Projects in Action by Action Global Communications Ltd

SOUTHERN NEIGHBOURHOOD

Projects in Action EU REGIONAL COOPERATION THROUGH THE EYES OF JOURNALISTS

People

Environment

Culture

Economy

THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION

“Unemployment, social exclusion, inequality and poverty are at the heart of people's concerns for the future in all countries. ey are among the root causes of instability and unrest and need to be addressed to make democratisation sustainable” Commissioner Štefan Füle

European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) - Southern Neighbours

The EU oﬀers its Neighbours a privileged relationship, building upon a mutual commitment to common values (democracy and human rights, rule of law, good governance, market economy principles and sustainable development). The level of ambition of the relationship will depend on the extent to which these values are shared. The Southern Neighbours of the EU covered by the ENP are: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria* and Tunisia. "A partnership for democracy and shared prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean" adopted on 8 March 2011 clearly stated the EU support for the call for change and more democratic and open societies; an incentive based approach was outlined ("more for more"), to assist political economic and social reforms in the countries of the region. In 2012, a roadmap for future action set out objectives and expected achievements to be pursued to the end of 2013.

* EU Cooperation with Syria is suspended due to the political situation in the country; however, since in principle Syria is eligible for cooperation under the ENPI, activities may be taken up again once the situation improves.

Palestinian women from villages around the Hebron area in the southern West Bank attending the workshop "Women Can Do Change," in Hebron (Photo by EPA and COSPE ÂŠEU/Neighbourhood Info Centre).

Contents

4 Taking root in the Neighbourhood interview with Commissioner Štefan Füle 8 EU Regional Cooperation through the eyes of journalists 10 Our network of journalists

People 13 Cooperation is all about people Interview with Raﬀaella Iodice 15 Women seeking freedom and respect by Elias Zananiri 18 Listening to what the young have to say by Mohammed Ben Hussain 21 I have learned to be a fully-fledged citizen by Dalia Chams 24 A computer network for the scientific community by Hicham Houdaifa 27 Embroidery, painiting, computer science: overcoming social exclusion for a better life by Tarik Hafid 30 Libya does not need cash, what it needs is expertise Interview with Andrew Jacobs and Fabienne Bessonne 32 The EU and the Arab Spring: helping a new generation to build a new society Interview with Marcus Cornaro

Environment 35 And business men joined the green cause by Yair Qedar

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

38 Protecting Bizerte lagoon by Lotfi Touati 41 Is there an earthquake? Learn to protect yourself through a game by Antoine Ajoury 44 "I have learned to tame fire" by Elias Zananiri 47 A good recipe for farming? Trading pesticides for owls by Elias Zananiri

Culture 51 Don't touch my wooden door! by Hicham Houdaifa 54 Seeking film producers to portray the ‘Arab Spring’ by Antoine Ajoury 57 In search of Medieval Petra by Mohammad Ben Hussain 60 A movie from Gaza to London: Awatif's mission impossible by Marc Weiss

Economy 65 Employment, the number one priority for the new Tunisia by Lotfi Touati 68 "Made in Agadir zone": what hope for ambitious vision of the future? by Mohammed Ben Hussain 71 The new trade routes of old natural soap by Eu Neighourhood Info Centre/ANSA 74 The Old Khan restored to its former glories by Elias Zananiri 78 Supporting budget, supporting change Interview with Luca Oriani Vieyra

Taking root in the Neighbourhood "Unemployment,social exclusion, inequality and poverty are at the heart of people's concerns for the future in all countries. They are among the root causes of instability and unrest and need to be addressed to make democratisation Sustainable". Commissioner Štefan Füle

Euromed Youth Programme participant Iman Gamal in a Cairo Street (Amel Pain ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre).

Interview with Commissioner Štefan Füle

EU relations with its Neighbours are at a turning point, says Commissioner for enlargement and European neighbourhood policy Štefan Füle in an exclusive interview with the EU Neighbourhood Info Centre.

What is your assessment of EU relations with its Neighbours at this point in time? EU relations with its Neighbours are probably at a turning point. Since the adoption in May 2011 of a new European Neighbourhood Policy, based on mutual accountability and a stronger partnership with societies, the EU has been quick and determined in establishing the policy’s new foundations. We can say that we are now better equipped to develop our links with each partner as far as their own aspirations, needs and capacity allow. We have new Instruments and after the Lisbon Treaty a much more coherent approach. This approach is already yielding encouraging results. After years of relative stagnation, democracy is increasingly taking root in the neighbourhood. The general trend points towards a more accountable form of governance and increased respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Structural reform, where pursued, has helped to reduce poverty and attract foreign investment, while important social challenges remain. Continued approximation to EU norms and standards has helped to contribute to strengthened trade links, notwithstanding the unfavourable economic climate. Increasingly intense sector co-operation with the EU is helping to address transport and energy bottlenecks and to tackle environmental and climate challenges. The EU and its Neighbours must now keep the momentum to strengthen their relations. What are the priorities in the South in the light of the Arab Spring? As I already said, the EU response to the historic events in the Southern Mediterranean was quick and determined, contained in the two joint Commission/ High Representative communications on" A partnership for democracy and shared prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean" adopted on 8 March 2011 which clearly stated the EU support for the call for change and more democratic and open societies; an incentive based approach was outlined ("more for more"), to assist political economic and social reforms in

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

“After years of relative stagnation, democracy is increasingly taking root in the neighbourhood”

the countries of the region. Furthermore a Communication on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy was adopted on 25 May 2011, providing additional direction on how to address those priorities. While fine tuning its approach in its Neighbourhood Policy, highlighted in the conclusions of the recent European Council on 1-2 March 2012, the EU is also developing its regional response to the ongoing challenges which includes inter alia the Union for the Mediterranean of which it has just taken over the Northern copresidency. The EU, more than any other international actor, must engage and support successful transitions; sharing history and a common fate around the Mediterranean Sea, the EU must not be afraid of the electoral successes of political actors inspired by Islam. Its approach is based on the following: - engaging in a political dialogue which requires mutual understanding and respect for universal values, at the core of any community of free and equal individuals; - addressing the dire economic situation in the region which remains the major challenge for the new leaderships which have to deliver growth and jobs and respond to the social expectations of their youth; heir success depends on our economic support; - dealing with the security challenges thus ensuring success of the political and economic transition devoid of sources of insecurity and threats; - conceiving regional responses for regional challenges: hence a renewed EU engagement with key regional organisations, i.e. the Arab League, the OIC,

“e EU, more than any other international actor, must engage and support successful transitions; sharing history and a common fate around the Mediterranean Sea”

UMA and others. In this Partnership, what does the EU consider as the most serious challenges that are common for the Neighbours in the East and in the South? I would mention three major interrelated challenges. First, the resolution of existing conflicts. Finding peaceful settlements to protracted conflicts remains a key challenge throughout the neighbourhood. But let’s be clear: the main responsibility for this lies with the conflicting parties, which must enhance their efforts to find agreements in a genuine spirit of compromise. Otherwise, continued international mediation efforts in established formats cannot be expected to lead to a breakthrough. The full realisation of the potential of the ENP will require more credible and sustained efforts on the part of concerned neighbouring countries to make progress towards conflict resolution.

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

Conversely, the EU stands ready to provide necessary support for the implementation of settlements once they have been agreed. Building and consolidating sustainable democracies remains another major challenge. Progress is being made but there is still a long road to go in some countries. Freedom of expression, association and assembly needs to be fully guaranteed in law and in practice, and a strong culture of respect for human rights must be established across the board in particular the protection against all forms of discrimination in politics as well as day-to-day life. This will secure a space where civil society can play its crucial role as an agent for democratisation ensuring the sustainability and inclusiveness in the reform process. The third challenge is the promotion of inclusive economic development. Unemployment, social exclusion, inequality and poverty are at the heart of people's concerns for the future in all countries. They are among the root causes of instability and unrest and need to be addressed to make democratisation sustainable. They require partner countries to reform and adopt an integrated approach of economic, fiscal, employment, social and education policies. The EU is ready to support such reforms through targeted measures aimed at promoting social cohesion and employment (in particular for young people).

“While we would like to accompany our neighbours in addressing the challenges with which they are confronted, we cannot, and we have no desire to substitute ourselves for them”

How will the EU’s policies towards its Neighbours evolve in the near future? I see a number of areas where, on the EU side we also need to make significant progress in the near future. We need to do more to promote EU investments in partner countries. We need to take forward the mobility agenda both in the eastern and in the southern Neighbourhood inter alia by persuading EU Member States to make more systematic use of the possibilities provided by the European Visa Code. We need to do our best to accelerate the process leading to opening DCFTA negotiations in the South. Ongoing bilateral negotiations on the liberalisation of trade in services and establishment should be accelerated. Sector co-operation should be re-enforced with the view to achieving concrete results in the next few years. And progressively we should open EU programmes and agencies to partners’ participation. The reviewed European Neighbourhood Policy defines the "end game" in this regard, an ambitious one with a concrete idea about what we want to see as results.

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

The Regional Communication Programme The EU funded Regional Communication Programme, which runs from 2011 to 2014 with a total budget of 14 million euro, aims to improve knowledge of the European Union and its neighbourhood policy. The programme contributes to greater understanding of EU policies and highlights cooperation actions carried out in the region. The programme works on developing sustainable communication networks and aims to strengthen the capacity and competences of journalists in the area of European affairs. It follows on from the previous phase of the Regional Communication Programme. Participating countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine (East); Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, occupied Palestinian territory, Syria, Tunisia (South) The programme covers three projects: EU Neighbourhood Info Centre www.enpi-info.eu Media Neighbourhood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Journalist training and networking project

http://www.facebook.com/MediaNeighbourhood http://www.medianeighbourhood.eu Opinion polling and media monitoring in ENPI countries (EU Neigbourhood Barometer)

http://www.enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id =405&id_type=10 http://www.euneighbourhood.eu

Pupils at a school in Lebanon take part in a presentation about an educational CDROM launched by the Civil Defence Organization (Photo by Antoine Ajoury ÂŠEU/Neighbourhood Info Centre).

EU Regional Cooperation through the eyes of journalists

Cooperation between the European Union and the countries participating in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) exists on two levels. The first is the political. The meetings where leaders get together to decide the policy areas on which emphasis should be given. The second deals with turning these decisions into actions on the ground, through the funding of projects, oﬀering the Partners practical support in their eﬀorts to bring about change and modernization. The EU Neighbourhood Info Centre – which is part of the Regional Communication Programme - has tracked down, written about and photographed some of the projects funded, in cooperation with journalists and photographers in the partner countries. The journalists researched projects’ activities and spoke to the people who have benefited from them about their experiences, what they have gained, their considerations and thoughts about the future. On their part, the photographers captured the story with their lens. This magazine includes stories covered in 2011-2012 and gives a flavour of EU Cooperation in the Neighbourhood region on the ground. The reportages are divided

“Telling the story of a partnership: the journalists researched projects’ activities and spoke to the people who have benefited from them about their experiences, what they have gained, their considerations and thoughts about the future. On their part, the photographers captured the story with their lens…”.

into four main categories: people, environment, culture, economy. All the stories are available on the “Feature Section” of the EU Neighbourhood Info Centre’s website – www.enpi-info.eu – in English, French, Russian and Arabic, depending on the country. Participating countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine (East); Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, occupied Palestinian territory, Syria, Tunisia (South)

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

Our network of journalists

Hicham HOUDAIFA Morocco Freelance journalist in Casablanca, he worked at the « Hebdomadaire » newspaper where he wrote features and reports on human rights and society related stories. Between 1999 and 2003, Mr. Houdaifa was the New York correspondent of the French international magazine “Jeune Afrique”. He currently collaborates with a number of magazines, websites and TV channels as well as communication of EUfunded projects.

Tarik HAFID – Algeria Winner of the Euromed Heritage Journalist Award 2007 with his article «Si la Grande Poste nous était contée», Mr. Hafid has been writing in one of the main Frenchspeaking newspapers in Algeria “Le Soir d’Algerie” since 2002. Since 2011 he is trainer in Professional Security for the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). He contributed to the previous EU-funded project Euromed Info Centre with features and articles.

Lotfi TOUATI – Tunisia Former editor in chief of “Le Quotidien”, Mr Touati collaborated with us until his appointment as new Director of the Dar Assabah group. He had previously worked as a journalist and reporter for Tunisian Frenchspeaking newspapers “L’Action” and “Le Renouveau”. He has, throughout his career, participated in several workshops on EU aﬀairs and is currently lecturing at the Arab Science University in Tunis.

Journalists collaborating with the EU Neighbourhood Info Centre

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

Dalia CHAMS – Egypt Having started as a TV reporter and presenter, Mrs. Chams has been working at the art, profiles and culture pages of the Frenchspeaking “Al-Ahram Hebdo” for many years. She also works at the social features section at the Arabic-speaking AlChourouq daily newspaper. She won the Euromed Heritage Journalist Award in 2005.

Antoine B. AJOURY Lebanon Journalist in the Lebanese Frenchspeaking newspaper “L’Orient Le Jour” since 2003 and Head of its International News section since 2008, Mr. Ajoury has contributed to the EU-funded project Eurojar with several articles on cooperation between the European Union and its partner countries in the South of the Mediterranean.

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

Elias ZANANIRI– Occupied Palestinian Territory Mr. Zananiri has 35 years of media experience as a reporter, journalist, editor, teacher/ trainer, radio/TV programme producer, and public relations consultant throughout the Middle East. He is currently the CEO of MAHARAT PR and Media Talents Empowerment, a public relations consulting and media training company he established in the Palestinian Territories in 2005.

Yair QEDAR - Israel As a freelance writer and filmmaker, Mr. Qedar currently writes for various Israeli newspapers including Ha'aretz, Yediot Aharonot, and produces documentary films. He wrote scripts and edited several audiovisual productions and was awarded a special notice of the jury for the Euromed Heritage Journalist Award 2005.

Mohammad BEN HUSSAIN – Jordan Mr. Ben Hussain is the correspondent of the Italian news agency ANSA and ANSAmed in Jordan, where he also works as a TV producer for Thomson Reuters. He also writes in the “Jordan Times” and produces political analysis articles for the “Lang Institute”. Mr. Ben Hussein won the 2007 Natalie Lorenzo award on the Arab world, Israel and Iran.

People

Egyptian youth, 28-year-old Moustapha Makhlouf (C) who works as a receptionist in an oil company is seen strolling at Al Moizz street in Khan al-Khalil, one of his favourite areas in Cairo, Egypt, 14 June 2011. Moustapha took part on various occasions in the Euro-Med Youth Exchanges project. The project EuroMed Youth III aims at fostering mutual understanding and intercultural dialogue among young people in the Euro-Mediterranean region by promoting active citizenship and their sense of solidarity. It promotes concrete activities which include Euro-Med Youth Exchanges , Euro-Med Voluntary Service, and Euro-Med Support Measures, for the development of youth organisations and civil society actors involved in youth work, through cooperation, partnerships, training measures and the exchange of good practices. (Photo by Amel Pain ÂŠEU/Neighbourhood Info Centre)

Cooperation is all about people

Interview with Raﬀaella Iodice Head of Unit, Regional Programmes Neighbourhood South at EuropeAid

Working closely with civil society and cooperation in the areas of human rights, culture, media, youth and gender are at the heart of the EU’s partnership with its Southern Mediterranean Neighbours. “We try to go beyond the one-size-fits-all approach,” says Raﬀaella Iodice, Head of Unit, Regional Programmes Neighbourhood South at EuropeAid, in an interview with the EU Neighbourhood Info Centre.

