ideas and immages isvery fast, on the other the circulation ofpeople is subjected to a system of barriersand visas restricting fredoom. It's necessaryto get to the root of this issue, be ac-quainted with the reasons for which peo-ple leave their country of origin (conflicts,wars, disadvantaged economic and socialconditions). The great economic resourcesthe States plan for military expensesshould be addressed to economically andsocially disadvantaged countries. Jan Mans, Commission's president,stressed that problem doesn't consist infinding the best ideas, but in beeing able toimplement such ideas in the best way. Ofcourse, we aren't here to change the world,but in any case the work of Coppem mustkeep on the way embarked on.For the III Commission, AbdelkarimMosbah (Tunisia) stressed the questionof Southern Mediterranean shore repre-sentativeness within the European area.Of course a contribution – he added -can derive from a pro-active cooperationand dialogue by the III Commissionmembers who can focus needs, capacitiesand suitable tools for local communitiesdevelopment. Paolo Carrara, referent for III Commis-sion, reported about initiatives and activ-ities emphasizing in particular the realationship betweenCoppem and Fiera del Mediterraneo ofPalermo, established in the previous Gen-eral Assembly held in Cairo.Avi Rabinovitch (Israel), Said El Dakkak(Egypt), Ali Abu Ghanimeh (Jordan),Nihad Al Mughany (Palestine), Pa-pamikroulis (Greece) have declared toagree upon the proposal to participate inthe events organized by the Fair focusingon cooperation in the handicrafts fieldand on coastal cooperation betweenEgypt, Jordan and Israel through represen-tatives from their Embassies in Italy. And

too. Implementing a strategy which inte-grates the educational experiences withproductive activities of each single coun-try. Palermo University is available to cre-ate a Mediterranean Polytechnic combin-ing all the educational potentialities tofound a common area for scientific re-search, being aware that through goodculture we can achieve good policies. Alessandra Prudente reported the activi-ties of the II Commission. She remindedthe debate about Coppem bodies opera-tiveness and methodologies to be adoptedfor achieving very concrete outcomes.The Secretariat in collaboration with thePresidents of the Commissions, has con-ceived a new action plan foreseeing theorganization of restricted meetings be-tween two or more representatives fromdecentralized institutions, in order toclosely discuss specific issues and jointlywork by using good practices and method-ologies. Just on this ground, on May 5th,II Commission speaker Mr Herrie Jauris-sen chaired a meeting concerning thevery relevant topic of migration issue.Alessandra Prudente completed the activ-ities report by illustrating two project pro-posals already submitted to EC: Cross-Service Training Program, in the frame-work of European Union Partnership forPeace programme. The proposal's aim re-gards promoting racial, ethnic and reli-gious comprehension and reconciliationin Middle East, especially between Israelisand Palestinians. The project proposalforesees the implementationof a peacetraining course in Turunç, Mugla, Turkey,addressed to children, young people andwomen, and the organization of work-shops and peace summer camps; RaisingPublic Awareness About Illegal Immigra-tion to Europe, in the framework of theEuopean programme AENEAS - Finan-cial and technical assistance to thirdcountries in the field of migration and

asylum. Proposal's main aim is informa-tion dissemination concerning possibleand tragic effects of illegal immigration.This in order to reinforce knowledge anddebate regarding immigration issues aswell as to involve members of the civil so-ciety which could play an active role forthe dissemination of information. Thepartners of this proposal are the following:Coppem, International Blue Crescent(Turkey), Anadolu Bil Vocational School(Turkey), The Algerian Forum for Citi-zenship and Modernity (Algeria), Rionell'Elba Municipality (Italy). Annamaria Frosina (Italy), Project Man-ager of CRESM (Centre for Economicand Social Researches in the SouthernItaly), highlighted different aspects of thepilot project Cities for Immigrants, pro-moted by Coppem in the framework ofCity to City project. This proposal fore-sees actions of data collection, education,and dissemination, which respond to theneed of creating a network composed bypublic and private institutions, trade asso-ciations and citizens contributing to an ef-fective integration of migrants communi-ties in the territory. The implementationof such project can be the basic precondi-tion according to which Institutions andlocal and regional authorities of the terri-tory define regulations, provisions andservices for a more concrete and awaremanagement of the migration issue. Jalal Abs (Lebanon) pointed out that im-migration/emigration issue is a universalproblem that each single State differentlyperceive. There isn't a unique solution andnobody can have definitive ones. For ex-ample, experiences and good practices im-plemented in a specific place, can't bevalid for another one. Jalal Abs stressedthe difference between Northern coun-tries and Southern ones, and he assertedthat the world is a paradox: on the onehand, thanks to technological progress,

JUNE 2006 7

this in order to ensure a valid participa-tion despite the very short time of themeetings promoted in Palermo.Mohammed Taibi (Algeria) stressed theneed that EU adopts new policies, theNeighbourood one, considering and cov-ering economic and social gaps existingbetween Southern and Eastern Countries.Natale Giordano, referent for the IVCommission, reported the activities car-ried out since December 2005 up to now.In particular, he informs that the EU hasfinanced Ecomemaq and Medins projects,both presented in the framework of Inter-reg III Community Initiative, repectivelyin Archimed and Medocc areas. Withinthe Ecomemaq project, Coppem is theleader partner and the partership is com-posed of the following: PIT Demetra(Italy), Crete Region(Greece), Universityof Bari (Italy), University of Athens(Greece) and IAMB (Advanced researchcentre) of Bari (Italy). Moreover the Min-istry of Environment of the Arab Repub-lic of Lybia participates in the project asobserver and the Pragmata (San Marino)provides with its technical assistance. Project's aim is prmoting sustainable de-velopment, through the management ofthe Mediterranean environmental patri-mony, by particularly enhancing theMediterranean scrub, also through the im-plementation of some pilot projects in-volving Greek partners of Coppem. Itforesees to implement some activities ofthe project in Chania – Crete - and in NeaHalkidonia (Attica). The total amount ofthe financing is 1.310.000, the durationof the project is 18 months and it will beconcluded in December 2007. While Medins project is aimed at cata-loguing and integrated enhancement ofIntangible Mediterranean Cultural Her-itage. It is inspired to the experience,unique in its kind, of the Registry of In-tangible Cultural Heritage, promoted by

