MEDITERRANEAN YOUTH IN ACTION

Reflecting their demographic and social weight in Euro-Mediterranean societies, young people increasingly put forth their expectations both in political and economic fields. In the Southern shore, the Arab Spring has been the result of their strong commitment. At the same time, in European countries, initiatives emerging from and for young people have multiplied. Therefore, they represent new political, economic and social challenges on both sides of the Mediterranean.

The youth in the Mediterranean has to face major issues including high unemployment, harsh job markets, and restrictions in their political and social rights. These problems were at the heart of the Arab spring.

Young people also are a factor of change. In a time of deep transformations in the Mediterranean area, the youth must be considered a lever to make our societies develop in a more prosperous way. It would certainly be a high risk not to invest in the youth.
The recent events have shown that marginalization of young people leads inexorably to radical protest movements. It is consequently essential for political and economic leaders to reintegrate their claims in their development strategy. For instance, the role and importance of new technologies used to share ideas and hopes among young people cannot be put aside anymore.

THE YOUTH ENGAGED
IN THE MEDITERRANEAN ECONOMIC WEEK

Since its creation in 2007, the Mediterranean Economic week is a key meeting point for actors involved in the Mediterranean economic development.
Considering the current situation in the area, the 2012 edition will gather participants and organizations around the unifying and central theme of youth. It aims to actively involve young people from different universities such as the Institute of Public Management and Territorial Governance, the Institute for Political Studies, the Mediterranean network of Engineering and Management Schools, Centrale Marseille, Euromed Management, etc…

The 2012 Mediterranean Economic Week edition will shed light on youth problems, expectations and potential contributions in order to promote both development and dialogue across generations.