“We try to go beyond the one-size-fits-all approach” What is the people-to-people approach? e people-to-people approach focuses on defining development strategies that involve the people in our partner countries, on the implementation of projects that benefit local communities, and on monitoring reforms adopted by governments. Establishing a strong partnership with the people, and especially supporting civil society and enhancing exchange, are at the heart of the EU's key neighbourhood strategy documents released in 2011, "A partnership for democracy and shared prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean" and "A new response to a changing Neighbourhood". We have several regional programmes where, for example, journalists, civil society organisations or trade unions gather to discuss democratic reforms, or where grassroots NGOs implement local development initiatives benefiting sections of the population such as youth and women. Development of capacities and transfer of knowledge are key elements of EU cooperation, what do they achieve? Development of human capital remains a priority. We believe that by strengthening people's capacities, we can help them become actors of development, leaders of change and owners of their future. is in turn can maximize the impact of our cooperation in countries that are better prepared to face social, economic or political challenges. Providing support to the right people is a catalyst for a more actively involved population, laying the foundations for inclusive societies. is is all the more important in the Southern Mediterranean, a region marked by growing demographic pressure, with more than 60% of the population under 30. ese young people want to take part in shaping the future of their countries.

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

One of the main sparks of the Arab Spring was the violation of human rights: what is the EU doing to encourage partner countries to strengthen and respect fundamental freedoms? Human rights and democracy are key elements for good governance and for sustainable development. ey are guiding principles for all the EU’s actions, a fundamental pillar of the renewed European Neighbourhood Policy. e Arab Spring demonstrated once more that freedom cannot be suppressed and that the EU needs to support people in their call for those same freedoms that we in Europe take for granted. In this respect the EU has a proud tradition of support for countries in transition, which has been channelled mainly through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). We also recently joined up with the Council of Europe, the human rights watchdog, and launched an ambitious programme to support democratic transition in the Southern Mediterranean, especially in the field of independence of judiciary and the fight against corruption. But as we can see, each country is evolving in a diﬀerent way, and the tensions between calls for change and forces of resistance remain largely unresolved. e narrative of the Arab Spring is not yet written. It is not enough to overthrow a despotic regime; progress in democracy and human rights takes time, and is closely linked to

“We believe that by strengthening people's capacities, we can help them become actors of development, leaders of change and owners of their future.” 13

each country's particular situation. In the end the process of democratisation can only be driven by internal forces. e EU has significantly increased its support to civil society: in which ways are these projects achieving results? Civil society has emerged as an important driver for change. Vibrant civil societies are vital to democratic states. And in some countries where there is little prospect of engaging with national or local authorities, as in Syria where cooperation with the government has been suspended since May 2011, civil society organisations become the only possible channel for cooperation. It's all the more important then for the EU to engage with civil society organisations so that they participate in the decision-making process and the implementation of development programmes. A practical example of our commitment is the Neighbourhood Civil Society Facility set up in 2011. Its main goal is to reinforce civil society organisations, to allow them to be real actors of democratisation by boosting their contribution to policy-making and developing their advocacy, networking and monitoring capacities. e first phase 2011 focused on gathering more information on the needs of these organisations, and enhancing their capacities to promote reform and increase accountability. Now, in the second phase 2012-2103, with a two-year budget of €22 million for the south, the Civil Society Facility is tackling broader objectives, aiming to enhance the involvement of civil society organisations in the policy-making process, and to strengthen their role as watchdogs. Finally, it's important to mention our support to the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), which aims to help those actors of change facing obstacles in access to EU funding. It will oﬀer a rapid and flexible funding mechanism, in particular for those who operate in a very uncertain political context. is will be the added value of the EED: to encourage “deep and sustainable democracy” in transition countries and societies struggling for democratisation complementing the on-going support through already existing instruments such as the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), Instrument for Stability (IFS), non-State Actors and Local Authorities (NSA-LA thematic programme) and the Civil Society Facility.

“ese young people want to take part in shaping the future of their countries.” e role of media is evolving fast in the Southern Mediterranean: what does the EU do to support press freedom and quality journalism? 2011 saw radical changes in the way the media functions in the region, at the same time as a growing role for 'citizen journalists' disseminating online news. With our current regional project Media Neighbourhood, we support media through training and networking among journalists, editors and owners. Our goal is to strengthen professional journalistic capacity across the Neighbourhood, more specifically in the areas of media independence and online media, but also to increase awareness of media ethics, and impartial investigative reporting. Over three years, the project will hold 108 events, involving 1260 journalists and 500 journalism students. At the same time, we need to address the institutional framework. To support the process of media transformation we are launching a new regional programme, "Media and Culture for Development in the Mediterranean region", which will work to reinforce the capacities and networking of media regulators, while supporting a gradual shift of public media from State-controlled propaganda tool to a reliable source of balanced information. What are the challenges in your support to gender equality in the region? e changes sweeping the region present real opportunities for women to push for their rights. Yet there is also a risk of regression. Recent history painfully reminds us that the massive occupation of public space by women during revolutions in no way guarantees their role in the political bodies of the regimes that follow. Although the situation of women varies across the region, threats to their human rights converge. Women are confronting attempts to exclude them from public life, as well as acts of discrimination and violence perpetrated with impunity by extremist groups and security forces. At a time when conservative forces appear to be growing in strength, it is vital that steps are taken to establish equal rights between men and women as the very

foundation of democratic societies. e EU has made commitments to promote gender equality across all actions taken in response to the Arab awakening. Indeed, beyond its direct support, the European Commission has mainstreamed gender issues in all its programmes, notably in programmes dealing with topics such as human rights, education, youth or justice. Total EU support to gender issues for the southern Mediterranean currently amounts to €75 million, of which €63 million in bilateral support and €12 million at regional level. Indeed, the EU recently adopted a €7 million regional programme focused on political and economic empowerment of women in the region, which aims at helping marginalized women gain greater access to economic and public life. Why is the cultural sector important for the region and what are the perspectives for the future in this sector? We have been supporting the cultural sector for many years through two main programmes: Euromed Audiovisual and Euromed Heritage. Besides its role in intercultural dialogue, culture is also an important vector of economic development, and contributes to freedom of all kinds of expression. e support we have been providing over the past 15 years is widely acknowledged by civil society organisations as having encouraged them to make their voices heard, even under autocratic regimes. We see heritage in the region as not only limited to pyramids. Euromed Heritage has been encouraging the protection of tangible heritage (from hammams to audiovisual archives) and intangible heritage. is creates not only new potential for tourism and a clear impact on job creation and income generation but also helps local populations appropriate their culture.

Find out more: DG EuropeAid Southern Neighbourhood – Bringing people together EU Neighbourhood Info Centre thematic pages: Audiovisual and Media Civil Society and Local Authorities Culture Gender Youth

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

PEOPLE > OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORΙES

Women seeking freedom and respect ey have been trained and empowered. Today they run small businesses, they manage shoe shops, they even teach aerobics at ladies’ gyms. Palestinian women living in six villages throughout the West Bank were given the chance to set oﬀ on a journey of self-accomplishment. Despite opposition, mainly from members of their own families, they managed to do it. Our journalist has met some of those who decided to take up the challenge and change their life.

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

n Palestinian women from villages around the Hebron area in the southern West Bank

attending the workshop "Women Can Do Change," in Hebron.

RAMALLAH - “I have gained freedom and respect from others […],” says the 27-yearold Palestinian woman Sundus Hasan Ali Halabi. Initially, when she took the decision to enroll in a training course sponsored by the local community centre in her hometown of Beit Rima, she faced a lot of opposition at home, more from her brother than from her own husband. Today, she says, "the situation has improved a lot, and I feel I’m a new person". "My brother said I should not spend even one single day in a shop where men of all ages would pass by every day. He felt very uneasy with the idea. But today, he is a regular customer," adds Sundus. Around 6,000 Palestinians live in the village of Beit Rima, some 30 kilometres northwest of Ramallah. Sundus’s husband suffers from spinal problems that make it difficult for him to work regularly. She decided to share the responsibility of making the money they need to feed their six-year-old child. e Beit Rima Women and Youth Centre offered just the kind of opportunity that she was looking for. e centre had just started a series of training courses aimed at empowering Palestinian women in rural areas. Sundus chose the accountancy management course. A few months later, the centre set up a shoe shop where local women could work. At first, Sundus signed up as a volunteer. In January 2012, she began to receive a monthly salary of approximately one hundred euro per month. Today, Sundus is no longer the housebound woman she once was. She looks different and she feels better. "e salary is not

PEOPLE > OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORΙES

“I enjoy every moment at the centre. I feel I serve my people in general and the women of my town in particular” much," she says. "But we are just at the beginning. And from a personal and social perspective, I feel I have accomplished something,” she adds. Six centres set up throughout the West Bank With funds from the European Union and in partnership with the Florencebased Italian Cooperation for Development of Emerging Countries (Cooperazione per lo Sviluppo dei Paesi Emergenti, COSPE) and the Palestinian Youth Union in the occupied Palestinian Territory, six community centres have been set up throughout the West Bank. Their goal is to train young people and women to run income-generating projects that can become sustainable without donor funds. The centres are located in the rural towns of Beit Rima, Mazare' Alnobani, Silwad, Deir Istya, Kobar and Aboud, all close to the West Bank separation barrier or surrounded by settlements. The shoe shop is one of the

n Only women can attend the activities held in this Centre

established activities, together with two women-only gyms, where young people from the community centres were trained to become instructors. Now girls are free to go there to exercise or to attend aerobic courses. For the moment the revenue generated pays for the costs of running the activities and the trainers’ salaries but, in the near future, the centres hope to generate further income to support other activities. COSPE representative in Palestine Chiara Carmignani spends most of her time shuttling between the six centres. She meets beneficiaries and coordinates with centre administrators.“Yes, we face

n Palestinian women doing Aerobics at Al-Amal Woman Fitness Gym Centre in the West Bank village of Kaubar, north of Ramallah

a lot of challenges, we have to overcome difficulties of all sorts, but I feel the impact of what we do, I see change coming true. And that is incredibly satisfying”. COSPE has been working in close cooperation with the Palestinian Youth Union (PYU), which was founded early in the 1990s. Rawan Amria, in charge of the PYU's Ramallah office, says that the Union was set up to address the needs of young Palestinian at a time when society as a whole was in the midst of the first Palestinian uprising. Rawan, who holds an MA degree in Applied Anthropology in Community and Youth Work from London, is happy with what she does. “It is not a matter of how much you earn for a living as much as what you achieve for others,” she says. English, computer and management courses In cooperation with the PYU, COSPE carried out a number of needs assessment studies to identify what is useful for the local community. As a result, the Mazare’ Alnobani Centre has organized a 30-hour conversation course in English for youths who were trained in how to communicate with English-speaking foreign donors who support various projects in rural areas. It has also organized computer skills and project management courses and has set up a special programme to empower high school students as they sit for their matriculation exams. Finally, the centre has set up a karate course and a one-day entertainment programme for children. e Beit Rima Community Centre has opted to set up a number of workshops on project management, children's nutrition and public health. is has also worked well, partly because, although there are many centres in the village of Beit Rima

“It is not a matter of how much you earn for a living as much as what you achieve for others” Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

PEOPLE > OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORΙES

n The Community Centre in Beit Rima has set up a shoe shop, where women can work

that provide services in the fields of agriculture and public services, there are none that focus on women or children. Muna Rimawi is the coordinator of the local community centre, which is fully furnished, has a library and six computers. Muna, who holds a BA degree in political science, has worked as a volunteer at the centre since 2006. She is a consultant in a nearby girls’ school for extracurricular activities. She is full of energy and in a hurry to finish the interview because she has to rush to another appointment. But she has enough time to convey her key message. “I enjoy every moment at the centre. I feel I serve my people in general and the women of my town in particular,” she says. “I gain pleasure when women finish their courses and start a new job or

business. For me, it is a moment of deep gratification. For them, it is a moment of triumph,” she concludes. Text by Elias Zananiri Photos by EPA and COSPE ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

“Yes, we face a lot of challenges, we have to overcome diﬃculties of all sorts, but I feel the impact of what we do, I see change coming true. And that is incredibly satisfying”

Youth and women empowerment in the West Bank and the rural areas through Community Centres To strengthen social cohesion and democracy processes in the oPt through enhancing women and youth role as agents of social change Participating countries Occupied Palestinian Territory Timeframe: 2010 - 2012 Budget: €317,107.88 Objective: To encourage the self promotion of women and youth and contribute to build a more equitable and democratic society through the strengthening of 6 community centres in 6 rural villages in West Bank Find out more: Gender Equality: West Bank, Gaza & the EU http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/westbank/documents/news/20110304_investinginpeople_en.pdf Civil Society and Local authorities: ENPI Thematic portal http://www.enpiinfo.eu/thememed.php?subject=14 ENPI Photo Gallery http://www.enpiinfo.eu/list_images_med.php?id=661&iden=661

n The Beit Rima Community Centre started training courses for Palestinian women

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

PEOPLE > JORDAN

Listening to what the young have to say EU Youth programmes build bridges over the Mediterranean. Raed Ghareeb, from Amman, Jordan, became an instructor in conflict resolution after joining a Euro- Med Programme, and today he has established an NGO focusing on youth needs. Every year, thousands of young people from both shores of the Mediterranean meet and learn from each other. e network they build is our hope for the future of Euro-Mediterranean relations.

n Students at the University of Jordan

AMMAN - “There are so many countries in Europe that suffered from decades of unrest due to social and religious differences, before making Europe what it is today. There is a chance to learn from them, and we must grab it.” Through the window of his office, in Western Amman, Raed Ghareeb – an old participant in a Euro-Med Youth Exchange Programme and a youth activist – sees a future where young fellow countrymen take a leading role in helping steer Jordan through a myriad of political and economic challenges. Ghareeb has established an NGO called “Bouthour” (seeds) focused on young men: “ I noticed the absence of programmes to absorb university students,” he says, “and I thought I would create something based on conflict resolution, a skill I mastered after joining the EuroMed Programme.” The Euro-Med Youth Programme – funded by the European Commission to the tune of €5 million for the period 2010-2013 – aims at encouraging mutual comprehension among young people in the Euro-Mediterranean region, fighting stereotypes and prejudices and promoting active citizenship. It also seeks to contribute to the development of youth policies in the Mediterranean area. Youth exchange, training programmes, voluntary services are carried out through the Euro-Med region 18

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

PEOPLE > JORDAN

“Many countries in Europe suﬀered from decades of unrest, before making Europe what it is today. ere is a chance to learn from them, and we must grab it”

targeting young people and national organizations. This is the fourth Youth programme financed by the EU: in the last decade, thousands of young people from both shores of the Mediterranean have benefited from this experience, which changes forever the life of those who attend it – as happened to Raed Ghareeb, who became an instructor in conflict resolution, believing men and women from all shores of the Mediterranean need to be exposed to a culture of dialogue, tolerance, respect for human rights. They need to learn to fight xenophobia and stereotypes. Rising social violence among youth Ghareeb belongs to a country where society knows what tolerance for diversity means. For years, stable Jordan

n Participants in the EU funded Youth Programme

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

played a key role in absorbing wave after wave of immigrants who fled their countries in search of safety, Circassians, Armenians and Chechens at the start of the 20th century, followed by Palestinians, Lebanese and now Iraqis. Dozens of Jordanian tribes add to the complexity of this society, which has become a melting pot of races and religions. Today Jordan is grappling with an acute economic problem that has been compounded by lack of energy resources and a volatile political situation in surrounding countries. Even worse is the rising phenomenon of social violence among young people, who make up 70 per cent of the population. In a study released by a university student group called “Thabahtouna” (You killed us), at least 37 clashes involving thousands of students broke out during 2010, leading

to the death of one university student and the injury of dozens others. Some experts say lack of youth-targeting policies could be the underlying reason for this phenomenon. Empowering the young But government officials say their policy is to tap into the full potential of young men and women to face global economic meltdown and growing extremism. In fact, the EU-funded Youth programme has been embraced by Jordan as a unique opportunity to fulfil a policy to empower the young, and to create common grounds with fellow young Europeans. Ali Bibi, advisor to the Minister of political development and director of the Euromed Youth programme III, has no doubt about it: “It is crucial to build a strategy to utilize the capability of our youth to continue the kingdom’s reform drive,” he says. “Since the establishment of the Ministry of political development, we initiated dialogue with all segments of the society, specially the youth, in order to have their voice heard.” One of the organizations who have applied to benefit from the fourth phase of the exchange programme starting in 2011, is the al Hayat Centre, run by Amer

“Youth in the Middle East and even North Africa have been overlooked by politicians. is programme is an instrument to grant them power” 19

PEOPLE > JORDAN

Ms Galal says such programmes could mean a new beginning for young people from this region. “We have so many cases where beneficiaries developed to become instructors and established their own exchange programmes by building networks with fellow EU participants.”

