News

EIB promoting investment and jobs at Arab Spring summit

23-05-2012

Europe and the Arab Spring is the theme of a high level conference bringing together senior politicians, analysts, business and a range of other local and international actors in Brussels on 31 May. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is co-sponsoring this event with Friends of Europe and the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.
 
Debates will focus on the need for a new EU strategy in the southern Mediterranean, job creation, sustaining growth, democracy and security.
 
Among the questions to be addressed are:
  • Has the EU begun to shape a new Mediterranean strategy – spanning not just economic cooperation but also support to home-grown democratic reform, security and even increased immigration?
  • Since aid alone can not create the new jobs needed to give the youthful populations of Arab countries a worthwhile future, what can the EU and national policymakers in Europe do to help kick-start the Arab economies and create substantial employment opportunities?
  • Is Europe doing enough to encourage projects that stimulate trade between the Arab countries, which in the five countries of the Maghreb presently accounts for just 2% of their total foreign trade?
Speakers include Mohamed El-Baradei, Leader of the Egyptian National Coalition of Change, Karel De Gucht, EU Commissioner for Trade, Touhami Abdouli, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Philippe de Fontaine Vive Curtaz,Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), and Ana GomesMember of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs and Rapporteur for Libya.
 
The EIB advocates increased efforts to facilitate investment in the region, particularly from the private sector. New political realities will require a different economic response, with growth and jobs essential to give legitimacy to the new regimes. The Bank brings substantial practical experience to the debates, having been present in the region since the 1970s. (EU Neighbourhood Info)
 
Read more
 
Press release
 
Event website
 
EIB – Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP)
 
EU Response to the Arab Spring
 

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