the Sicilian Regional Cultural HeritageDepartment that is also the leader partnerof the project. Coppem as partner willhave the task of the aspects relevant to re-sults dissemination and sensibilization andof managing the transnational partnershipconcerning Local Authorities. In fact, Re-gion of Murcia and Jaen Municipality(Spain), Khalivia Touriku Municipalityand the Attic Region Municipalities Asso-ciation take part in the project too. Moreover, for the first time the InitiativeInterreg III will provide a MEDA co-ofi-nacing addressed to Mediterranean Part-ner Countries. In this case, the Region ofRabat – Salè – Zamour – Zaer and RabatMunicipality (Morocco), the FACM (Al-geria), the Governorate of Kairouan andBizerte Municipality (Tunisia) will be in-volved in the implementation of the proj-ect having a budget of about 900.000 ofERDF, and about 600.000 of MEDAbudget. Duration of the project is threeyears and it will be concluded at end ofMay 2008. Then Giordano illustrated progress madein the pilot project “Cultural Heritageand Local Development, 55 Local Au-thorities from Sicily Region have join theinitiative and by the end of June trainingactivities addressed to 60 officials for im-proving the institutional capacity build-ing in the sector of Cultural resourcesmanagement as factor of local develop-ment will be implemented. Such objectives will be repeated as priori-ty to which it is intended to respond bypresenting the project CITTA to the ECin the framework of MED PACT pro-gramme addressed to Euro-Mediterraneancities. As for the relations with the AnnaLindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundationfor the dialogue between Cultures (ALF),besides the drafting of a joint project, it isforeseen to organize on May 2007, the Bi-ennal of Young Artists at Alexandria, and

Coppem participates in the SteeringCommittee together with the Gover-norate of Alexandria and Bjicem. Another joint activity between Alf andCoppem is the project Culture of water, apilot project on the culture of water andits aspects relevant to social, environmen-tal and artistic processes. Within suchproject, which foresees also the participa-tion of the World Water Fellowship, theFundacion Nueva Cultura dell'Agua andthe Alexandria Library as well as theSwedish Culture Institute in Alexandriathat is the Leader Partner, topics such as “Great rivers and civilizations” and “Town-Twinnings amongst water cities and be-tween humid rural areas communities”will be investigated. Roberto Albergoni, Secretary General ofHerimed, illustrated programmes and pe-culiarities of the association composed of(in addition to Coppem, member of theBoard of Directors) Univerities, ResearchCentres, Local Authorities from Spain,Portugal, Algeria, Lebanon, Egypt, Pales-tine and Italy. Herimed is based in Paler-mo, in the Sicilian Regional Centre forRestoration premises, its president is FathiSaleh (Cultnat Director – Reaserch andCataloguing Centre of the Ministry forCultural Heritage of the Republic ofEgypt) and intends to operate in the Eu-ro-Mediterranean cultural heritage inte-grated management, in line with partner-ship strategies indicated in the BarcelonaProcess.Ornella Amara, landscape architect andhistorian of arts as well as coordinator of agroup dealing with parks, reserves, pro-tected areas and degraded areas to be re-stored, on behalf of Palermo Municipality,presented the project LIFE “Sun & Wind”focusing on bio-climatic architecture andconnected to the reintroduction ofMediterranean architectonic models aswell as to energy conservation issue.

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ASSEMBLEAGENERALEIX

mentioned goals. Local authorities arethe entities which can deal with thefulfilment of people’s primary needssuch as food, water supply or educa-tion, better than others. In many in-stances we have noticed the remark-able commitment and the financialsupport of local authorities and re-gions to foster decentralized coopera-tion. Projects by the thousands werepresented, many of which of verysmall size, nonetheless trying to facevery difficult problems for communi-ties needing almost everything. Inspite of this commitment, 0.7% of theGDP of rich countries for cooperationand development indicates that thevast majority of developed countries isfar away from reaching their tasks.Even though some countries have in-creased their budget (Italy, USA,Japan and Canada) and others haveeven cut it short (France, UK andGermany) they are all well belowtheir actual possibilities, at about0.40% of the GDP. The food situation continues to becritical. The increase in food produc-tion in many countries is unable tocounterbalance population increase,thereby contributing to make futureperspectives for these people evenmore gloomy. A study carried out bythe French Institute CIHEAM onagriculture in the Mediterraneanpointed out that in the last twodecades - since the enlargement of theEU to Greece, Spain and Portugal -the difference in the GDP of theNorthern and Southern Mediter-ranean countries has considerably in-creased. From a demographic view-point the situation has profoundlychanged in 40 years: the ratio of 2 in-habitants of the North to 1 of theSouth has been transformed into 1 to

Fabio PellegriniFounder President of Coppem, Aiccre Deputy Vice

President

A simple overview of the countlessinitiatives (conferences, meetings,seminars etc.) promoted by variousbodies and organisations where I tookpart as a Coppem speaker or as an in-vited person, would take a number ofcolumns in our magazine. Even morepages would be necessary to discussand to make remarks concerning thevarious topics dealt with and carefullyanalysed during these events. There-fore, I shall confine myself to somebrief comments and consideration. Ingeneral, there are too many initiativeswhich are started only with the aimfor the promoting organisation of be-coming more visible, other initiativesare organised with the even less nobleaim of over shading the initiativespromoted by others: as a matter of factwe speak more than acting. The sense

of our participation in these initia-tives was to connect our activitieswith the purposes we had set forth. Inparticipating in events such as theConference on the Right to Food or-ganised by the Maritain Institute, theRound Tables on the Mediterranean,the CCRE seminars, the 23rd GeneralAssembly of Innsbruck, the Seminarof the Mediterranean Institute of Cer-tification on agricultural products andfood, the Conference of the AdenuerFoundation, recently held in Brusselsin agreement with CCRE and the Eu-ropean Commission or the initiativesorganised by CGLU on the eight goalsof the Millennium, our aim was topromote cooperation for developmentand to enhance the role of local au-thorities as community participationtools and pillars of democracy. Whatever the topic of the discussion,on Public Services to citizens or ondecentralised cooperation for devel-opment of less favoured Countries,the role of territorial bodies is one ofthe key issues to reach the before