“As we grow closer to the EU in terms of political agreements, people from both sides also need to be directly involved in this improving relation, otherwise all agreements are meaningless”

Text by Mohammad Ben Hussein Photos by Al Hayat Centre, Mohammad Ben Hussein ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre n Amer Bani Amer

Bani Amer who says lessons learned from youth exchange programmes are priceless. “As we grow closer to the EU in terms of political agreements, people from both sides also need to be directly involved in this improving relation, otherwise all agreements are meaningless,” says Bani Amer, whose organization hosted a group of EU youth activists in a project titled “Sustainable development”. Through his programme, Bani Amer says activists were able to identify some of the most important environmental challenges that face Jordan, including

drought, pollution and other issues little known to European counterparts. “If we need people to help us, they should first know about our problems,” he concludes. Former programme manager in Jordan Dua’a Qurie, as well as the new team leader, Ms Gehad Galal, agree that the exchange programme has helped transform the lives of many people. “Youth in the Middle East and even North Africa have been overlooked by politicians. The programme is an instrument to grant them power,” says Qurie, who herself started as a youth exchange beneficiary.

EuroMed Youth IV http://www.euromedyouth.net/ Supports and strengthens the participation and contribution of youth organisations and youth from the Euro-Mediterranean region to the development of society and democracy, and promotes dialogue and understanding Participating countries Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia Timeframe: 2010 - 2013

n Participants in the EU funded Youth Programme

Budget: €5 million Aims: The programme aims at stimulating and encouraging a mutual comprehension among youth in the Euro-Mediterranean region, fighting stereotypes and prejudices and enhancing the sense of solidarity among youth by promoting active citizenship. It also seeks to contribute to the development of youth policies in the Mediterranean Partner Countries. Find out more: Euro-Med Youth IV, fiche and news http://www.enpiinfo.eu/mainmed.php?id=53&id_type=10 EU Neighbourhood Info Centre Youth webpage http://www.enpiinfo.eu/thememed.php?subject=13

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

PEOPLE > EGYPT

I have learned to be a fullyfledged citizen n Student Iman Gamal has taken part in the Euromed Youth Programme

Youth attending the Youth Development Centre (YDC), barely aged 30 or a bit less, aspire to become ‘citizens at home’. ey take refuge in the development field and the informal education methods which have been acquired through the European programme EUROMED Youth among others.

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

CAIRO – Here, people meet in every sense of the word. Dreams take flight in the modest premises of the YDC (the acronym originally referred to the Youth Development Centre), located in the Cairo suburb of Madinet Nasr. People feel at ease, working or studying all day, and come in the evening to chill out and forget about the paper-thin walls youth are forced to live behind. e blowing wind flutters all over the place. Ahmad Gamal, one of the six founders who established the centre about eight years ago, gladly helps anyone he can to think diﬀerently about their future and rediscover their true self. In the early morning, he is ‘the proud software developer’, hopping from one multinational company to another, always choosing ‘whichever pays him most’. In the evening, at irregular intervals, he oﬀers advice to those attending the centre, such as 28 year-old Mustapha Makhlouf, to whom he suggests to explore his artistic talents and give up his job as a receptionist

in an oil company. It is his hobby to show others how to assess their own skills and competencies. A world unfolding before your eyes Both young men have known each other for a while now, at the time when Mustapha wanted to participate, through the YDC, in the exchange programme proposed by the European programme Euromed Youth back in 2004: "`e first thing that drew me to this centre was the idea to be able to meet people I had never met before, and travel… since I had already begun exchanging letters with foreigners when I was still a teenager". ereafter, it is a whole new world which has opened up to Mustapha. In Estonia, he learned to communicate with others, even if they did not speak the same language; "mimicking and making signs were rather fun", says Mustapha, referring to the informal education programme he 21

PEOPLE > EGYPT

“Euromed Youth programmes are a good way to start. We implement a project during seven to ten days with the help of our Mediterranean partners”

n Egyptian Iman Gamal (R), her brother Ahmad Gamal (centre) and Moustapha Makhlouf (left) preapre to

leave after speaking about their respective experiences taking part in the Euro-Med Youth Exchanges project during an interview at the Youth Development Centre

“Six years ago, I launched an e-group: Euromed for youth. Today, the group has over 2300 associations which have become members without making the slightest eﬀort”

attended in Estonia which showcases the ‘harmony between the North and the South". rough Peace bag, another programme in Barcelona, he played the role of the peacekeeper to make peace with those around him. His travels took him many times to Turkey, a country which appealed to him with ‘its mosques, muezzin chanting, and totally western

feel’. It is exactly this inextricable mix which attracted him the most, but also made him feel quite jealous. Indeed, the country ranks fourteenth on the list of countries attracting the highest number of tourists. Egypt is not there yet; and he feels sorry about that. An idea comes to his mind at this point: to create a guide that would help promote tourism in Egypt through other means, by far more artistic and original. In the meantime, he keeps the details for himself, and continues volunteering for the centre, which is not only limited to Euromed exchange activities. According to Ahmad

n Egyptian youth, 28 years old Moustapha Makhlouf who works as a receptionist in an oil company

poses for a photograph at Al Moizz street in Khan al-Khalil, one of his favourite areas in Cairo.

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

PEOPLE > EGYPT

“It is especially the class B, rather than the A Premium one, which participates in these types of activities. Information circulates by word of mouth, and we recruit among our network” joined the Euromed Youth programme

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

Text by Dalia Chams Photos by Amel Pain ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

EuroMed Youth IV http://www.euromedyouth.net/

n Master student Iman Gamal, who

and his friends, these activities are a stepping stone to further their involvement in civil society and human development initiatives. ‘During our fourth year at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Al-Azhar University, six of us benefited from a European fund of 35,000 Euros to manage a culture-based storytelling programme within the framework of our student activities’, underlines Gamal. is was back in 2002. e following year, six veterans or ‘old hands’, as he refers to them, decided to create their own NGO, Development without Borders, and the YDC is currently one of its members. ‘We had gained confidence once we succeeded in managing a 35 million Euro fund! Euromed Youth programmes are a good way to start. We implement a project during seven to ten days with the help of our Mediterranean partners. Six years ago, I launched an egroup: Euromed for youth. Today, the group has over 2300 associations which have become members without making the slightest eﬀort’, says Gamal, who is very involved in this initiative, as well as his sister Iman who, in addition to pursuing a Masters in Radiology, is also giving free courses on political awareness raising by using the same informal learning methods, which have already

skills. Unlike their references, each one of them expresses the same idea in his own way: people are no longer confined to a secluded world, or as Iman Gamal rightly puts it, standing next to her brother who is saying his prayer, ‘I have learned to be a fully-fledged citizen’. Indeed, they all showed up in Tahrir square.

been acquired through exchange programmes.

A world similar to the bloggers’ world Here, people feel as if they are living in a development bubble; youth have withdrawn into their shells to open up to the rest of the world and coach each other, without thinking of leaving. A world similar to the bloggers’ world where youth have existed on their own behind closed doors since 2005, where their elders would not even dare set foot. It was a convenient getaway for a young population which has been disregarded by the former regime, despite its huge electoral weight (about 35,5% of inhabitants, with an unemployment rate of 14,5% for those aged between 15 and 29). ‘It is especially the class B, rather than the A Premium one, which participates in these types of activities. Information circulates by word of mouth, and we recruit among our network’, says twenty-eight year old Mohamad Attia. A marketing executive working for various important companies, he has not had the time to participate in any of the exchange programmes for the past two years, but he continues to oﬀer free training to those wishing to enter the job market, without having the necessary

Supports and strengthens the participation and contribution of youth organisations and youth from the Euro-Mediterranean region to the development of society and democracy, and promotes dialogue and understanding Participating countries Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia Timeframe: 2010 - 2013 Budget: €5 million Aims: The programme aims at stimulating and encouraging a mutual comprehension among youth in the Euro-Mediterranean region, fighting stereotypes and prejudices and enhancing the sense of solidarity among youth by promoting active citizenship. It also seeks to contribute to the development of youth policies in the Mediterranean Partner Countries. It follows on from the Euromed Youth III programme carried out from 2005-2009. Find out more: EU Neighbourhood Info Centre project fiche > http://www.enpiinfo.eu/mainmed.php?id=307&id_type=10& lang_id=450 Thematic portal: Youth > http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php? subject=13&lang_id=450

PEOPLE > MOROCCO

A computer network for the scientific community

n Students in the laboratory: their computers are connected to the European network

Nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, and radiology: the usage potential of the computation grid for Eumedgrid scientific research – and of the Moroccan interface MaGrid – is immeasurable. anks to this network, Moroccan scientists are connected to all the education and research centres across Europe. e concept is simple: everyone can share his or her data, and can benefit from collaborative research projects and their advances. e research into new applications for this valuable tool has only just started. RABAT- Today, we are surrounded by thousands of computer networks. e one that the European Commission has made available to Moroccan researchers is a rather special network: it connects Moroccan scientists to all education and research centres across Europe. Eumedgrid – the computation grid for scientific research – is a powerful tool pioneered in 24

the framework of the European project Eumedconnect. is initiative has produced a human network in the escience sector. In practice, Eumedgrid enables researchers in Mediterranean countries to connect with each another. It encourages the development of national education and research networks in Mediterranean

countries, and ultimately accelerates the rate of development of the Internet in the Mediterranean region. “Eumedconnect is operational in all areas related to the processing and sharing of data in the scientific field,” explains Professor Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli. “Analysing results in this field requires very fast connections between the research laboratories. Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

PEOPLE > MOROCCO

n Prof Cherkaoui

This led to the concept of a computation grid to facilitate the sharing of materials. Furthermore, this network allows us to use data in a rational and democratic way.” Morocco joins the Atlas collaboration Professor Cherkaoui El Moursli is a corresponding member of the Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology and a member of the ATLAS collaboration at the LHC, the world’s largest particle accelerator. She explains that Morocco was chosen as it is well suited to participating in this scientific experiment. It was a pioneer on a continental scale in several research disciplines and actively involved in cutting-edge projects. “Since 1996– continues Cherkaoui – Morocco has oﬃ-

cially been a member of the Atlas collaboration at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, which is one of the largest and most respected scientific laboratories in the world. Morocco’s admission to this initiative, following a unanimous vote involving over 148 research centres from 33 countries, is the result of high level work undertaken by a number of Moroccan scientists prior to 1996.” e skills gateway High Energy Physics Network (RUPHE) is the Moroccan organisation in charge of the Atlas programme. RUPHE is directly under the of the authority of the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education, Professional Training and Scientific Research, as well as the National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), the institution which coordinates research in Morocco. Eumedconnect has provided this centre with a huge computer network with a bandwidth of 34 megabits. is figure will be revised upwards to reach 155 megabits. A team of software engineers at this centre is responsible for managing the network. e Moroccan grid MaGrid has been operational since 2006, following the launch of the first site at CNRST.

MaGrid, a Moroccan grid with multiple uses The grid is available to universities and higher education and research institutions as a means to improving their computation resources and storage capacity. MaGrid is connected to the Euro-Mediterranean grid Eumedgrid and to the European grid EGEE. The computer cluster (consisting of several connected servers) at CNRST has been approved for the analysis of ATLAS

“e concept of a computation grid to facilitate the sharing of materials. is network allows us to use data in a rational and democratic way”

“Eumedconnect is operational in all areas related to the processing and sharing of data in the scientific field. Analysing results in this field requires very fast connections between the research laboratories” n A Moroccan student, who works on the ATLAS project

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

PEOPLE > MOROCCO

n Prof Cherkaoui together with Abdelkrim Bougouza, director of the Internet centre

session will be run by CNRST in order to create small hubs in every university. Engineers will train researchers on using the grid. The search for new applications for Eumedconnect is closely linked to Moroccan scientific research. Text and photos by Hicham Houdaïfa ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

EUMEDCONNECT2 www.eumedconnect2.net

data in the framework of a cooperation project between CSIC (Spain) and CNRST. MaGrid is also used by researchers in different fields, but mainly by two groups: high-energy physics and theoretical chemistry. Through this practice, Moroccan researchers gain internationally recognised certificates. Moroccan researchers working on the ATLAS project regularly use the computation

“Among these students, there are some who choose to undertake high-level research. And this is where Eumedconnect can be an advantage”

grid, which gives them access to resources at leading computing centres in developed countries. Several other researchers and institutions will start using MaGrid in order to reduce investment and harmonise computation tools on a large scale. “Today, we are trying to create a similar infrastructure to support medical physics applications,” aﬃrms Professor El Moursli. “In Rabat, we initially had a request from the National Institute of Oncology to provide a masters course in medical physics. Medical physicists have been trained to work in hospitals, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and radiology. Successful candidates are likely to be employed in a sector that suﬀers from a huge lack of skills. Among these students, some choose to undertake high-level research. And this is where Eumedconnect can be an advantage,” explains our researcher. It is clear that in the field of research, changes happen quickly. Thanks to Eumedconnect, Morocco can keep abreast of these developments. Today, dozens of doctoral students and academics use this network. And it will go further still. Next June, a training

EUMEDCONNECT2 is a partnership project between the scientific research communities of institutions in seven countries in the Mediterranean and a number of countries in North Africa. Through a network of circuits connecting the diﬀerent institutions, the countries are able to share data, documents and experiments in all areas. EUMEDCONNECT2 allows approximately two million users in around 700 institutions across North Africa and the Middle East to collaborate with their peers at more than 4000 research and education establishments in Europe Participating countries Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia Timeframe: 2008-2010 Budget: €4 million Aims: The project aims to strengthen and support the cooperation between Europe and the Mediterranean partner countries in the fields of research and education. Its goal is to ensure the long-term stability of the Internet infrastructure established by EUMEDCONNECT 1 in 2004. It also aims to establish a sustainable support network that will help to reduce the digital divide between the countries and further improve cooperation. Find out more: A new high-capacity Internet network for research and education > http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php? id=21187&id_type=1&lang_id=450 Information society, news and features > http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php? subject=7&lang_id=469

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

PEOPLE > ALGERIA

Embroidery, painting, and computer science: overcoming social exclusion for a better life For three years, Handicap International Algeria and the Algerian Federation of Disabled Persons have implemented an EU-funded inclusive local development programme as ‘a solution to fight against the social exclusion of the disabled’. Eighteen associations have participated in this programme by developing actions and mechanisms to fight against the social marginalization of disabled persons.

