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Call for Arab participants
Euro-Arab and Mediterranean Youth Leaders Meeting: Networking and
Partnership Development
Rome, Italy, 7-12 May, 2012
APPLICATION DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY 21ST OF MARCH, 2012, 10:00 PM
(CET)
In brief
How can youth contribute to shaping the relationship between Europe and the Arab
world? In a changing political climate of both hope and concern, there is a great need
for the youth to express a clear vision for our shared future.
The Italian National Youth Council (FNG) in partnership with the European Youth
Forum and with the support of the European Commission – Youth in Action
Programme is organising a meeting for European and Arab youth leaders with the
aim of developing dialogue and a common vision on issues pertaining to youth
cooperation.
Background
In new political context in the Mediterranean and Arab region, there is a need in
refreshing the political dialogue among all relevant stakeholders and supporting the
capacity building on an independent civil society. For the youth sector, this means
stronger youth-led organisations and the establishment of umbrella organisations at
such as National Youth Councils.
Over the last years, FNG has been supporting the European Youth Forum in the
dialogue and cooperation with the Mediterranean and Arab region focusing on
capacity building, volunteering and youth rights.
From this work, developed in partnership with the Council of Europe (CoE), the
League of Arab States (LAS), the World Bank – MENA Region and the organisations
participating in the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations,
emerged the Euro-Arab Coordination Meetings of Youth Organisations (EACMYO)
and the participation of European youth representatives in the Youth Forums of the
League of Arab States and other inter-regional meetings.
The 1st EACMYO took place in Amman, Jordan, in November 2008, preceding the
2nd LAS Youth Forum on “Youth and the Intercultural Dialogue”. The meeting
adopted the Framework for Euro-Arab Cooperation Amongst Youth Organisations, a
statement of principles and recommendations regarding the Euro-Arab youth
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cooperation. The 2nd EACMYO was organised in November 2009, in Assilah,
Morocco, in the frame of the 3rd LAS Youth Forum on “Youth and Migrations: A
Human Rights Based Approach” that resulted in the adoption of the Assilah Appeal
for facilitating youth mobility, promoting youth exchange and ensuring equality, non-
discrimination and the rights of young migrants. The 3rd EACMYO was held in Tunis
in July 2010, in the context of the Seminar on the "Roles of Youth Organisations in
Promoting Intercultural Dialogue and Mutual Understanding", organised by LAS. The
Meeting preceded the 1st Euro-Arab Youth Conference Mare Nostrum – Youth,
Migration and Development, organised by FNG in Ragusa-Sicily, Italy, in cooperation
with the Youth Forum, the CoE and LAS.
Underpinning this work is the resolution on the Euro-Arab Youth Cooperation
“Building bridges for development, solidarity and peace” (COMEM 0417-09) adopted
by the Council of Members of the European Youth Forum in 2009, endorsing the
Framework for Euro-Arab Cooperation Amongst youth organisations.
Because of the new political context in the Mediterranean and Arab region, there is a
clearly defined need for strengthening cooperation and the further development of
interregional youth cooperation process’ by promoting an enhanced political dialogue
among all relevant stakeholders, at civil society and institutional level, and the
establishment and strengthening of national and regional youth structures and
policies in the Mediterranean and Arab region.
Aims and Objectives
The main objectives of the “Euro-Arab and Mediterranean Youth Leaders Meeting:
Networking and Partnership Development” are:
• To enhance the dialogue and cooperation among civil society and institutional
partners to the Europe-Mediterranean and Arab youth cooperation, moving the
process forward, based on dialogue and mutual understanding;
• To set a clear vision on the development of the Europe-Mediterranean and
Arab youth cooperation framework, aiming to a sustainable and permanent
cooperation between European and Mediterranean and Arab youth
organisations;
• To build a common strategy and action-oriented plan for the implementation of
the recommendations resulting from the Euro-Mediterranean and Arab
meetings;
• To further promote the policy dialogue, capacity building and training,
networking, exchanges and information sharing opportunities to establish and
strengthen the national and regional youth structures and youth policies in the
Mediterranean and Arab region as well as the participation of youth
organisations in its development, implementation and monitoring;
The event will gather around 40 European and Arab youth representatives and will
consist of a 4 day meeting where participants will take part in plenary discussions
and working groups.
The meeting is expected to produce an outcome document with concrete proposals
for a stronger Euro-Mediterranean and Arab youth cooperation framework, in the
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view of the implementation of WPAY and achievement of the internationally agreed
development goals, including the MDGs.
Profile of the Arab participants
A maximum of 15 will be Arab representatives selected based on their fulfillment of
the following criteria:
• Youth leaders coming from membership-based, democratic and independent
organisations which have a regional scope
• Representatives of National Youth Organisations that are starting up
initiatives to build Independent National Federation (or Forum/Council) of youth
organisations
• Interested in enhancing the political dialogue and cooperation with Europe
• Able to work in English
• Between 18 and 35 years old
• Be committed to take active part in the whole activity
Gender balance, geographical origin and organisational criteria will be taken into
account when selecting participants.
Selection procedure
Applicants should register and send in their nomination through the Forums online
database (database.youthforum.org). Should more nominations be received than
places available, we will aim to compose a group with a fair, gender balanced
representation, taking into account the motivation and experience of the nominees
with regard to the above-mentioned criteria.
Other technical details
• Date and place of the meeting: the meeting will take place in Rome, Italy, on 7-12
May, 2012.
• Travel, accommodation and meals: FNG WILL BUY FLIGHT-TICKETS FOR
ARAB PARTICIPANTS UPON RECEIVING CONFIRMATION OF THE
ACCEPTANCE OF A SCHENGEN VISA within 10 days from the selection.
Visa's costs will be covered by participants. . Participants are expected to
arrive on the 07/05/2012 and leave on the 12/05/2012. For participants not based
in Rome, five nights' accommodation will be provided. Dinners and lunches during
the event are provided by FNG.
• Agenda of the meeting: will be sent to participants ahead of the meeting
• Language of the meeting: English
Deadline
Nominations, including endorsement from the nominating Member
Organisation, should arrive at the European Youth Forum Secretariat
before WEDNESDAY 21ST OF MARCH, 2012, 10:00 PM (CET).
The selection of the participants will be finalised by the 27th of
March 2012. All successful candidates will be contacted soon
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afterwards. In this confirmation will be details on how to proceed
with the visa application.
In order to apply please use the online application form which can be
found on: http://database.youthforum.org/public/event-details/event/299
For Arab participants please select the event named: ARAB
PARTICIPANTS // Euro-Arab and Mediterranean Youth Leaders
Meeting.
Contacts
For questions, please contact FNG:
Federica Cicala, International Officer, formazione@forumnazionalegiovani.it,
Federica Triolo, International Officer, international@forumnazionalegiovani.it
for logistics
FNG Tel. +39 06 45476623
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