JUNE 2006 9

NEW POLICIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION The EU has adopted geographic and thematic planning as standards of action

Fabio Pellegrini and Noureddine Sbia

1 and according to present trends itwill be reversed from 2 inhabitants ofthe South to 1 inhabitant of theNorth, by 2025. This means that thepopulation in these areas will be dou-bled accounting for 10% of the worldpopulation. In spite of the increase ofthe rural population in the Southernareas of the Mediterranean (41% ascompared to 29% of northern EUcountries) the agricultural balance oftrade has collapsed during the last 30years; in the meanwhile food coverageand food safety have worsened. Theincrease of grain import from Canada,USA, Australia, Argentina andFrance (the latter with a smaller per-centage) reached about 50%. To the purpose of offering better per-spectives to the people of the South-ern shore of the Mediterranean it isnecessary to include these Countriesin the agricultural and food qualitysystem. The problem of water supplyto rural population (and not only tothem) is another extremely serious is-sue. In conclusion, in spite of the nu-

merous projects, life conditions ofpoor people do not improve; countlessof projects do not actually improvethe general situation, nor provide thespur of development and growth inthese countries. On the contrary,growth and development of these ar-eas are of vital importance in order toavoid the risk of wasting financial re-sources. The paper of the EuropeanCommission on cooperation for de-velopment highlights two main crite-ria: a) geographical planning and b)thematic planning and these are cur-rently topics of discussion. The involvement of local communi-ties is also mentioned in the paper,however neither the modalities, northe tools for their participation arementioned. We must work on this document andsubmit new proposals; a balance be-tween the two planning strategiesmight produce a development strategythrough decentralised cooperationand we could find the suitable opera-tive and financial tools to bring about

the project. If we are able to reachthis goal, even smaller projects couldfind a reference framework and con-tribute to start up developmentprocesses, going beyond the emer-gency needs of the people of thesearea. The Barcelona Process taught usthat we must fully commit ourselvesand that nothing can be taken forgranted. I cannot conclude thisoverview without mentioning the 2ndConference of the National Associa-tion of Local Authorities of Morocco,where a number of Mayors and of lo-cally elected members took part. Theparticipation of Moroccan Ministersin this important conference confirmsthe leading role of local authorities inMorocco and the increase in impor-tance of this Association, whose aimis to reinforce the role of local powersin the process of democratic growth ofthe Country. Once again congratula-tions to the President Bahraoui, wewish him new and important successfor the future. Success which is impor-tant for all of us.

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Palermo, IX General Assembly of Coppem

Coppem has opened a new office. Of-fice's inauguration has taken place atthe presence of the Turkish Minister ofPublic Works, Faruk Özak, the Gover-nor of Istanbul Muammer Guler, theUndersecretary to the Minister of Inte-riors, Sahabettin Harput, and the Un-dersecretary to Industry, Adem Sahin.The starting -up of the activity waswelcome with great favour by nationaland local authorities that place this ini-tiative in the more general frameworkof the relations between European andMediterranean Southern shore contriesand in view of the Turkey's entry intothe EU. Latest governments of thecountry, which is member of the Coun-cil of Europe, have reformed the Starein order to allow Turkey's entry. Mem-bership's negotiations officially havestarted in 2005, motivated not onlywith economic opportunities but alsoby cultural and political reasons, there-by integrating a moderate MuslimCountry. “Turkey is showing great ef-forts in the process for peace and stabil-ity we all need” the Minister said. “ Thecampaign about the Dialogue betweenCivilizations started by our Prime Min-ister Tayyip Erdo_an and SpanishPrime Minister Zapatero, is one of themajor steps towards this way”. Özakemphasized that the outcomes of thepath towards the EU have been an ex-ample for many countries, and he alsoadded: “ If it is looked through inter-cultural perspective, Turkey’s member-ship to the EU can not be explainedonly with economic reasons, but it is astrong effort to dialogue. We, as theGovernment, are trying to stressTurkey’s combining identity, becausewe want the EU to treat Turkey’s mem-bership as an alliance between civiliza-tions. Since respect for human rights isat the basis of this approach”. Then

COPPEM TAKES ROOT IN TURKEY

Solemn inauguration of the representative office at Istanbul

Giovanna Cirino Among the priority objectives ofCoppem, a body with strong politicalimprint, there is that aiming at creatingin the Mediterranean basin a North-South axis of cooperation and peacethrough the promotion of dialogue be-tween the Euro-Mediterranean localand regional authorities.With this aimthe Committee decided to open repre-sentative offices in some cities whichare important for their geographical po-sition and political importance. Istan-bul, with a population consisting of11.322.000 inhabitants, is the main in-dustrial pole of the country. The cur-rent urban area extends along both theBosporus shores, the strait that di-vides the Asiatic continent from theEuropean one and connects the BlackSea to the Marmaris Sea. Political andcultural heart of Balkans, Middle East-ern countries and Turkish republic ofCentral Asia, Istanbul is the city whereEast and West join in harmonic synthe-sis. In this metropolis, located on twocontinents and place of great geo-polit-ical importance from time immemorial,

JUNE 2006 11

Istanbul, Coppem representative office premises

Özak stated that NGOs are more effec-tive and faster than diplomacy, for thisreason, Coppem can provide essentialcontributions in this process of dia-logue. In Özak's opinion, Coppem,through the work of its Commissionsand thanks to the opening of its repre-sentative office in Istanbul, can give“an important contribution to Turkey'sactivities in this area”. The Minister re-minded that in Coppem’s last yearmeeting, Arab and European Munici-palities declared their full support toTurkey's EU membership. “Turkey – he added – is serving as abridge between civilizations. Instanbulwhich connects Europe to Asia, hasbeen a city with close friendship rela-tions, crossroads of civilizations forthousands years and it is a great contri-bution to the civilized world. Theopening of Coppem's representativeoffice will provide a new impulse to thesame process. Anyway, Turkey’s face isturned to West and it aims to be fullyintegrated with European Civilization,which is the path set by Atatürk”. Ac-