ALGIERS – Zaatra is a large village a short distance from the seaside town of Zemmouri. Algiers is only around 70 kilometres away, no more than an hour and a half by car. "When you reach the bus station, turn left, then drive uphill and follow the avenue which will lead you to the town square." Kamel Foul, President of the El-Fejr (Dawn, in Arabic) Association, is waiting for us in front of the grey gate of the sports hall where his Association has its headquarters. Seen from the outside, the building is far from impressive. Inside however, the place is a real hive of activity. "e Association was created in 2004 with the aim of providing support to young people at the social, educational, cultural and recreational levels. ere was a strong demand from

the inhabitants of the village and even from those living in neighbouring towns. e initiative garnered immediate success," added Mr. Kamel Foul. Raising awareness At the beginning, the association launched activity programmes for women and children living in rural areas. However, volunteers eventually identified diﬃculties facing people with disabilities. "It was a real awareness raising experience. We noticed that this particular social group is not only marginalized but also completely neglected. For some families, having a disabled person at home is a source of shame, a flaw which should be hidden from others by all means," emphasized the President of the Association.

n Nursery classes run by the El Fedjr Association of Zaatra

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

PEOPLE > ALGERIA

"It was a real awareness raising experience. We noticed that this particular social group is not only marginalized but also completely neglected. For some families, having a disabled person at home is a source of shame…" El Fedjr volunteers have no time for prejudice. ey provide support to disabled persons to try to break their isolation, by encouraging them to participate in educational and cultural activities with other ‘able’ persons. Without realizing it, the Association has been implementing the spirit of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, more specifically its provisions relating to social integration and inclusion. is key document was signed by Algeria in March 2007 and ratified in 2009. It reflects the country’s active engagement and has been encouraging the El-Fedjr Association to participate, since 2008, in the “Inclusive local development programme, as a solution to fight against the social exclusion of disabled persons", jointly implemented by Handicap International Algeria and the Algerian Federation of Disabled Persons (AFDP), and supported by the European Union. Consultation e El Fedjr Association is just one of the many associations supported by the project, which covers various regions in Algeria. e same methods were implemented in 6 wilayas (provinces) and in each one of them, various actions were included in the programme. Some are directly aimed at members of associations to enable them to build their capacity in terms of organization and mobilization for the benefit of disabled persons. "We have completely revised our working 28

n Meeting of the Association’s members

methods and put in place new mechanisms. e first important stage consisted in performing an assessment in order better to understand the environment and needs of each disabled person. is local assessment was a necessary step towards collecting precise data on disabled persons living in our region," noted Mr. Kamel Foul. Consultation with local authorities, by setting up a local consultation committee, and particularly with the services of the Municipality of Zemmouri, has facilitated the establishment of a ‘Socialization Space’, which helps break the barriers of isolation facing disabled persons. Socialization Ms. Nawel Labehri volunteers for the Association. Every Tuesday, she helps to organise activities within the socialization space. "I stop by the homes of the members of the group, and bring them to the Association’s headquarters on board a bus provided by the Association. eir families trust me, mostly because I am a woman. What I find hard to believe is that, when the programme was first launched, they were all very shy and introvert. In just a few weeks, it had all changed. Today, they are much more open." Many activities are implemented within the socialization space to develop the individual abilities of participants and facilitate their social integration. At the headquarters of El Fejdr, participants can

choose to enrol in literacy and computer classes or learn sewing, embroidery, silk painting and pottery. Trips are also organized throughout the year. Integration El Fedjr is also involved in training and education. With the help of the Association, some members of the group have enrolled in a specialized centre in Corso, a city located a few kilometers from Zaatra. Even better, a self-employment initiative to facilitate economic integration was also launched. Mr. Ahmed Khelifi - one of the many beneficiaries of this project - was able to buy a flock of sheep. "With the help of this programme, we were able to receive a grant of 75,000 dinars (around €720) to fund a small economic project. With this amount, young Ahmed Khelifi was able to

"is programme was a success as it supports associations through accompanying measures. Executives usually follow theoretical training but they rarely have the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice" Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

PEOPLE > ALGERIA

purchase 3 goats and 3 sheep in April 2010. e experience was a success as the livestock grew considerably. In fact, Ahmed should be able to pay back the loan in a few months," explains the President of the El Fejdr Association. e Inclusive Social Development programme, jointly run by Handicap International and the Algerian Federation of Disabled Persons (AFDP), has enabled the launch of various other economic integration projects. For instance in Taghit, a city located in the Bechar wilaya (province), about a 1,000 kilometres South West of Algiers, the El Wyam (Concord) Association created a craft shop. "e craft shop, which is in fact a socialization space, helps train young people on craft activities. We teach them how to make decorative bottles with desert sand. ese items are then sold to shops as tourist souvenirs. We are pleased because it works rather well," noted Mr. Cherif Abdenacer, President of the Al Wyam association, at the meeting, which marked the closure of the inclusive social development programme. Accompanying measures is meeting, held in Algiers on 23 March, provided a comprehensive assessment of the activities implemented within the framework of the programme. Since 2008, the capacities of the AFDP have been enhanced, and a national association to defend the rights of disabled persons formed. Actions launched by 18 associations aﬃliated to AFDP have enabled 200 persons with disabilities in 6 wilayas (Algiers, Medea, Ghradaia, Bechar, Jijel, and Constantine) to benefit

n Kamel Foul, President of the El n Xavier Duvauchelle, Director of

Fedjr Association of Zaatra

the programme at Handicap International Algeria

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

"Socialization spaces represent an immediate tangible solution to overcome the diﬃcult access of persons with disabilities to available services" from accompanying measures so they can regain their autonomy. In total, 13 socialization spaces were created in cooperation with local administrations. "We are certain that this programme was a success, as it supports associations through accompanying measures. Executives usually follow theoretical training but they rarely have the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice," explains Mr. Boufekroune Ahcene, the first Vice-President of the AFDP who is responsible for ensuring follow-up on the inclusive social development programme. For his part, Mr. Xavier Duvauchelle, Programme Director at Handicap International Algeria, considers it necessary to enhance cooperation among the actors involved to fight all forms of social exclusion. "Launching local development programmes is a new initiative in Algeria. e main problem remains the lack of inclusive measures and services. Moreover, it is very important to make this approach comprehensive. In this regard, associations can play a key role, since they are able to guarantee that the rights of disabled persons are respected, and that they are targeted by all measures and services. In addition, they can play an important role in accompanying and guiding disabled persons but also in advising local authorities, businesses, and public institutions responsible for delivering these services. In this context, socialization spaces represent an immediate tangible solution to overcome the diﬃcult access of persons with disabilities to available services. Furthermore, local consultation committees which have been

established within the framework of the project should also be replicated given their important role as an eﬀective tool to ensure cooperation and consultation between associations and public authorities." Text by Tarik Hafid Photos by Samir Sid ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

Inclusive local development: a solution to the fight against the social exclusion of persons with disabilities Through this project, public authorities take into account the specific needs of persons with disabilities in their policy-making process; and persons with disabilities acquire the means to become fully-fledged citizens, and are thus able to participate in all aspects of social life and the development of their communities Timeframe: 2008 - 2011 Budget: €750,000 Budget: Specific objective An improved structure and better awareness of the issue of persons with disabilities will enable associations which are members of the FAHM network to develop inclusive actions and services in partnership with other local actors for the benefit of persons with disabilities. Implementing partners: Handicap International (France) ; Algerian Federation of Persons with Motor Disabilities Fédération des Associations des Handicapés Moteurs (FAHM) –Algiers Find out more: Handicap International > http://www.handicap-international.fr/ Delegation of the European Union in Algeria > http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/algeria/in dex_fr.htm EU Neighbourhood Info Centre thematic portal – Civil society and local authorities > http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php? subject=14&lang_id=450

Libya does not need cash, what it needs is expertise

Walkabout in Tripoli. Catherine Ashton meeting children in Tripoli (Photo by EEAS © European Union)

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

Interview with Andrew Jacobs and Fabienne Bessonne Geographical coordination Neighbourhood South at EuropeAid

What is the EU doing to help the Libyan people build a democratic country? One of the main elements needed to develop democracy and stabilise a country is civil society, something addressed by a large share of our portfolio of projects in Libya. We are also very keen to help build up public administration in Libya. A functioning democracy must have a functioning public administration, where people can live according to the rule of law and have access to public services. So, while we are working with civil society we are at the same time providing support to build up these public institutions, which, under the Gaddafi regime, did not function as they do in most countries. What is the situation like for civil society in Libya and how is the EU contributing in this area? Libya is a very new country for European civil society organisations and a terra incognita for international development partners. Libyan NGOs are atypical, there are not many of them and most of them are not structured. at’s why we are supporting them. We have already launched seven civil society programmes and have recently organised the EU Libya Civil Society Forum both in Tripoli and Benghazi to improve mutual knowledge of EU and Libyan civil society organisations. is Forum was successful and gathered in total more than 300 Libyan and 30 European civil society organizations. e exchange of ideas was fruitful and some new partnerships are being developed. What is the top priority for EU cooperation in Libya? Our main priority, which we share with other international partners, is to help Libyans understand what they need to do in order to establish a normal, functioning democratic society. It’s true that we have money to spend in Libya but Libya doesn’t really need cash. What Libya needs is expertise. We need to use the money available so that it can act as a catalyst to help the government take action to get the country back to normal. We work on two tracks. e first track is to address immediate

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

needs with ad hoc support while the second is to develop needs assessments for medium term changes.

real reforms will take more time to be achieved but we are confident that the Libyans will respond eﬀectively to the challenge.

How does this translate on the ground? We currently have 12 programmes running in Libya for a total amount of €30 million and an additional €50 million has been allocated for 2012-2013 under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). is is in addition to €2 million under the Non-state Actors and Local Authorities programme (NSA) and €1 million under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). We work in four priority areas. e first is support for the transition process (public administration, civil society, security reform and the rule of law). e second priority is the development of the quality of human capital (children, young unemployed people and health). e third is Migration (rights of foreign migrants in Libya and Libyan migrants abroad). Economic and Social Development is also a priority but activities in this field will only start in 2013 with support for trade facilitation, private sector development and SMEs.

Is Libya now fully participating in ENPI cooperation programmes? Yes, Libya is benefiting from ENPI bilateral cooperation. Regarding regional programmes, we were very keen to open them up for Libya's participation in order to normalise our relations with Libya in the framework of our regional relations with southern neighbours. Libya is now being invited to take part in all regional cooperation programmes, some activities have already started, like inter-universities cooperation with the Tempus programme, others will be developed in the near future, depending on the availability of the Libyan counterparts. Libya can also take advantage of TAIEX, an instrument through which technical assistance can be exchanged. Libya is also eligible for funding under the thematic lines. In the second half of 2012 we will launch the first call for proposals for the support of Libyan civil society organizations.

What is the expected impact? And when do you think it will be felt on the ground? Some projects will have direct results benefiting beneficiaries in the short term, like our €2.4 million programme for getting children back to school and providing psychological and social support to children and teachers who are having to deal with the consequences of the conflict. Another example is the vocational training programme in cooperation with the European Training Foundation (ETF) to address the immediate needs of the young unemployed. Another is the €10 million migrations programme to ensure that the needs of foreign migrants in Libya and Libyan migrants in Tunisia and Egypt are met. We also expect the civil society programmes to generate concrete results soon such that they can really start to play their role in terms of holding the government to account and acting as a watchdog. However, democratic transition and

How is the EU’s action in Libya perceived on the ground? e perception of it is positive and there is considerable interest in exchanging experience and building partnership. However, for the moment we lack visibility in the country and we need to work on that to promote our activities to a larger public. is is also linked to the lack of a functional media that can get messages through to the citizens. We are providing support to the media, especially in the run up to the elections, through a training programme for journalists on their work in the context of elections.

Andrew Jacobs is the Head of the Geographical Coordination Neighbourhood South Unit and Fabienne Bessonne is the Libya Desk Oﬃcer at EuropeAid

e EU and the Arab Spring Helping a new generation build a new society

“We are not there to make revolutions but we are there to make sure revolutions don’t get stolen from their people,” says Marcus Cornaro, Neighbourhood Director at EuropeAid, in an interview with the EU Neighbourhood Info Centre on the EU’s response to the events of the ‘Arab Spring’ (Photo by Al Hayat Centre, Mohammad Ben Hussein, ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre)

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

Interview with Marcus Cornaro Neighbourhood Director at EuropeAid (DG Development and Cooperation)

What is the EU response to the ‘Arab Spring’? e EU recognises the importance of its southern Neighbourhood and the events taking place in the region, and it was therefore quick to react to the changes prompted by the Arab Spring and to recognise the challenges of political and economic transition faced by the region. is was a window of opportunity for the EU to revise its approach to cooperation with the partner countries in the region, giving additional momentum to people’s will, and ensuring that their revolutions live up to their aspirations. So, what did the EU do? A number of actions and decisions were taken to address the changing circumstances. An additional funding of up to €1 billion was adopted for the Neighbourhood as a whole. is is on top of the €5.7 billion already programmed for the Neighbourhood for 20112013. In sum, the EU has increased its funding for cooperation with its southern Neighbourhood by 20%. It’s a tight balancing act and a sign of generosity in times of crisis. anks to a combined eﬀort from the Commission and the member states, funds have been shifted and downsized in other areas in favour of an increase of funding for the Southern Mediterranean region. What’s more, it’s important to note also that additional money is just part of a wider incentive-based oﬀer, which also covers the prospect of better market access and enhanced mobility. On what did you focus? is additional funding includes a new package for the southern Neighbourhood consisting of a new programme – Support for Partnership Reform and Inclusive Growth (SPRING) – with a budget of €350 million for 2011 and 2012; a Civil Society Facility (covering both the southern and eastern Neighbourhood) with a budget of €12 million for the southern neighbours in 2011; and an allocation of €82.5 million for the reinforcement of the Erasmus Mundus and Tempus programmes during the period 2011-2013.

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

How do these extra resources materialise on the ground? In Tunisia, for example, the EU has been assisting in setting up the electoral process and is providing advice on judiciary system reforms. A Support for recovery programme («Programme d’appui à la relance» - PAR) has been launched with an EU grant of €100 million together with loans amounting to €900 million from other partners. Another programme of €20 million is intended to facilitate democratic transition by reducing social inequalities in less favoured areas of Tunisia and providing support to micro-finance institutions. Tunisia has already been allocated €20 million in the framework of the SPRING programme, €10 million for support to economic recovery and €10 million for reform priorities. Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco are also expected to benefit from SPRING in 2012. What about Libya? Libya is now eligible for regional funding although it still has a special status and an EULibya action plan has not been finalised yet. ree main programmes have already been signed: a European NGO cooperation programme for capacity building, a technical assistance facility for the Libyan government, and an initiative for reinforced activities in cooperation with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Besides, Libyan journalists have benefited from training through the European Neighbourhood Journalism Network and EU AIDS projects have been implemented in the country. What is the expected impact on citizens? e objectives of EU actions are designed to meet citizens’ expectations and to support partner countries in building democratic systems; this means allowing citizens to have access to democratic values such as freedom of expression, freedom of association and of the press, and a fairer and independent judiciary system. Programmes aimed at economic recovery will support the creation of jobs and facilitate the setting up of small businesses, whereas education and vocational training

programmes are designed to provide young people with more appropriate qualifications and increase their employment opportunities. If you had to name one main initiative in each country… For Tunisia, economic progress is key, whereas in Libya the focus is on civil society outreach and capacity building. In Egypt, the transitional government expressed a strong request in the field of housing, while cooperation with Jordan is more focused on vocational training and youth employment. For Morocco, an EUMorocco protocol is about to be signed on “ensuring the success of the advanced status” (Réussir le statut avancé). What are the main challenges? I would say the challenge is applying the principle of diﬀerentiation as the EU’s intention is to ensure each country’s needs and priorities are accounted for, and also being able to time our action well. Libya, for example, is still without a government and will need a great deal of support in all areas before the situation gets back to normal. In the case of Syria, the situation is very worrying and the EU has suspended cooperation with the country, except under the Erasmus Mundus and Tempus programmes. ree priorities for 2012? Job creation and providing young people with opportunities to build a better life are certainly the top priority for 2012. e second is strengthening the capacities of civil society in the partner countries and reinforcing its role and participation in policy dialogue and public accountability. A third priority is that the new EU “more-formore” approach for cooperation with neighbouring countries should be perceived as an opportunity and not as an additional conditionality. It is based not only on more commitment from parties, mutual accountability and a stronger principle of diﬀerentiation on the needs of the country, but also on its commitment to achieving democratic change and economic growth. is interview was conducted in 2012

Environment

A Tunisian fisherman in Lake Bizerte,Tunisia (Photo by EPA ÂŠEU/Neighbourhood Info Centre).

ENVIRONMENT > ISRAEL

And business men joined the ‘green cause’… Awareness is low, poverty is on the rise. Other problems are considered more urgent. But waste management is finding its way up on political agendas everywhere in the world, including in conflict-torn regions. In many of the Arab towns in Galilee and Palestinian urban areas of the West Bank, environmental problems can reach the point where they pose health risks. An EU-funded initiative is supporting local authorities in their struggle for proper waste management and awareness. And the results are impressive: even business men are now joining the cause…

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

n Illegal waste in the village of Sachnin

TEL AVIV – “Garbage? It’s everywhere, and as time goes by, we have more and more of it. e only real solution is to improve the awareness of our citizens about this issue.” Baker Awawdy is the general director of the Galilee Society, the largest environmental organization in the Arab sector in Israel. We are in the city of Shefa-'Amr, as old as the Roman Empire. e city lies over several hills overlooking the bay of Haifa, and 35,000 inhabitants live in it. When you drive through the alleys of the village, it is hard to ignore the presence of rubbish on the pavements. In the geography of the Arab village in modern Israel, trash has become an abundant fact: visible, smelly and uncomfortable. But what can be done to solve the problem? e project “Green Cities - Strengthening the Capacity of Local Authorities for Ecological Modernisation” is an EU supported initiative aiming to develop the capacity of local administrators to prevent or reduce waste, to recycle it and to reuse it. e ‘Galilee Society’ is a major partner and the actual project’s implementer on behalf of the city of Shefa-'Amr, together with the Palestinian Environmental Network (PENGON) and the Bulgarian Institute for Ecological Modernisation. “Green Cities” is one of the 21 projects financed in the framework of the regional programme CIUDAD, a €14 million strong initiative aiming to help local governments in the EU’s neighbourhood address urban development problems in a sustainable manner. “We are doing our best to address the problem of proper waste disposal,” explains

ENVIRONMENT > ISRAEL

“Garbage? It’s everywhere, and as time goes by, we have more and more of it. e only real solution is to improve the awareness of our citizens about this issue”

Baker Awawdy, who is also the ‘Green Cities’ project manager. “It’s a very severe issue that deeply aﬀects the village’s life.” Recycling corners in schools In many of the densely populated Arab towns in Galilee and in Palestinian urban areas of the West Bank, environmental issues can reach the point of posing health risks. is happens because in Israel, Arab towns dispose of small

municipal budgets and low quality urban services, and there is little public awareness of good principles of waste management. In the West Bank, local governments suﬀer from very serious economic and political restrictions. For example, in the West Bank, 41% of solid waste is organic, but only 1% is recycled. And 69% is dumped in the open. “e project tries to deal with this problem in a holistic way,” continues Awawdy, “taking into account many factors. It’s a complex issue for which we need a complex answer, but we begin by trying to change people’s minds about the fact that the solution should only come from the authorities.” Public awareness activities are therefore carried out to ensure understanding and to increase knowledge of the issue. “We have divided every community we work with into eight parts,” explains Awawdy. “In each part, we have set up a special committee dealing with the project. In every school, we have an educational committee. The aim is to raise students’

awareness on how important it is to separate garbage. In every school, there is a recycling corner where garbage is separated, and a recycling company comes and takes the plastic away. In every village we launch special events, like ‘A day for the planet Earth’. We have also established a forum gathering villages’ district managers that work

“In every school, there is a recycling corner where garbage is separated, and a recycling company comes and takes the plastic away. In every village we launch special events, like ‘A day for the planet Earth’”

n Working with children – lecture at the El Gadir elementary school

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ENVIRONMENT > ISRAEL

gave a series of lectures on global warming in the Mall, and many people came. I believe we are changing things." Text and photos by Yair Qedar ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

CIUDAD – Sustainable urban development http://www.ciudad-programme.eu/ n Baker Awawdy

n Mai Assadi

at governmental level, creating communication between different arms of the government." e project aims at improving waste disposal also by training local authorities. “We strengthen the ability to deal with this issue at local government level,” says Awawdy, “so we encourage local authorities to enforce the laws, to build strategic plans, to develop a specific environmental sensitivity.” Within the framework of the project, special initiatives are also carried out, in which religious authorities are involved. “Right now in the village of Pki'in a conference of 30 Imams is ongoing” explains Awawdy: “their word will reach over 20,000 people. at's influence!"

Environmental Coordinator for the village of Sachnin, "but the project does not deal with political conflicts." “I work with diﬀerent organizations,” adds Assadi: “for example I did several in-house lectures for women’s organisations. About 15 women attended each one of them. I have also organized a workshop for 30 women, where I taught them how to recycle. I give lessons to kindergarten teachers, organising workshops in preliminary schools… e new generations will grow up with a stronger awareness of the environment than we did.” And the interest doesn’t stop there: "We get interesting calls from the business sector,” concludes Awawdy. “Some people call us in order to get information on how to make their business go ‘green’… For example, the Mall of Sachnin has asked us for support. So I met each owner of the 25 shops there, and I suggested a work plan to save cartons for packaging… We

Lessons to kindergarten teachers – and businesses But things aren’t easy, and problems have arisen at several levels. First of all, the whole subject of waste and environmental sensitivity is new. ere is a low level of consciousness and it is hard to explain why and how communities can benefit by addressing the problem. ere is also a high level of poverty. ere are personal and communal problems that are considered more urgent than waste. At school, people are focused on educational achievements, more than environmental challenges... "ere are a lot of political tensions at local level," testifies Mai Assadi, project Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

Aims to help local governments in the ENPI region address urban development problems in a sustainable manner, promoting cooperation between local actors and their EU counterparts Participating countries Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia (South), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine (East) Timeframe: 2009 - 2013 Budget: €14 million Aims: The programme “Cooperation in Urban Development and Dialogue” (CIUDAD) aims to promote mutual understanding, dialogue and cooperation between local actors in the EU and in the Partner Countries of the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood (ENPI region) through the provision of capacity building for the modernisation and strengthening of local and regional government. It also seeks to create new partnerships and strengthen existing ones, among local and regional authorities in the ENPI region (South-South, East-East and SouthEast partnerships), leading to long-term benefits extending beyond the life of the programme. Find out more:

“e new generations will grow up with a stronger awareness of the environment than we did”

Project fiche > http://www.enpiinfo.eu/maineast.php?id=310&id_type=10 TourMedEau minisite > http://www.open-med.eu/portal/en/ms_ TOURMEDEAU.wp Civil Society and Local Authorities- Thematic portal > http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php? subject=14

ENVIRONMENT > TUNISIA

Protecting Bizerte lagoon From a distance, the view of Lake Bizerte is breathtaking. However, as you get closer to this natural lagoon, the extent of the damage can be seen: a worrying level of pollution resulting from unregulated industrial activity and a lack of public awareness. ere is reason to be optimistic however, thanks to an integrated project supported by the European Union to transform the lake.

n A Tunisian fisherman on the shores of Lake Bizerte

TUNIS – Situated close to the town and sixty kilometres from the capital city of Tunis, Bizerte Lake – a former naval base – oﬀers visitors a breathtaking view. e lake, linked to the Mediterranean Sea by a seven kilometre channel, occupies a strategic position and has enabled to region to benefit from a large number of investment opportunities. It is no coincidence that the Tunisian State and economic operators focused on the potential of this natural lagoon to build a steel factory, a cement plant, a shipyard, fish factories and to set up numerous other activities around it that bring some benefits but also a worrying level of pollution to the area. Mountains of household and industrial waste e town and the lake basin are severely aﬀected by environmental deterioration because of an increase in the sources of

pollution, despite well-developed national environmental laws. e town of Menzel Bourguiba faces a critical problem; the discharge of industrial waste from the Al Fouladh steel factory, the household waste, and all kinds of liquid waste from port operators. Furthermore, the region still does not have adequate infrastructure (i.e. a network of water pipes) to dispose of rain water. e scale of the damage to the sites is catastrophic; mountains of household and industrial waste are piled around the shores of the lake to such an extent that the only beach has not only lost its beauty, but it has also been declared unfit for bathing. According to Mr Taieb Nefzi, Head of the special delegation of the municipality of Menzel Bourguiba, which borders the Lake, “e situation is diﬃcult despite the involvement of several associations Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ENVIRONMENT > TUNISIA

“We are counting on the public authorities taking similar steps in order to widen the scope of the project and make the results more sustainable” that are trying to limit the damage, especially as all of the municipality’s material resources were destroyed during the revolution.” He adds: “if we do not find a radical solution, we will only extend the deadlines.” Members of civil society and the network of community associations have just raised the alarm following the noticeable increase of certain allergies caused by the pollution, as well as a number of cases of cancer. Mr Badreddine Jemaa, President of the Tunisian Association of Health and Environment makes no secret of his determination to do everything possible to alleviate the suﬀering of the region’s inhabitants. “Before 14 January 2011 (date of the Tunisian revolution) the associations

had a symbolic role, but today we live in a society that allows us to talk and to make ourselves heard. We have founded this association and we are in the process of gathering together all the documents and photographs that will enable us to take action.” A high level of environmental maturity in Tunisia e solution has been found within the framework of an “Integrated intervention programme for the de-pollution of the basin bordering the Bizerte lagoon and its surrounding areas, for the restoration of the variety and quality of its water and ecosystems”. e programme is part of a regional Euro-Mediterranean initiative (Horizon 2020) which aims to appreciably reduce the levels of pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by the year 2020 in order to promote sustainable socioeconomic development and improve the quality of life for citizens in the region. Estimated at approximately 80 million euros (160 000 Tunisian dinars), the project will be co-financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) at the

n A Tunisian sailor harvesting mussels

“Today we live in a society that allows us to talk and to make ourselves heard. We are in the process of gathering together all the documents and photographs that will enable us to take action”

A view of the polluted lake in Bizerte,Tunisia.

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ENVIRONMENT > TUNISIA

“In Tunisia there is a high level of environmental maturity compared with other countries. is project should provide a radical solution to this problem”

environmental monitoring, which would limit any actions that could potentially damage the region’s ecosystems and environmental heritage. e participation of all the stakeholders at a local and national level has been strongly encouraged by the EIB project team, led by Mrs Monica Scatasta, and this has been the case since the project preparation work began in 2010. e involvement of everyone will be key to ensuring the long-term positive impacts of the project. Text by Lotfi TOUATI

n A view of Lake Bizerte, contaminated by pollution

maximum rate of 50% and by the Tunisian government, to which contributions from other European partners will be made. Mr Nick Marchesi, Head of the Project Preparation Mission for the Depollution of Lake Bizerte, under the supervision of the EIB, has made a series of technical visits in the region. He manages a team of local and international experts. He explains, “Following a diagnostic of the situation, we are now in the process of conducting a feasibility study in order to present all the necessary conditions for the financing of the project by the EIB.” Mr Marchesi believes that the project is feasible and should begin this year, once the agreement between the EIB and the Tunisian government is in place. “In Tunisia there is a high level of environmental maturity compared with other countries. is project should provide a radical solution to the problem within a global development strategy which will give the region the opportunity to rid itself once and for all of the pollution. Several interventions are to be carried out; for example the upgrading of all the polluting infrastructures situated around 40

Lake Bizerte, including the Menzel Bourguiba landfill; the rehabilitation of sewage systems; the reduction of atmospheric liquid and solid emissions from the Al Fouladh factory, and those from the cement factory.” Mr Stefano Corrado, the EU delegate responsible for environmental issues, adds: “Evidently, the project cannot tackle all the existing sources of pollution across this vast area and independent solutions will need to be investigated to address incidents of diffuse pollution from sectors such as agriculture and transport. Nevertheless, we are counting on the public authorities taking similar steps in order to widen the scope of the project and make the results more sustainable. It will be a question of applying the participatory approach initiated by the project and using the results of the in-depth environmental diagnostic which has just been undertaken.” e general improvement in conditions around the lake will have a positive effect on the quality of the lagoon’s water, which will replenish itself naturally. Lastly, explains Mr Marchesi, “An initiative to remove organic pollutants from sediments in the Menzel Jemil region, which borders the Lake, is also planned.” Admittedly, a problem of this scale undoubtedly requires a substantial budget, but nothing can be achieved without the active and effective contribution and involvement of all the inhabitants of the regions surrounding the lake, and without effective mechanisms for

Photos by EPA©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

Horizon 2020 http://www.h2020.net/ Euro-Mediterranean governments aim to tackle the top sources of Mediterranean pollution by the year 2020 through the Horizon 2020 initiative Horizon 2020 pillars of action • Identification of projects to reduce the most significant sources of pollution: industrial pollution, municipal waste and urban waste water, which account for 80% of pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. • Identification of capacity-building measures to help neighbouring countries create national environmental administrations that are able to develop and police environmental laws. • Use of the Commission’s Research budget to develop and share knowledge of environmental issues relevant to the Mediterranean. • Develop indicators to monitor the success of Horizon 2020. Find out more: H2020 Programme website: http://www.mehsip-ppif.eu/index_main.cfm Project webpage: http://www.mehsip-ppif.eu/proj_view.cfm? proj_id=283 ENPI Thematic Portal: http://www.enpiinfo.eu/thememed.php?subject=6

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ENVIRONMENT > LEBANON

Is there an earthquake? Learn to protect yourself through a game 125,000 copies of a CD ROM that aims to develop preventative techniques through awareness-raising amongst young people have been distributed to schools by the Lebanese Civil Defence Organization as part of the Euro-Mediterranean Programme on Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and Man-Made Disasters (PPRD South). is educational game was chosen on account of its interactivity. e aim of the game is to learn to manage the various dangers that threaten all citizens in their everyday lives and how to respond to accidents that can happen on the beach or on the road or in the event of earthquakes and fires. e game can also be downloaded free-of-charge online. An estimated 250,000 children will benefit from this project.