cording to Minister Faruk Özak's con-siderations, the Mediterranean andMiddle-Eastern Muslim countries' eyesare turned to Brussels and they closelyfollow the developments aboutTurkey’s EU membership. “A positiveposition of Brussels - he added - will in-crease the level of hope for world peace

and cooperation, otherwise the disputeamong civilizations might worsen.Radical expressions and positions arean hurdle for world stability. We askCoppem to contribute to build policieswhich can turn the Mediterranean in aplace of dialogue, where the efforts forprogress can be implemented in syner-gy with those have been so far dividedbetween exploited and exploiter. Thiscould happen, if South benefits fromNorth's welfare”. “We hope -Coppem's Secretary General CarmeloMotta said- that Istanbul, the city ofthe great bridge Bogùaziçi, which ishanging between Europe and Asia aswell as a strategic centre within thedelicate relationship between Westand East, can be also the key for a newstability and cooperation in the entireEuro-Mediterranean region”. In themeantime, the agreements to open of-fices at Poznan (Poland), for Easterncities and regions, and at Dubai, for theArab Emirates are under construction.Offices in Cairo and in Rabat havebeen already established.

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elimination of conflicts between civi-lizations and tension mitigation.Coppem, by taking into considerationthe main obstacles blocking the coop-eration, is very active on economic, so-cial, cultural and political cooperationreinforced by its member local author-ities which play a role to reflect theperspectives to the ordinary people andforming them as pressure groups to thegoverments. Such activities are sup-ported by a wider community throughthe local authorities. Involvement ofnon govermental organizations anduniversities of Mediterranean to thesame process will assist Coppem inbuilding up a more effective and stablegeneral framework for regional peacein the Meditteranean basin. By the be-ginning of the 21st century we facedthe tragedy of 11 September 2001. Thebarbarous attack was condemned by allconscious people, societies and statesand all the World expressed its sympa-thy to the American people as victimsof the tragedy. Just five years after, USis the most criticized country for hu-man right violations and world insta-bility. And at the end of this policy wesee a 1-half billion population of Mus-lims declared as potential terrorists andunder international pressure. Manyfactors are leading to a general conflictbetween Muslim and Christian worldand through such campaigns both sidesbecome more agressive. Just in theheart of the conflict of civilizationsthere is the Mediterranean region.Looking to the map, it is very easy tosee both sides of the conflict clearly.Campaigns like those Coppem islaunching might be supported as toolsto eliminate the danger of a generalconflict. Including the activitiesCoppem already undertook, there is aneed of common researches and cam-

LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE THE OUTPOST OFPEACE Coppem's role to promote dialogue amongst local institutions

Muzaffer BacaVice President of Coppem Mediterranean region as craddle of civ-

ilizations for thousands of years plays agreat role in events related with theworld stability and peace. The fragilesocial and political systems of theSouth are threatening the entire re-gional cooperation and dialogue be-tween civilizations. Looking on the re-al framework in the Mediterranean re-gion, we can notice different factorsendangering the security of the region.Conflicts between Israeli and Pales-tinians, the Cyprus issue, threatsagainst Syria and the chaos in Iraq arethe main negative factors weakeningefforts for a stable regional cooperationsystem. In this framework the roleCoppem undertook is very importantand helping bringing closer people ofthe region it pursues them for a betterunderstanding and good neighbour-ship.During the last General Assembly heldin Palermo on 6th May 2006, Israeliand Arab delegates were present at therountable discussion focusing on the

JUNE 2006 13

paigns between both shores ofMediterranean in order to introduce“the other” in a cooperative and hu-manitarian manner. The resources ofthe North must be transferred for thebenefit of the South and a balance ofeconomic prosperity must be created.Organization such as ASEM will play agreat role for generating such a systemand sharing the problems of the South.In addition, platforms for common ini-tiatives between Muslims and Chris-tians, quarreling sides, North andSouth shall be promoted and organizedin a more frequent basis. Four commis-sions of Coppem are working hardly topromote such platforms. The main pro-moting elements must be the localleaders members of Coppem. Coinshave two faces and by not taking intoconsideration the rights and opportuni-ties of the other there is no way forcommon peace and prosperity. Just toremind that at a new initiative to sub-mit a Project for the Middle East Peace,Israeli and Palestinian members’ policywas discouraging because they even

didn’t respond to the proposal. Latelyby taking in the same roundtable dis-cussion for peace and dialogue they arelooking like encouraging the processnow. Members from conflicting sidesmust insist to the continuity of suchinitiatives and promote the same ideasand policies in their homelands.National interest, democratic limita-tions and different local difficulties areplaying a substantial role for the stale-mate of such discussions but we haveto be keen to overcome such limita-tions and difficulties by taking the sup-port of the people we represent.Involvement of non-govermental or-ganizations to such processes willstrenghten the campaign for creating amore cooperative and peacefulMediterranean free of enmities, con-flicts and mainly of misunderstandings.Leading countries of the region withthe mediation they might provide willbe able to force the elimination of thetension in the region. In the mean-time, people discussing the issues faceto face in the framework of Coppem

initiatives will be able to overcome theprejudice for the others somethinghelping to create more healthy cooper-ation and friendships. In the interna-tional politics no stable peace is possi-ble to be imposed without satisfyingboth sides. Otherwise such peace willbe a tool for pressure from the power-full side and inflames the radical reac-tions basis for anarchy and terror. Be-ing keen on the peace campaign andcooperation platforms between bothsides, Coppem is leading to be one ofthe most serious and important organi-zations for World Peace. A chain be-tween Coppem and international or-ganizations such EU and UN and theinvolvement of all local actors and civ-il society in the member countries willtransform the region to a more secureenvironment, something promotingthe share of prosperity culture and eco-nomic resources for the benefit of thehumanity. All members of Coppem fo-cusing to support such policies will bepioners of survival of world peace andinternational stability.

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Palermo, Villa Malfitano, IX General Assembly of Coppem

more rigid system of relationshipsbrought about by central Governments”Through the cooperation between localand regional authorities, Coppem pro-motes local development by setting upnetworks of cooperation and collabora-tion among the Mediterranean countries.The role of local communities and the lo-cal development fostered by them – alsowith the contribution of this Project –becomes a strategic tool both for the eco-nomic development of the area and forthe creation of peace and stability in thearea. The path involving cities struck byterrorism such as Aqaba, Eilat, Gaza andSharm-el-Sheick is ideal to reinforcepeaceful coexistence necessary to pro-mote any project of economic, social andcultural development. (n.r.)

THE ANCIENT CARAVAN ROUTES REVIVE

Involved in the project Aqaba (Jordan), Eilat (Israel), Gaza (Palestine), and Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt).

Tourism, cultural heritage and environ-mental protection are the guidelines ofthe project of regional coastal cooperationbetween Jordan, Israel, Palestinian au-thority and Egypt promoted by Coppemand UN Agencies, Unesco and UN-Habitat. Practically, next year the ancientcaravan routes will be revived for the pur-poses of tourism and will involve thecities of Aqaba, Eilat, Gaza and Sharm-el-Sheick. This path evokes the scent andthe atmosphere of colourful souks and en-hances ancient handicraft traditions. To-day convoys of trucks have replaced thelong camel caravans and in many casesthe action of wind and sand erased the an-cient tracks. The four-sided project oncoastal cooperation, was presented inPalermo at the Fiera del Mediterraneo,within the international workshop on“Craftsmanship for the Local Develop-ment in the Mediterranean area”; the aimof the project is also to strengthen theBarcelona process and it is an importantpolitical and business opportunity for theCountries joining the project, since it rep-resents a cooperation workshop of consid-erable importance. The representatives ofthe Embassies of Egypt and Jordan, theGeneral Delegation of Palestine, as wellas the leading exponents of the Sicilianbusiness, financial and institutional estab-lishment took also part in the presenta-tion of the Project. A friendly message ofsupport to the activities promoted byCoppem was sent by the Israeli ambassa-dor to Italy and read aloud by ProfessorAurelio Anselmo. As Michele Raimondi– coordinator of Coppem Programmesand Projects – announced “within nextOctober a cultural meeting shall be or-ganised in Sharm-el-Sheick where the de-velopment and outcomes of cooperationshall be presented. Besides Coppem dele-gates, the institutional authorities and therepresentatives of the lay society of the

four Countries joining the project, as wellas the delegations of other Mediterraneancountries shall also take part in the event”Tourism is the most important industry ofcontemporary world; its connection withthe enhancement of cultural heritage andenvironmental protection shall be theeconomic driving force of these four re-gions having common interests. An ac-tion plan will be prepared within onemonth and it shall focus on the enhance-ment of this sector starting from the re-vival of ancient caravan routes. The po-litical importance of such initiative hasbeen pointed out by Coppem secretarygeneral Lino Motta who has defined it “acontribution to peace and the evidenceof the role played by local Authorities ca-pable of taking steps forward instead of a

JUNE 2006 15

“Villa Sicilia” has been setup in Egypt, on initiative ofthe Governorate of Qa-lyubiya. It is located onthe banks of the Nile river,in an area already fittedout to a large extent withadventure playground forchildren and enriched bya pleasant promenadealong the riverside. The se-lected area is very muchsuitable for creating a

magnificent garden including various species of plants which are typical of this area. Entitling toSicily this new villa is a symbolic gesture of regard and friendship for the great Mediterranean is-land by the Governorate of Qalyubiya, following the signing of the Memorandum of Understand-ing, promoted by Coppem, between the two regions by Governors Salvatore Cuffaro and AdlyHussein. The achieved agreements define the framework for a fruitful cooperation at economic, so-cial and cultural level and announce the prospect for closer relations between Europe and theMediterranean southern shore, coinciding with the creation of the great free trade area foreseenby partnership policies started by the Conference of Barcelona in 1995. Thanks to the contribu-tion of Coppem which held its VIII General Assembly at Cairo, where a representative office hasbeen established, the relations between Egypt and Sicily are increasingly intensifying and it is asign of an intense operative phase for exchanges and joint initiatives in different fields.

the area on the bank of Nile river for Villa Sicilia

Roberta Puglisi

The definition of “typical product” doesnot only indicate “crafts”; typical prod-ucts are the products of a region, they de-rive from the natural and cultural re-sources of this region, they are the resultof the work of generations, and thereforehave a story to tell. Typical products arethe result of the social and cultural con-text of an area, hence they are strictly as-sociated with the area where they areproduced. In order to establish a stronglink between an area and its products it isnecessary to select certain categories ofproducts having specific characteristics ofquality and tradition; subsequently anumber of actions must be developed andcoordinated in order to selectively pro-mote these products. However, it is nec-essary to bear in mind that the creation ofthe Euro-Mediterranean free-trade areaby the year 2010, shall surely offer in-credible economic perspectives, but alsothat only very well organised productionsystems shall be able to compete in thischallenging market and make their prod-ucts stand out. Therefore, being awarethat craftsmanship must not only be keptalive but also be enhanced, Coppem, in

cooperation with the Fiera del Mediterra-neo in Palermo and Asem (Agency forthe Euro-Mediterranean development)have organised a workshop on the topic“Craftsmanship for the local develop-ment and cooperation among theMediterranean countries: new perspec-tives in view of the creation of the Euro-Mediterranean free-trade area”. Institu-tional and diplomatic authorities of theMediterranean countries, professionalsand experts of the Arab world, presidentsof craft and professional organisations, aswell as the representatives of the businessand financial establishment took part inthis workshop with the aim of workingout a strategy or cultural diffusion, there-by creating an added value for these prod-ucts. Actually, the different interests oflocal economic operators should bematched with a local social system able toguarantee opportunities for qualification,environmental enhancement, produc-tion, services and the creation of a localcultural identity. Giovanna Livreri – tem-poral external administrator of the FairBoard – in announcing the next openingof two business info-point centres in Al-giers and Tunis, focussed on the conceptsof qualification and enhancement; she al-so outlined the profile of the Mediter-ranean network of fairs, which shall becreated in the next future and already an-