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

n The pupils of CM2 at the School of the Apostles enthusiastically take part in a presentation

about an educational CD-ROM launched by the Civil Defence Organization.

BEIRUT - “I want to save people like superman,” a small boy whispers to his schoolmate who mischievously replies: “And I want to be a first responder to revive girls and give them mouth-to-mouth.” This conversation takes place between two pupils at the School of the Apostles in Jounieh following the presentation of the educational CD-ROM. This CD-ROM distributed to the country’s schools by the Lebanese Civil Defence Organization as part of a project funded by the European PPRD South Programme (EuroMediterranean Programme on Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and Man-Made Disasters) and which has already been launched in various other Mediterranean EU partner countries - aims to develop preventative techniques through awareness-raising amongst citizens and young people in particular. Lebanon is a land at risk from earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding and forest fires, not to mention epidemics and domestic accidents etc. To deal with, and in some cases prevent, potential catastrophes, the Lebanese Civil Defence Organization, which generally intervenes in emergency situations, has decided to raise awareness amongst an important group in society - children aged 7 to 12. e ultimate goal is to establish a culture of civil protection through the prevention and management of risks. 41

ENVIRONMENT > LEBANON

n A member of the Lebanese Civil Defence Organization

preparing for a mission

An educational game An educational game on CD-ROM has been chosen as the means of achieving this aim. “Using a game is more effective educationally. The interactive features make the information much more attractive to children than traditional media, such as books and documentary films,” explains Karim Abi Saleh, the designer of the CD and a programmer at Wixel Studios, a local company specializing in software programming for games. “Players develop appropriate responses to situations in everyday life

by overcoming the game’s challenges,” he adds. “The aim of the game is to learn how to manage the various dangers that threaten all citizens in everyday life. Accidents can take place on the beach, in the mountains, at home and on the road, not to mention natural disasters such as earthquakes and fires,” an official from the Lebanese Civil Defence Organization adds. The game is divided into increasingly difficult levels and there is no way of progressing to the next level without getting through the previous one first. To generate interest amongst children, an additional part of the program enables them to register online on the Civil Defence Organization’s website and to share their scores with other players. The official confirms that winners will receive a token prize to encourage them to take part. The game that the pupils at the School of the Apostles have showen greatest interest in, is the one concerning the dangers that can arise at the beach and around the swimming pool. “You

“I’m delighted that my daughters are using this CD. Not only are they enjoying themselves, they are also learning to protect themselves”

shouldn’t forget the sun cream,” shouts out one little girl, “nor your sun hat!” adds a boy. “You have to drink water regularly,” points out someone else. Another solemn-looking girl earnestly declares that you should never enter the water without an adult’s supervision. In contrast, the children have no idea how to react in the event of an earthquake. “Thanks to the CD, I now know that you should stand beneath the frame of the doorway in the event of an earthquake. But earthquakes happen in Japan, not in our country,” a young boy tells his

n Simulation exercise - what you should do in the event of an earthquake hitting a school

“anks to the CD, I now know that you should stand beneath the frame of the doorway in the event of an earthquake. But earthquakes happen in Japan, not in our country!”

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ENVIRONMENT > LEBANON

n Maria, her little sister Clara and their mother play the games on the CD together

has been accompanied by a media campaign, already seems to be bearing fruit. “I’m delighted that my daughters are using this CD. Not only are they enjoying themselves, they are also learning to protect themselves,” sums up Maria and Clara’s mother. Text and photos by Antoine Ajoury ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

Civil Protection (PPRD South) http://www.euromedcp.eu/ Programme on Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and Man-Made Disasters (PPRD South) Participating countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Turkey. Mauritania is an observer country.

teacher. The latter explaines to him that Lebanon often experiences seismic tremors. The Lebanese character of the CD Produced in Arabic, French and English, 125,000 CDs are to be distributed to private and state schools throughout Lebanon. e General Directorate of the Civil Defence Organization also reveales that the games can be downloaded freeof-charge online and children are welcome to make copies. It is estimated that almost 250,000 children will benefit from the CD. Another feature of this game is the Lebanese character of the environment chosen, with a city located between the sea and the mountains. “We also chose Arab names for the characters featured in the CD to ensure compatibility with the children’s culture. ey will play as Raed and Leila,” explaines Mr. Abi Saleh. Learning and sharing Ten-year-old Maria is a pupil in CM2. She often plays on the CD with her little Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

sister, eight-year-old Clara. ey share what they have learned and experienced with their parents and friends. ey now always put on their seatbelts when they get into the car with their father. “And I no longer put my hands out of the window,” adds Maria. e two sisters also know that the electric heater must be kept away from flammable objects. e oﬃcial from the Civil Defence Organization explaines: “e CD teaches children to be more careful and responsible when doing things at home and outdoors, such as how to start a fire properly and to pick up bottles etc.” is ambitious project, the launch of which

“Players develop appropriate responses to situations in everyday life by overcoming the game’s challenges”

Timeframe: 2009 - 2013 Budget: €5 million Objective: The “Programme on Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and ManMade Disasters” (PPRD South) contributes to improving the Mediterranean partner countries’ capabilities in terms of civil protection at international, national and local levels. Building on the results achieved in the two previous programmes, this programme contributes to the development of a culture of civil protection based on prevention rather than response. It works in cooperation with the civil protection authorities from partner countries and its management has been entrusted to a consortium including the civil protection authorities from Italy, France, Egypt and Algeria, as well as the UN’s International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. Find out more: PPRD South factsheet http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php? id=245&id_type=10 EU Neighbourhood Info Center http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php? subject=6&lang_id=450

ENVIRONMENT > OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

“I have learned to tame fire”

n Fire extinguishing course

ey have learned to deal with fire extinguishing and first aid, earthquake evacuations and drowning accidents: Over 11,000 Palestinian students from 577 schools have attended an EU-supported Civil Protection Training programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In cases of emergency, the children will now serve as first reaction units – ahead of the arrival of Civil Defence personnel – or backup assistants. But besides acquiring functional skills, the trainees have practised a new ability: self-confidence. JERUSALEM - Amjad Kanaan, a captain in the Palestinian Fire Brigade, makes no eﬀort to hide the broad smile on his face. Satisfied with the kind of training he has been engaged in, he speaks of the trainees with whom he has spent two months: “ese school students are our future. I look at them and I see a new generation emerging.” A back-up force once disaster strikes e training programme for the recruit44

ment of young Civil Defence volunteers in the oPt, financed under the EU's PPRD South programme (www.euromedcp.eu), has targeted 10,000 Palestinian students between 13 and 17 years old in the West Bank. is age criteria was chosen because these children show more interest in civil defence activities than other segments of society and, according to oﬃcial statistics, they represent the highest percentage of the Palestinian population. e programme ended up training exactly

11,778 students, well above the expectations of organisers and trainers. ose students, boys and girls alike, came from 577 schools in the occupied Palestinian Territory. All students who attended the training programme had their personal details saved in the Civil Defence headquarters database: the training courses are designed to transform them into a back up force to the Civil Protection. e course deals with civil defence, first aid and rescue, fire extinguishing, road accidents, Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ENVIRONMENT > OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

water rescue, floods and drowning accidents, earthquakes and evacuation. In cases of emergency, the students will immediately be alerted to serve either as first reaction units – ahead of the arrival of oﬃcial civil defence personnel – or as backup assistants. Mohammad Abiyat is a 15-year-old student at the Bethlehem Secondary Boys School. Very impressed by the training he has received along with a group of boys

“At first, I felt so scared. But seeing my friends joining gave me courage and I decided to go ahead. Now, I feel I am fully capable of providing help to people in need” from his school, he says he feels well equipped to handle certain crisis situations. Since the training, he has given cardiopulmonary resuscitation to an old man who fainted in the street. And when

the smell of cooking-gas spread in a building where he happened to be, he immediately asked people to open all windows and to call for help. "I am proud of myself," said Mohammad, "I feel I have saved a few lives." A civil defence drill took place at Mohammad's school, without any early warning. e minute sirens went off, members of the emergency committee turned off the power and shut all water and gas pipes. It was a fascinating scene to see the 584 students rushing out of their classrooms and queuing in the main yard in just 25 seconds. No injuries. No stampede, and no delays. “I feel I’m a different person now” In Qalqilya in the northern part of the West Bank, Taghrid Hassan, 17, says she never expected to have the courage to enroll in such a course. “At first, I felt so scared. But seeing my friends joining gave me courage and I decided to go ahead. Now, I feel I am fully capable of providing help to people in need,” says Taghrid. She adds that the programme had an extra impact on her. “I feel I’m a different person now, with a new personality, perhaps a tougher one. And I like it.” When asked what she means by tougher, the answer is:

“I’m a diﬀerent person now, I don’t feel I’m the little shy and weak girl of the neighborhood anymore”

“I don’t feel I’m the little shy and weak girl of the neighbourhood any more.” In addition to training youths, Public Protection units of the Palestinian Authority do their best to raise public awareness of the need to maintain minimal compliance with public safety rules. The concept of awareness raising is based on informing the public about what to do when the time comes that a disaster strikes. Leila is 17, she comes from the village of Wadi Fukin on the western outskirts of Bethlehem. She says the first training day was very frightening. "I listened to the trainer as he spoke of fighting fire and I got scared. I have a fire phobia. I thought to quit. But then I said to myself it could be my best chance to dump this fear." Now Leila easily uses a fire extin-

n Palestinian girls attending a training class in Bethlehem district

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ENVIRONMENT > OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

n A team of trainers from the Civil Protection Department

“I listened to the trainer as he spoke of fighting fire and I got scared. I have a fire phobia. I thought to quit. But then I said to myself it could be my best chance to dump this fear”

guisher. The day a fire-fighting course took place at her school, she took the extinguisher with her tiny hands and dashed towards the burning tyre in seconds. It took her a few seconds more, and the fire was off. n Evacuation drill at a school in the West Bank

Not enough fire extinguishers is is what the course is (also) about. It helps people to cross the threshold of fear and to step into a different world of communal integration, mostly at a time of crisis when people feel they are in need of each other. In this sense, the course brings Palestinian students and their families closer to the Civil Defence culture, which increases their capacity to face disasters. Notwithstanding all this accomplishment, those in charge of the training still believe they could have done better, had they been furnished with all the training equipment they needed. While training students how to extinguish fires, the Civil Protection had insufficient fire extinguishers. ey had to collect some 100 pieces as donations from the local private sector. Other training tools such as projectors, flip charts, and stationery were also donated by the private sector. True, these donations unveiled the reality that the Civil Protection Department was not fully equipped. But it also illustrates how close the partnership is between the Civil Protection Authority and the private sector. At the end of the day, it is Palestinian society at large that benefits from this activity. “We hope to continue this programme,” says Lt. Colonel Mohammad Beiruti in his Ramallah office at the Civil Protection Department headquarters. “True, we had financial problems and equipment shortages, but we are resolute

in our decision to go ahead with such activities in the future,” he says, expressing the hope that the EU would continue its engagement and extend the support that has already been provided. Text and pictures by Elias Zananiri ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

PPRD Civil Protection South http://www.euromedcp.eu/en.html Programme for Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and Man-made Disasters Participating countries Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Turkey. Mauritania is an observer country. Timeframe: 2009 - 2013 Budget: €5 million Aims: The “Programme for Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and Manmade Disasters” (PPRD South) contributes to the improvement of the civil protection capacities of Mediterranean partner countries at international, national and local levels. Building on the achievements of two previous programmes it contributes to the development of a civil protection culture based on prevention rather than response. It works with the Civil Protection Authorities of the participating countries and is managed by a consortium consisting of the Civil Protection Authorities of Italy, France, Egypt and Algeria as well as the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR). Find out more: Project fiche – country page > http://www.euromedcp.eu/en/countries/occ upied-palestinian-territories.html EU Neighbourhood Info Centre project fiche > http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php? id=245&id_type=10 Thematic Portal “Civil Society and Local Authorities” > http://www.enpiinfo.eu/thememed.php?subject=14

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ENVIRONMENT > OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

A good recipe for farming? Trading pesticides for owls It was a cultural barrier that the European Union had to address together with its partner at the start of a new programme to assist Palestinian farmers in the Jordan Valley. How can owls be good for farming? In Arab culture, owls are a symbol of doom. But as time goes by, results speak for themselves, and farmers are starting to believe that the birds can be an excellent alternative to chemical pesticides… At the same time, by working together, Jordanian, Palestinians and Israeli organizations foster a culture of understanding and dialogue across this troubled region.

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

n The Palestine Wildlife Society briefing the audience on the project

JERUSALEM – How can owls be good for farming? At first farmers wouldn’t believe it. It was a cultural barrier that the European Union had to address at the start of its new programme to assist Palestinian farmers in six villages of the Jordan Valley. EU representatives and their local partners have had a hard time convincing farmers that owls are good for their land, when, in Arab culture, they are a symbol of doom. In the past, farmers relied a lot on chemical pesticides: but the programme is telling them that – once they skip the chemicals – they have the option of producing organic products. Today, at least 13,000 Palestinian farmers in the Jordan Valley are considering this organic alternative. Owls can be the

modern substitute to chemical pesticides, because they eat mice and rats at night. Kestrels do the rest of the job, feasting on the rodents in broad daylight. ‘Raptor pest control as a sustainable resource management model in the Jordan Valley’ is a three-year project implemented under the ‘EU Partnership for Peace’ programme, financially supported by the European Union. e initiative aims at the preservation of environmental quality and ecological balance in the Jordan Valley. At the same time, the project's overall objective is to improve co-operation and longterm dialogue between Arabs and Israelis in the Jordan Valley, as a means to strengthen civil society action in peace building. 47

ENVIRONMENT > OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

n Women of Al-Walaja watching the school's activities

Palestinian villages, a hard life to live At present, many villages in the West Bank suﬀer from a severe lack of services, including access to water, sanitation, roads, schools, hospitals and local clinics. On top of everything comes the high rate of unemployment that has a disastrous impact on farmers and their families, increasing poverty levels. And high tension with the occupying Israeli authorities is daily business. rough this project – which is coordinated by the Hanns Seidel Foundation and implemented by Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli organizations – the EU hopes to foster environmental sustainability for agricultural practices, but also to generate a better environment of coexistence in the region. e Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, the Palestine Wildlife Society and Amman Centre for Peace and Development, all make sure that birds are used round the clock by the farmers. rough the daily exchanges, they also strive to achieve a culture of understanding 48