nounced during the Coppem GeneralAssembly held in Cairo. The aim is tocreate a network of exhibition areas,which are also important reference pointsfor commercial activities in the Mediter-ranean Region. Once this network hasbeen implemented, craft activities of thewhole region will take advantage fromthis project since they can rely on a qual-ified system of promotional activities as-sociated to suitable areas to exchangetheir goods, draw up agreements and startup productive and business cooperation.These initiatives are included in a moreadvanced perspective of relationshipsamong the Countries of the Mediter-ranean. As a consequence, the Partner-ship and - more in general - the EUMediterranean policy shall be re-launched. Lino Motta, Coppem Secre-tary General, pointed out that – the dateof 2010 set forth in the Barcelona confer-ence for the creation of the free-tradearea – shall be postponed due to the lackof firm actions by the countries of thesouthern Mediterranean shore. Thereforea number of initiatives aiming at local de-velopment and at the magnification on acontinental scale of the economic growthof the Mediterranean Region must be re-designed. During the workshop, the rep-resentative of the American Chamber ofCommerce, Ernesto Fiorillo, proposed touse this important body to ensure widervisibility of these products on foreignmarkets. While discussing this topic,many people took the floor to give theircontribution like Ibrahim Saad El-DinIbrahim Moharam, president of the Asso-ciation of the Egyptian cooperatives. To-day tourism is experiencing a revival,however a number of factors must be con-sidered, such as compliance with qualitystandard levels linked to tradition, newproduction processes and training oppor-tunities. In any case, craftsmanship willbe a crucial element of the economic andsocial life of the countries where crafts arelinked to the countries’ history and civil-isation; it shall also be able to guaranteenew job opportunities for people living inthese countries. Moreover, as the repre-sentative of the Palestinian delegationMohammed Rabee pointed out, crafts-manship could ensure reintegration intothe labour market for people who sufferedinjuries in the Middle-Eastern war.

16 COPPEMNEWS

HANDICRAFT IN FAIR Laid the bases for a large cooperation at regional level

Palermo, Fair of the Mediterranean, the group participating in the workshop on Handicrafts and local development

Arab countries and some even fromSouth American countries such as Pe-ru and Equador. They are patients thatbefore chose to go to United States tofollow a treatment in North Americanmedical centres and instead today theycan come here in Palermo. ISMETT,through its partnership with Pitts-burgh, can offer the same standards ofquality and efficiency of US structureswith a further advantage consisting inits geographical position. We have es-tablished a lot of contacts with physi-cians and professionals of the healthfield from the Mediterranean basincountries. Still now, about every sixweeks, some of our physicians go toSaudi Arabia and to United Arab Emi-rates in order evaluate and suggestvalid therapies to the patients of thosecountries, we have established a fruit-ful cooperation especially in the fieldof epathology and bariatric surgery.Another kind of collaboration we arecommitted in is connected to thetraining. The ISMETT is the only Ital-ian centre participating in the projectEmispher, a community programme ofdevelopment and cooperation havingthe objective to build a telemedicinesystem and an e-learning training pro-gramme amongst 16 important medicalcentres of the Mediterranean basin(Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Al-geria, Cyprus, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisiaand Turkey). The bet we intend on isnot only for ISMETT but also for Sici-ly as a whole. If the programme for in-ternational patients should achieve theresults we hope for, in few years therewill be benefits not only for the centrewhose i’m the director but for all theIsland’s economy. All the Sicilian al-lied activities like hotel structures,catering industry, shops etc. wouldbenefit from it.

THE BET ON HEALTH HAS ALREADY BEEN WON

Thanks to Ismett the Euromed cooperation is being enlarged

Bruno Gridelli Medical and Scientific Director ISMETT

On 31st June 1999, in the Mediter-ranean Institute for Transplantationand Advanced Specialized Therapies(ISMETT) the first liver transplantwas performed. It was the beginning ofa path having ambitious objectives:the setting up of a structure located inPalermo which could offer the thera-peutic option of transplantation to Si-cilian people firstly but also a centrewith a strong Euro-Mediterranean im-print, able to start a virtuous circuit ofsynergy and collaboration especiallywith the countries of the Mediter-ranean basin. The ISMETT, was origi-nated from a partnership betweenCivico and Cervello Hospitals andUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Cen-ter (UPMC). Hence an internationalcentre that in few years has been ableto achieve extraordinary results. Today,in fact, the Mediterranean Institute is

a structure able to compete with thebest Northern Italy and Europeantransplantation centres both in termsof volume of activities and of quality ofperformed surgery. Since a little morethan two years, all the clinical activi-ties have moved to a new seat, a mod-ern and advanced structure which hasenabled us to develop transplantationprogrammes – in 2005 we perfomedmore than 100 transplantations in oneyear- and to start those haven't beenstarted yet . Now at ISMETT, everykind of transplantations of solid organs(liver, kidney, pancreas, lung andheart) is performed and we are prepar-ing to start on also the activity for pan-creatic insulae. Today patients fromevery place in Italy come to Palermoand some of them from the rest of theworld. A real trend inversion we wantand must stimulate. This is the bet weare committed to in the next years. Atpresent in the Mediterranean Institutewe have subjected to transplantationpatiens coming from Greece, Albania,Israel and Palestine as well as from

JUNE 2006 17

Palermo, ISMETT

BIO-CLIMATIC DWELLINGS FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN

Palermo Municipality launches the project SUN & WIND

Ornella Amara Landscape architect and historian of arts

The structure of the city of Palermo, aswell as it happened in many metropol-itan cities, has become virtually illegi-ble. If the historic centre, even thoughin its general blight, has preserved itsdimensional, spatial and semanticidentity, suburbs and mariginal areas ofthe city have been distorted by aprocess of uncontrolled building. Thelack of or especially the ignoranceabout precise regulations has moreovercaused that this process includes andencroaches on larger and larger por-tions of territory, ignoring the role ofcountry and suburbs, depriving impor-tant places of their identity, breakingand fragmenting that “genius loci” andthereby wasting and mixing up it in ainextricable mesh of signs conflictingwith each other, a new urban Babel! The project “Sun & Wind” is basedand concretized on such consideration,and it intends to become an action ofsustainable development whose aim isthe integration of environmental di-mension in territorial planning andenhancement by introducing innova-tive integrated techniques and meth-ods which can influence and con-tribute to Local Authorities' Commu-nity environmetal policies. The project proposal has emerged fromthe will of sharing with all the actorsparticipating to the Governance of ter-ritorial policies aimed at building up anormative system which regulatestechnical and methodological actionsfor building in order to achieve a realenergy conservation, a better build-ings heatproofing as well as better en-vironmental comfort. Project's aim is

to achieve a sensible reduction ofhome energy consumptions throughactions aiming at changing the cultureof citizens on the art of buiding, by re-covering “building technical knowl-edge” of the Mediterranean architec-ture, that still today is a perfect exam-ple of bio-climatic architecture, and bybuilding a normative of the “goodbuilding practice” which can becomeeffective first at territorial level, andthen at wider and wider level, with aproposal of law to be presented to theRegional Assembly and including allSicilian territory. Proponent and ben-eficiary subject of the project is theMunicipality of Palermo, Departmentfor Environment, Environmental andEcology Service, Parks and ReservesGroup; the project will be implement-ed in partnership with all the LocalAuthorities supervising the territorythat is object of the action: Municipal-ity of Monreale, Regional Province ofPalermo, Sicilian Region, in order tobuild together local policies on energyconservation, Mediterranean basin Eu-ropean countries (Municipality ofToledo, Spain, Athens – Greece, sam-ple area Sifnos Island – Cicladi) theUniversity of Palermo, DREAM Insti-tute of Technical Physics, Faculty ofAgriculture, Institute of Arboreal Cul-tivations and finally private stakehold-ers, professional association, ANCE(Building Contractors National Asso-ciation - Enterprises Association),PANORMEDIL. The foreseen actionsare the following: involving all the lo-cal actors, training local workers andexperts; analysis of the current norma-tive framework at national and region-al level and the comparison with therespective regulations in the PartnerCountries, implementing an informa-tion window, creating a database of the

current building catalogue, drawingup Guidelines for building good prac-tice, the proposal to include thoseGuidelines for good building practicein the GTP Technical Regulations ofMunicipalities, design and realizationof prototypes, starting up forms foreconomic incentives for those who willuse the building methodology foreseenby the Guidelines for good buildingpractice, creating a network of Munic-ipalities and an Euro-Mediterraneanone for building, for which an agree-ment with Coppem has been signed, asit is the ideal subject for this importanttask. Drafting a bill to be presented tothe Regional Assembly, the D.A.P dec-laration on typical building elementsin the Mediterranean sea, the ener-getic evaluation of the realized proto-type, dissemination of the achieved re-sults. And since Architecture is able toevoke the places, make them recogniz-able, and suggest their belonging to aspecific territory, “Sun & Wind”methodology can be reproposed in dif-ferent context, modifying external sur-faces and the way these are processed,materials and forms, respecting theplace and their tradition, but mantain-ing the general criteria marking theproject itself. As well as the agricultureevoking and building the landscape,will be used to repropose and go backto horticulture and tree-culture tech-niques, going back to that traditionfrom which citrus gardens are originat-ed, or the shady areas in the Mediter-ranean houses inside or outside them,buiding an ideal margin that fades thelimit between urban and rural system,and contributing also in sinergy withsun and wind to realize a system to air-conditioning our dwellings with natu-ral methods being as much as possibleat low energetic impact.

18 COPPEMNEWS

of Coppem – to implement policies ofcooperation agreed upon between Sici-ly and Qaliyubiya.Governor Hussein has hoped that thesekind of relations can be extended toyoung people exchanges and he has pro-posed to iniatiate specific bilateral ini-tiatives focusing on women's conditionand human rights.Following the works, the delegation metwith the Egyptian first lady, Mrs Suzan-na Mubarak, to whom has handed apresent by the President of the Region

Hon. SalvatoreCuffaro; Gover-nor of Giza FathiSaad took part ina session of theRegional Assem-bly of Qaliyubiyain Benha, whichended with theopening ceremo-ny of a gardenoverlooking theNile river thatGovernor Hus-sein wanted todedicate to Sicily.Local mass-me-dia – nationalTV channels aswell as the press– have given awide scope to the

visit of the Sicilian delegation, empha-sizing its importance in the frameworkof the very good realations betweenEgypt and Italy. Actually, the cooperation betweenSicily and Qaliyubiya goes beyond thebilateral framework and it plays agreat importance in the Euro-Mediterranean relations framework aswell as in the Barcelona process re-launch hoped for.

CLOSER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SICILY ANDEGYPTA Sicilian delegation to Qaliyubiya to implement the memorandum of understanding

Salvatore CilentoMinister Plenipotentiary of Sicilian Region

Through Coppem's organizational co-ordination, a Sicilian delegation in-cluding the Diplomatic Counsellor ofthe President of the Region, MinisterPlenipotentiary Salvatore Cilento,Hon. Pino Apprendi representingPalermo Municipality, regional execu-tives general Vincenzo Emanuele (Bal-ance and Trea-sury Depart-ment), Benedet-to Mineo (Fi-nance and Cred-it Department),Giuseppe Incar-dona (IndustryDepartment),Dario Cartabel-lotta (Agricol-ture Depart-ment) and Se-bastiano Di Bellaon behalf of theRegional Assem-bly, made adiplomatic mis-sion in Egypt(Cairo and Ben-ha, capital ofQaliyubiya Gov-ernorate) from June 5th to 8th , in or-der to jointly examinate with GovernorAdly Hussein – Coppem's Vice Presi-dent- and his closest collaboratorswhich kind of concrete follow-up theycan give to the memorandum of under-standing between Sicilian Region andQaliyubiya Governorate signed on thelast 30th Jenuary.The attention of both the delegationsfocused on the following field:

a) Cultural and University cooperation;concerning this specific issue, the avail-ability of Palermo University to awardto young graduates from Benha Univer-sity some scholarships for postgraduatemasters has been represented. b) Cooperation between small andmedium-sized enterprises; in reply of aspecific request advanced by the presi-dent of the industry association ofQaliyubiya, eng. Abdel Hady El Sayed,it has been agreed that a SME delega-tion of Qaliyubiya active in agro-indus-

try, metalwork and woodwork sectors,will come to Sicily – to be hoped for thethird ten days of July – to meet our en-terprise working in the same produc-tivesectors.c) Cooperation on agriculture and train-ing sectors, also through programmes tobe implemented with EU funds; d) Asem's role promotion – the Euro-Mediterranean Development Agencyrecently established under the auspices