“e EU is deeply committed to the support of these areas of the West Bank: it is critical at this very time to sustain Palestinians living in communities like these” and dialogue across this anguished region. “e idea is to have joint activities,” explains Nasser Ali, the project manager from the Hanns Seidel Foundation, “to have a joint plan against using pesticides. Each partner is responsible not only for working in their own territory, but also to keep up the dialogue and activities at regional level. By working together, we can help the peace process. A concrete example? ere is exchange of farmers between countries. ey go and meet each other,” continues Nasser Ali, “they talk about their own experiences, their chal-

lenges and how they meet them… Facing concrete common problems helps people to overcome their diﬀerences.” Building stronger communities e European Union Representative, Christian Berger, is engaged in a tour of many villages throughout the West Bank. During his visit to the village of Jiftlik, Mr. Berger stressed that "the EU is deeply committed to the support of these areas of the West Bank: it is critical at this very time to sustain Palestinians living in communities like these.” In fact, Jiftlik and its surroundings are also the target of a second EU intervention, designed to turn ordinary residents into advocates for their rights and services. “Fostering Community Change” is a threeyear project with a budget just over half a million euros. It is implemented by Oxfam GB and it’s overall aim is to provide Palestinians with access to the decision making process and with defending their rights within the community. e target populaProjects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ENVIRONMENT > OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

“It is through the empowerment of local communities to realize and exercise their rights, that real, long-term change in the everyday life of Palestinians can be achieved” tion is people living in the severely impoverished villages of Jiftlik, Fasayel, Uja, Walajeh, Jaba’a and Zbeidat across the West Bank. "is project will help community residents to realize and exercise their rights on a local level," continues Berger. "ey will learn how to work with local authorities to demand fair access to serv-

ices. What is the main element here? A proper communication and cooperation.” According to Joan Summers, Oxfam GB acting Country Director, people who are informed and engaged find it much easier to feel they have a stake in what happens, which is especially important when trying to support a family in such diﬃcult circumstances. At the end of the day, she says, these farmers need a better future and a stronger community. And providing ordinary people with access to the decision making process is the key to building a stronger community. The EU has a number of local partners that work on this programme, including Palestinian Vision (PalVision), the Ansar Centre for Children, The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH), and the Women's Study

deprived areas,” concludes Mr. Berger, “and this project is central to this EU objective. It is through the empowerment of local communities to realize and exercise their rights, that real, longterm change in the everyday life of Palestinians can be achieved.” Text by Elias Zananiri Photos by Mounes Abu Shilbayeh ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

Middle East Peace Projects (Partnership for Peace) Supports local and international civil society initiatives that promote peace, tolerance and non violence in the Middle East Participating countries Israel, Jordan and Occupied Palestinian Territory Timeframe: Ongoing

“People talk about their own experiences, their challenges and how they meet them… Facing concrete common problems helps people to overcome their diﬀerences”

n Young and old of the local community watching

the school’s activities

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

Centre. Representatives of those organizations work with village councils, local organizations, women, youths, and other stakeholders in the community to form community committees. In turn, these committees work with the local authorities to identify the needs of the community as a whole. A citizen’s handbook defining rights and services will also be produced in the framework of the project. “The EU is deeply committed to the support of these

Budget: Annual budget ranging from €5-10 million Aims: The Partnership for Peace (PfP) supports initiatives in areas which are likely to have a direct impact on people’s everyday lives and welfare, including practical activities to promote communication and understanding. Projects include mechanisms for conflict management and educating communities about dealing with disputes and promoting peace. The PfP also seeks to strengthen and increase direct civil society relationships and cooperation, based on equality and reciprocity between Israelis, Palestinians and other Arabs. On average, 15 projects are selected each year, with a maximum duration of 36 months, and EC contributions ranging from €50,000 – €500,000. The “Raptor pest control as a sustainable management model in the Jordan Valley in support of the Middle East peace process” is one of them. Find out more: EU Neighbourhood Info Centre project fiche > http://www.enpiinfo.eu/mainmed.php?id=11&id_type=10 Political dialogue - Thematic portal > http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php? subject=3

Culture

Shobak castle in Jordan will be part of a longterm excavation and renovation project (Photo by Mohammad Ben Hussein ÂŠEU/Neighbourhood Info Centre).

CULTURE > MOROCCO

Don't touch my wooden door!

n Young Hasna in front of an old wooden door in the Medina, Tangier

e story of a venture that brought together teachers, state school pupils, parents, school heads and museum interpreters and curators with a single purpose: to save the wooden doors of Tangier's medina. TANGIER – The journey ends in celebration. The children from Okba Bnou Nafiî, Abdellah Guennoun, Fatem Fihriya, Al Khansae and Hassan I schools have dressed up to round off a successful initiative that aims to raise awareness among the people of Tangier, both young and old, of the importance of their old wooden doors. The children Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

and their parents have gathered to celebrate inside Tangier’s Kasbah museum, a magical, recently renovated building looking out over the ocean. Its interior is playing host to an exhibition of drawings done by the children to pass on this important message: ‘Don't touch our wooden doors!’ The Siwa & Tangier project, funded by the European Union

under the Euromed Heritage IV programme, was set up by the Italian NGO, COSPE. The children, most of whom live in the old medina, attend state schools in Tangier, one of which is located in the centre of the medina. Knocking on homeowners’ doors “In each school, we involved 11 or 12 51

CULTURE > MOROCCO

n The reaction of the Medina residents to

the project’s activities was very positive

“We gave the children disposable cameras and asked them to take photos of the old wooden doors of the medina”

n The children of Tangier interviewing the residents of the medina

year olds from the first and second years of secondary school. e class was supervised by their teacher and each class attended eight workshops,” explains Ilaria Conti, the Programme Manager from COSPE. e first workshop was run by the Kasbah museum's curator to introduce the children to urban and domestic architecture. e second was dedicated to visits within the walls of the old medina, and to the houses of Abdellah Guennon and Riad Sultan in order to show the children what a traditional house is like. A visit outside the walls was on the agenda for the third workshop; the children explored the many facets of Moulay Hafid Palace, one of the best preserved houses in the kingdom, which also hosts the annual Tangier book fair. e fourth workshop focused on the doors, with a lesson given once again by the curator of the Kasbah museum. “For the fifth workshop, we gave the children disposable cameras and asked them to take photos of the old wooden doors in the medina. It was also an opportunity to introduce them to photography,” explains Ms. Conti. The children came together at the sixth workshop to draw up questionnaires to give to residents of the medina with the aim of answering the question, “Why do some medina residents prefer to change their wooden doors?” “We

“A child's view is magical and fun, but also very protective of the environment and heritage” created the questionnaires together, with the children and the teachers,” stresses Fatema, an educator at COSPE. At the seventh workshop the children acted as researchers and interviewed more than 200 residents of the medina. “The results were very positive. Those that have wooden doors are happy with them. Moreover, the residents of Tangier's medina are aware that the wooden doors are a part of the city's heritage and of the old medina's identity,” says Ilaria. The final workshop involved drawing and designing awareness messages about protecting the wooden doors. “The initiative was a success,” says Abdelhak Jibet, a teacher at Abdellah Guennoun school. “The children felt very strongly about it, especially after the visit to Moulay Hafid Palace. The photography workshop was also a highlight of the course. Speaking for myself, I didn't realise there were so many wooden doors in the medina. The children took more Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

CULTURE > MOROCCO

heritage, such as old houses, zellige, wood and tiles, in order to heighten children’s awareness of their roots,” teacher Abdelhak Jibet justly concludes. Text by Hicham Houdaifa Photos by Karim Selmaoui, Hicham Chafadi ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

Euromed Heritage IV Contributes to the exchange of experiences on cultural heritage, creates networks and promotes cooperation Participating countries Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria and Tunisia Timeframe: 2008 - 2012 Budget: €17 million

n Many of these doors are over a century old

than 150 photos of wooden doors and we didn't even visit the whole of the medina.” A child's view is magical and very protective On this sunny afternoon at the Kasbah museum, a final vote will be taken to select the most popular messages and drawings to make postcards from them. e drawings brighten the room and, as you can judge for yourself, the messages are clear and succinct: ‘Matkich babi’ (Don't touch my door!), ‘e old wooden doors keep us secure’ and ‘e old wooden doors are a part of our life and heritage’. In addition to postcards, the project initiators are planning to launch an interactive educational game on the architectural heritage of Tangier's medina. “e most interesting part of this project was the children's relationship with architecture. A child's view is magical and Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

fun, but also very protective of the environment and heritage. We are very pleasantly surprised with the outcome,” Fatema says delightedly, and with good reason. e reaction of the residents was very positive as they felt the initiative concerned them. “is type of initiative should be replicated in other areas of

Aims: The programme facilitates interdisciplinary cooperation, exchange of good practices, training and networking, actions to stimulate and reinforce the social and economic impact of cultural heritage, and improvement of the institutional and legislative frameworks for cultural heritage in the partner countries. A regional management and support unit (RMSU) provides technical support for 12 projects including the Siwa & Tangier project. Find out more: EU Neighbourhood Info Centre project description > http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php? id=243&id_type=10&lang_id=450 Project website > http://www.euromedheritage.net/index.cfm ?lng=en

“e residents of Tangier's medina are aware that the wooden doors are a part of the city's heritage and of the old medina's identity”

ENPI Euromed Heritage II and III project description > http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php? id=46&id_type=10&lang_id=450 Thematic portal > http://www.enpiinfo.eu/thememed.php?subject=10 COSPE website > http://www.cospe.it/cospe/old/english.php

CULTURE > LEBANON

Seeking film producers to portray the ‘Arab Spring’

n Lebanese producer Abir Hashem and cameraman discuss a shooting

Could the ‘Arab Spring’ be the creative driving force behind the Mediterranean cinematic landscape? At a time when entire film scripts are being written, the means to produce documentaries should also be secured. at’s exactly where the shoe pinches: in Beirut- just like in many other countries of the Mediterranean- there is a serious lack of local producers capable of expanding the native cinematic landscape. Against this backdrop, the European programme DOCmed aims to develop the capacity of local producers and help them find opportunities to promote their work abroad.

Beirut – On a typical Saturday evening in Beirut, movie theatres in the Lebanese capital are overcrowded, while shopping centres are packed with youth eager to discover the latest movies of the season. e only aspect overshadowing the Lebanese cinematic landscape is the strik54

ingly evident lack of local movies, while American and European productions are flooding the market. e same is true if we take a look at Arabic television programmes with very few high-end documentaries produced by countries in the region.

is explains the pressing interest in a programme like DOCmed, which aims at "developing the capacity of local producers and helping them find opportunities to promote their work abroad, so that it can be acknowledged and internationally acclaimed", says Roula Kobeissi, the Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

CULTURE > LEBANON

“Organizing a training programme for producers is, in itself, a visionary endeavour”

Programme Coordinator in Beirut. e idea of DOCmed was born out of the collaboration of three partners: Beirut DC (Lebanon), Eurodoc (France), and Doc in Tunis (Tunisia) in cooperation with Arte France. It has a clear objective: to train producers of Arab countries in the Southern Mediterranean, and an easy target: to produce mainly creative documentaries. Extending over a three-year period (2011 to 2013), DOCmed is the outcome of a larger European programme, Euromed Audiovisual III, which contributes to the development of the cinematic field in countries of the Southern Mediterranean region. Filling a void In the heart of Furn el Chebbak, Beirut DC is located on the ground floor of an old building. With its small garden, pond

n Lebanese DOCmed Coordinator Roula Koubeissi

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

n Lebanese producer Abir Hashem

and red shutters, its offices starkly contrast with the unbearable hubbub of this popular neighborhood of Beirut. Inside however, the place is a real hive of activity. A hyperactive Jad Abi Khalil, also in charge of Beirut DC, explains: "We have excellent projects which don’t bear fruit mainly because producers are not properly trained. The same applies to co-producers who lack the necessary training, while an important part of films are co-produced today with Euro-

pean countries. This is why DOCmed focuses on co-production training in the Arab world and Lebanon". "We often see a director wearing two hats, that of producer and director at the same time, although it would be certainly more eﬃcient if the director was focused on doing his job, and the professional producer given the means to do his as well". As far as she is concerned, it is probably one of the main reasons explaining the lack of important cinematic production in Lebanon. In addition, Lebanese films are not very visible on the local, Arab, or international markets. e DOCmed project was therefore launched in an attempt to fulfill the production needs of Arab and Lebanese film industries, in order to find solutions and help producers take on their roles and responsibilities. Ten producers or producers/directors are selected each year within the framework of this programme, partly funded by the European Union. e beneficiaries should already have a project in the pipeline, as long as it hasn’t been produced yet. A ‘visionary’ training programme Sitting comfortably in one of the cafes in 55

CULTURE > LEBANON

which has positively impacted the participants’ projects, especially those relating to documentaries", concludes Roula Kobeissi. Text by Antoine Ajoury Photos by Nabil Mounzer ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

Euromed Audiovisual III http://www.euromedaudiovisuel.ne t/index.aspx?lang=en Contributes to intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity through support to building cinematographic and audiovisual capacity in the Mediterranean Partner Countries

n Lebanese producer Myriam Sassine in Beirut

“e main benefit we derive from funding is the independence it gives us. We don’t have to depend on a specific television channel or put up with its set of conditions” Beirut, surrounded by her collaborators, Abir Hashem works at ‘Solo films’ in Lebanon, a production house which has been operating for the last ten years. She is the producer of ‘Asphalte’ (Asphalt), a documentary shot by Ali Hammoud about the journey of heavy transport drivers as they leave Lebanon for Dubai or Qatar and travel across Syria and Jordan. Hashem explains: "the main benefit we derive from funding is the independence it gives us. We don’t have to depend on a specific television channel or put up with its set of conditions, ideological orientations, or interference in the filmmaking process". By submitting her application to DOCmed, she was expecting to get a chance to follow a project from A to Z. "When they ask me the question sometimes, I tell them I am the producer from A to C or from C to D", she laughs."It is 56

therefore a great opportunity for me to deepen my knowledge of this trade, from funding to pitching, including handling the budget. e experience shared by European professionals is very useful", she adds. Myriam Sassine works for "Abbout productions", a production house established back in 1998. She is working on a film directed by Carine Doumit, entitled ‘e Diary of the Disoriented’, a diary which highlights the relationship of the director with her native country, Lebanon. "Organizing a training programme for producers is, in itself, a visionary endeavour. e role of film producers is not very well known in countries of the Near East. ere are plenty of directors but not enough producers", she claims. "e problem we are facing in Lebanon also applies to Syria and Algeria. In some countries like Morocco, there are funds available to produce films, but not enough know-how to find adequate funding for each film production", adds Myriam. Still at the regional level, the Arab Spring was a source of inspiration for participants who expressed their sheer enthusiasm during the first session. "ey were able to share their personal experiences and common hope. e Arab revolts were, so to speak, an important motivating factor

Participating countries Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia Timeframe: 2009 - 2012 Budget: €11 million Aims: The programme aims to contribute to intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity through support for the development of cinematographic and audiovisual capacity in the Partner Countries. It promotes complementarity and integration of the region’s film and audiovisual industries, while seeking to harmonise public sector policy and legislation. It builds on the achievements of Euromed I and Audiovisual II, aiming to tap into the potential of a developing audiovisual market in the region and assist Mediterranean films secure a place on the global scene. Find out more: DoCMed project fiche > http://euromedaudiovisuel.net/general.aspx ?menu=1&treeID=11139&lang=en&documentID=11143 Beirut DC > http://www.beirutdc.org/beirutdc/default.aspx EU Neighbourhood Info Centre – project fiche > http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php? id=301&id_type=10&lang_id=450 Thematic portal > http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php? subject=9

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

CULTURE > JORDAN

In search of Medieval Petra

n Tourists touring Shobak castle

Linking the rose city to the crusaders’ fortress, promoting the development of a marginal community, turning around the fortunes of Southern Jordan’s forgotten area: a multipronged EU-funded project, "Liaisons for growth", is underway to put the town of Shobak and its castle on the kingdom’s tourism attraction list, to help residents tap into its rich history and to develop sustainable tourism. Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