JUNE 2006 19

from the right Mrs Suzanne Mubarak; from the left Adly Hussein, Salvatore Cilento, Pino Apprendi

NEW IMPULSE TO PARTNERSHIP

Coppem and Paralleli united for the dialogue amongst local institutions

Nino Randisi

Coppem and Paralleli Institute canwork together for promoting andstrenghtening the dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean area. The collaborationbetween these two bodies will be usefulto promote in actual fact the dialoguewith Regions, cities and civil society ofcontinental Europe, with the aim ofstrengthening the Euro-Mediterraneancooperation. Rinaldo Bontempi, Presi-dent of the Northern-West Euro-Mediterranean “Paralleli” Institute, es-tablished in Turin on July 2005, is con-vinced of this. The former EuropeanParliament member has supported theidea according to which today both thecity of Turin and Piedmont Region taketheir place in an area which is a geo-strategic one at European and Mediter-ranean level. Because of their positionthey have developed in the last fewyears a strong interest to be an activepart in the process to relaunch the Eu-ro-Mediterranean dialogue.

Which are the grounds of this trend? Piedmont Region can be an importantjunction point in the network connect-ing the large logistic and industrialplatform, consisting in the Po valleyand the city of Milan, with the south-ern-west Mediterranean area andtherefore with the whole southerncountries basin.In which kind of perspective doessuch prospect place itself?The rapid development of Asianeconomies is by now the most dynamicforce in the global economy. A substan-tial part of trade flows originated fromthese economies, pass along the Suez

Canal and, instead of landing at north-ern European ports in Rotterdam andHamburg, go towards Nice, Gioia Tau-ro and Genoa, or towards Taranto andMarghera. Hence, Italy as a whole is anatural Mediterranean bridge leaningforward the heart of Community Eu-rope and the axis Alessandria-Turin, al-so for the peculariaties of Genoa whichhas no backport, is the main potentialjunction towards the strongest Euro-pean area at economic level.Which is the economic and culturalpoint of reference for this ideal“bridge”?The social tissue of Turin and Pied-mont in general offers an extraordinary

number of cultural, social and produc-tive organizations that can be impor-tant leading actors in the process forbuilding the future, on the basis of thesedimentation of experiences and inno-vations experimented and produce dur-ing the centuries of a contradictory butcontinuous development, rich of mem-ory but influenced by different inputsand daring innovations.Which is the role that Paralleli Insti-tute is called to play?Institute's mission, in coherence withthe three great axes of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership (political

and of security, economic, social andcultural) and with territorial needs, hasthe objective to contribute to buildingan Euro-Mediterranean area of free-dom, security and socio-economic de-velopment. This mandate includes ac-tions and initiatives involving civil so-ciety with its participation, promotingcultural and religious dialogue and eco-nomic relations targeted to sustainabil-ity, with particular attention to co-de-velopment.Which are the political prospects atterritorial and international level?At international level, the priority ofthe first three years of activities is thatof implementing European and interna-tional networks which the Institute al-ready joins and activating new channelsof relations. In particular, Paralleli hasworked so as to draw up agreements andprovisions with the IEMED Institute inBarcelona, l’Institut de la Mediterranéein Marseille, the European UniversityInstitute in Fiesole. Furthermore Paral-leli has joined the network leaded bythe Anna Lindh Foundation. Boththrough public debates and studies andresearches, the Institute is trying tostimulate the debate towards the centralissues of our age by activating culturalpaths having the aim to build condi-tions to draw up specific policies.How the Paralleli Institute does in-tend to work?Particular attention is devoted to thecountries called as “objective coun-tries”: Lybia, Lebanon, Morocco, Egyptand Turkey. But the real attention isdevoted to the relations betweenPalestine and Isreal. Moreover theBalkan area has an ad hoc position, asit isn’t included in the Euro-Mediter-ranean partnership even though it is acentral and strategic area not only atgeographical level

20 COPPEMNEWS

12h40. Speech by the President of the Al-gerian Municipality (APC-Tlemcen /Oran) 13h00. Speech by the FACM13h30. Lunch15h00. Resumption of works• workshop. Cities management at goodgovernance-proof and cooperation be-tween Euro-Mediterranean cities and re-gions• Plenary session: debates17h30: Reading and approval of theworkshop recommendation and proposals18h00: Closure of works

PROGRAMME OF THE WORKSVENUE OF THE MEETING HOTEL AURASSI

FRIDAY 23 JUNE 2006 Reception of the members of PresiodencyCouncil, accomodation at Aurassi Hotel Meeting of the Presidency Council en-larged to the Coppem Commissions Vice-Presidents

SATURDAY 24 JUNE 2006Meeting with the Euro-Mediterranean rep-resentatives of decentralized institutionalauthorities (Local Communities)

09h00. Reception of partcipants 09h.30. Welcome address by the Presi-dent of the FACM, Noureddine Sbia 09h35. Opening speech by His Excellen-cy Mohammed Bedjaoui, Minister ofState, Minister for Foreign Affairs.10h00. Speech by the Minister Delegatein charge of local communities10h20. Speech by Mr. Abderrachid Bouk-erzaza, Minister Delegate in charge ofcities10h40. Speech by the Secretary Generalof Coppem11h00. Coffee break11h30. Speech by representative of theMinister for Participations and Promotionof Investment (investments opportunities inAlgeria)11h50. Speech by the representative ofthe organizer committee of the III Euro-Arab Towns Conferences12h05. Speech by a Wali (Algiers /Costantina/Djelfa/Sétif)12h25. Speech by the Director Generalof the Algerian Chamber of Commerceand Industry (CACI): twinning, economicaland cultural exchanges (outcomes andprospects)

ALGIERS, JUNE 24TH

DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS OF COOPERATIONBETWEEN EURO-MEDITERRANEAN CITIES ANDREGIONS

COPPEMStanding Commitee for theEuro-Mediterranean Partnership

FACMAlgerian Forum forCitizenship and Modernity

UNDER THE AEGIS OF THEMINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRSOF ALGERIA