“AMMAN - “Do you see this fortress? It’s a real miracle”. Italian archaeologist Chiara Marcotulli sifts through layers of history as she excavates ruins of a foyer in Shobak castle, a millennial crusaders’ stronghold in southern Jordan that still holds many secrets under its centuries-old rubble. “We have just started to understand the principal historical phases of the castle. It is a very large place and there is so much to do,” she says. Chiara is one of the several scholars on a mission to unearth ruins from the castle that could highlight the historical significance of the town, and help turn around the fortunes of a forgotten region. e €14 million program known as “Cooperation in Urban Development and Dialogue” (CIUDAD), aims to promote dialogue and cooperation between local actors in the EU and in the partner countries of the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood (ENPI region). is is done through a variety of diﬀerent actions, one of which is the “Liaisons for growth” project - supported by the European Commission to the tune of € 550,000 - implemented in Jordan and Armenia with the scope to support marginal areas and to develop sustainable tourism. In Armenia, the regions of Ararat and Vajots Dzor have been targeted, and two tourist districts identified: “Armenia is a wonderful country, blessed with a real tourist potential”, says Catia Segnini, director of FAR Maremma, Italian partner in the project. “Together with our local partners we are now working on our master plan, and defining tourist packages to propose to relevant stakeholders, European tourist agencies, for example. e overall 57

CULTURE > JORDAN

n Italian archeologist Chiara Marcotulli

“We are trying to link Petra to Shobak by providing reasons and means to tourists to stop by the fortress. Historically speaking, the two towns were connected and now we want to re-link them” aim of the project is to increase the tourist influx into the country, and finally to have a real impact on local development”. A showcase for medieval southern Jordan In Shobak, the EU supported multipronged drive seeks to renovate the castle, promote it to the western world as well as local visitors. “rough our work we hope to showcase medieval southern Jordan,” continues Chiara. “Shobak - she says - was the heart of a road linking north Jordan to the southern parts of the country, including the port of Aqaba and Petra.” Perched on a hill top, the Shobak fortress was a fundamental part of the region’s 58

medieval history, serving as an outpost for King Baldwin I of Jerusalem. After a two-year siege, the stronghold fell to Salah Addin in 1189. e Muslim leader kept the structure intact and made the castle a commanding outpost for the region’s new capital. Centuries later, the town drifted into oblivion, as interest of regional powers dwindled and disappeared, leaving inhabitants with memories of past glory, dwelling poverty and unemployment. Guido Vannini, Chair of Medieval Archaeology at the University of Florence, says the project’s success lies in its potential link to the rose-red city. “We are trying to link Petra to Shobak by providing reason and means to tourists to stop by Shobak. Historically speaking, the two towns were connected and now we want to re-link them,” he said, noting that the University of Florence has recently organised an exhibition on the relationship between Shobak and Petra called ‘From Petra to Shobak’. “After we held the exhibition, the volume of tourists to Shobak increased by 23 per cent, which is double the increased rate in tourists volume seen elsewhere in Jordan,” he says. A stone’s throw from Petra, Shobak has been overlooked by tourists as they head towards the rose city, the kingdom’s crown jewel of tourism industry. An agreement

has already been reached between Petra governorates and Shobak municipality to establish a transport network to link Shobak with Petra, which receives around 800,000 tourists a year. e Italian team believes the castle would add an excellent side-trip to the itineraries of thousands of tourists who crowd Petra. According to Vannini, the project will begin to attract international tourists after proper infrastructure (hotels, restaurants and other) is in place. A main component of the project "Liaisons for growth" is a master plan that aims to develop the area around the castle without inflicting harm on basic infrastructure. “Our tourist master plan – he explains – would provide a flexible guideline to develop the area in terms of establishing tourist facilities without destroying any historic resource. Within a few years, the area could see tourist trails and proper signs to guide visitors through the site.” Migrating in search for employment For the moment, there aren’t many visitors to guide through. Adjacent to the wooden gate of the castle is a small waiting room for the one and only local tourist guide, Mohammad Rawashdeh. “Tourists prefer Petra because it is more glamorous. What people do not realize is that Shobak is part of Petra’s history,” he says. e town of 15,000 inhabitants is nestled in a series of hills blanketed in mangroves and olive and grape plantations. Over the decades, half of Shobak's residents have Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

CULTURE > JORDAN

n Excavations at Shobak castle

migrated to Amman and other major cities to work in steady employment in the public sector. According to those left behind, local industry is non-existent. In a main street

“After we held the exhibition, the volume of tourists to Shobak has increased by 23 per cent, which is double the increased rate in tourists volume seen elsewhere in Jordan”

inside the town, Abu Odai, a 66-year-old retired army oﬃcer, sits on a bench to rest and have a chat with old friends after a long day of work. He has seen his hometown go through various struggles. “We do not have much support from the government,” Abu Odai said. “We need projects to persuade people to stay and build the town, which is emptying slowly of its inhabitants,” he continues. And this is exactly the idea behind the EU supported action, to work with local networks to promote cooperation between urban and marginal communities. A key principle of the project is in fact to stimulate synergies to put tourist infrastructures and packages in place. rough the set up of local agencies, partners define characteristics and priorities of their tourist districts, they work on the development of tourism products, and they put together plans for marketing and promotional activities. It will take years of careful excavations before the secrets of Shobak are unveiled, if ever. In the meantime, the EU project "Liaisons for growth" could give the local community an opportunity to turn around the fortunes of southern Jordan’s forgotten town. Text and photos by Mohammad Ben Hussein ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

”Within a few years, the area could see tourist trails and proper signs to guide visitors through the site”

CIUDAD – Sustainable urban development http://www.ciudadprogramme.eu/index.php Aims to help local governments in the ENPI region address urban development problems in a sustainable manner, promoting cooperation between local actors and their EU counterparts Participating countries Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine Timeframe: 2009 - 2013 Budget: €14 million Objectives: The programme “Cooperation in Urban Development and Dialogue” (CIUDAD) aims to promote mutual understanding, dialogue and cooperation between local actors in the EU and in the Partner Countries of the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood (ENPI region) through the provision of capacity building for the modernisation and strengthening of local and regional government. 20 projects receive grants under the CIUDAD ‘umbrella’: Liaisons for growth is one of them. Find out more: “Liaisons for growth” project fiche > http://www.ciudadprogramme.eu/grant_profile.php?lang=1&s ector_id=16&grant_id=15 CIUDAD – fiche > http://www.enpiinfo.eu/maineast.php?id=310&id_type=10 EU Neighbourhood Info Centre Civil Society and local authorities thematic portal > http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php? subject=14

n A government appointed Beduin who guards Shobak castle

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

EU Neighbourhood Info Centre - The people behind the project – Interview with Frank Samol - CIUDAD > http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php? id=312&id_type=6&lang_id=450

CULTURE > ISRAEL

A movie from Gaza to London: Awatif’s mission impossible A girl from a refugee camp in Gaza who wants to become an international movie director: it sounds like mission impossible, but it’s becoming reality for Awatif Aljedaili, from el Bourej refugee camp, whose film “Waiting for Heaven” was selected to participate at the prestigious 2011 IDFA documentary film summer school in Amsterdam. anks to the EU funded Euromed Audiovisual programme, Awatif could join training seminars via Skype, and she could send her rough cuts over the internet… is is the story of a dream coming true.

n A frame from the film “5 Broken Cameras”

JERUSALEM - If making your first documentary film is an uphill task for aspiring filmmakers in the Middle East, for residents of the Gaza Strip it is almost a mission impossible. Thirty-year-old Awatif Aljedaili, a resident of the el-Bourej refugee camp, was refused permission by Israel to leave Gaza, and also had to combat hostility from Gaza’s Hamas authorities who feared her film would encourage emigration. But she fought against all the odds, and is now busy in London putting the finishing touches to her documentary film ‘Waiting for Heaven’, which was selected to participate at the prestigious 2011 IDFA documentary film summer school in Amsterdam.

ree generations of fishermen in a refugee camp Aljedaili’s film focuses on three generations of a family of fishermen from the Shati refugee camp, and how each views the conflict and the concept of homeland. e grandfather fled Jaﬀa in 1948 and still holds the key to the old family home, to which he dreams of returning. His son is too busy with day-to-day survival to dream of return. e grandson views heaven as anywhere but Gaza, and is desperate to leave. e idea was good, but without the Greenhouse project it would never have got oﬀ the ground. e EU-funded Euromed Audiovisual programme put Aljedaili in contact with Greenhouse, based in Tel Aviv, which assists filmProjects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

CULTURE > ISRAEL

“Tunisians were amazed to see the Israelis and Palestinians working so well together, and you wouldn’t believe how many submissions we are getting from Gaza. ere is an authentic need among artists in our conflict region for genuine dialogue, and this is what Greenhouse oﬀers” makers in developing their skills and introduces the film to the international market. Some 16 projects and 21 filmmakers from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Morocco and Tunisia were selected to participate in this year’s Greenhouse training project. Greenhouse runs three seminars throughout the year, providing a unique cultural space for Israeli and Arab filmmakers to connect and exchange ideas. Because Awatif was prevented from leaving Gaza, her brother, Mohammed, a resident of the West Bank, attended the seminars in her place and became the film’s producer. Awatif participated via Skype conference calls, and took part in all the key decisions that were taken. “Greenhouse helped me a lot because even though I couldn’t attend the seminars, I sent my rough cuts over the internet to Sigal Yehuda, the managing director at the Greenhouse Tel Aviv oﬃce, and she sent back advice which was very useful,” Awatif explained. At a critical stage in January 2009, with the deadline approaching to submit the project for a production grant, Awatif was forced to flee her home when the area came under Israeli fire during the Gaza war. Yehuda says the scepticism of some Arab Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

n Sigal Yehuda, Managing Director of the Greenhouse Development

Program for Documentary Filmmakers

participants for a programme openly promoting Israeli-Arab cooperation was overcome when they witnessed the work first hand. “If you believe there should be no dialogue, then you leave no room for hope. I remember the Tunisians were amazed to see the Israelis and Palestinians working so well together, and you wouldn’t believe how many submissions we are getting from Gaza. ere is an authentic need among artists in our conflict region for genuine dialogue, and this is what Greenhouse oﬀers.” A Palestinian and an Israeli filmmakers working together in Paris Greenhouse has built up years of experience and provides young filmmakers with monitors at every stage of the film’s development, including artistic direction, film production and pitching the documentary to potential investors. Over the past five years, Greenhouse partners have included Dutch, Turkish, Spanish and Moroccan film institutes and production companies. Palestinian Emad Burnat and Israeli Guy Davidi are currently working in Paris with a French production company to complete their joint documentary film ‘Five Broken Cameras’. Another Greenhouse success story, the documentary was shot by Burnat who

“Projects like Greenhouse are absolutely essential because the most diﬃcult thing is for an aspiring filmmaker to get his first film oﬀ the ground” focuses on the struggle against Israel’s construction of the separation barrier in his West Bank village, Bilin. He shows how the campaign impacted on his dayto-day life, whether it was the death of a close friend, the arrest of his bothers or the growing up of his young son. Greenhouse suggested that Burnat work together with Guy Davidi, an Israeli activist filmmaker, who had also been involved with the Bilin struggle. “What struck me the most about Emad’s footage was the scene of his father trying to block an Israeli army jeep taking his brother to jail,” Davidi explained. “When I saw that, it was clear that this film had to be made from Emad’s personal perspective.” ‘Five Broken Cameras’ won the best project award at the Greenhouse pitching forum in 2009, and the Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers hope the documentary 61

CULTURE > ISRAEL

no Greenhouse, and the EU remains our most important strategic partner.” Text by Marc Weiss Photos by Oliver Weiken and the Greenhouse project ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

Euromed Audiovisual III http://www.euromedaudiovisuel.net/ Contributes to intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity through support to building cinematographic and audiovisual capacity in the Mediterranean Partner Countries Participating countries Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia

n Emad Burnat the director of the film “5 Broken Cameras”

will premiere in France next spring. “Projects like Greenhouse are absolutely essential because the most diﬃcult thing is for an aspiring filmmaker to get his first film oﬀ the ground, " Davidi explained. “is is particularly the case in some Middle East states, such as Jordan, Egypt and Morocco where there are few opportunities and a lack of funding for local documentary filmmakers.” “When you meet the other side, things change” Dorit Inbar, the director-general of the Tel Aviv-based New Fund for Cinema and TV, which initiated Greenhouse and

is the project’s leading partner, spoke proudly of its double impact. “Firstly, this is a very successful project. Greenhouse after five years has produced 10 films which have won awards at festivals worldwide, and more than half our projects are still being developed. Second, are the relations built up between filmmakers from around the Mediterranean, not only Israelis and Arabs, but Turks and Kurds, and other nationalities. ese people will never be able to say ‘we didn’t meet the other side’, and the impact of this will last for years.” And Inbar spoke proudly of the EU role. “Without the EU vision there would be

Timeframe: 2009 - 2012 Budget: €11 million Aims: The programme aims to contribute to intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity through support for the development of cinematographic and audiovisual capacity in the Partner Countries. It promotes complementarity and integration of the region’s film and audiovisual industries, while seeking to harmonise public sector policy and legislation. It builds on the achievements of Euromed I and Audiovisual II, aiming to tap into the potential of a developing audiovisual market in the region and assist Mediterranean films secure a place on the global scene. Find out more: Project fiche Greenhouse > http://euromedaudiovisuel.net/general.aspx ?menu=1&treeID=11139&lang=en&documentID=11144

“ese people will never be able to say ‘we didn’t meet the other side’, and the impact of this will last for years”

Greenhouse website > http://www.ghfilmcentre.org/ EU Neighbourhood Info Centre - Project fiche > http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php? id=301&id_type=10 Thematic portal > http://www.enpiinfo.eu/thememed.php?subject=9

n "Waiting for Heaven" by Awatif Aljedaili

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

Economy

A boy holding a poster of sales at a mall in Amman. The Agadir zone's 120 million consumer potential is a promising ground for industries to expand businesses (Photo by Mohammad Ben Hussein ÂŠEU/Neighbourhood Info Centre).

ECONOMY > TUNISIA

Employment, the number one priority for the new Tunisia A good education is a prerequisite for a good job: while Tunisia is battling to mitigate the adverse eﬀects of unemployment, the European Training Foundation (ETF) has made the country one of its priorities, and doubled its budget allocation. e Tunisian government recently adopted a programme intended to support jobseekers as they try to find their way into the world of work. e ETF has committed itself to supporting this action, with the aim of helping Tunisia exploit as fully as possible the potential of its human resources.

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

n Young graduates taking part in a sit-in outside the Employment Ministry

TUNIS - With remarkable dexterity and eager to please, he is always at work on the café's coﬀee machine, busily serving customers. Since last December, Lotfi Ltaief, in his early thirties, has been working as a waiter in this café in the Bardo district, three kilometres from the centre of Tunis. Lotfi has been accumulating sound experience in this field over the last six years. What many customers don't know is that this young man has held a Master's degree in Arabic literature since 2003. Ever since then, he has been sending out job applications, has applied for a teaching post at the Education Ministry and has participated in various

competitions, but unfortunately all in vain. is is just one case among so many, which is the real problem facing Tunisia. A major concern Of a population of over ten million, the number of unemployed is oﬃcially estimated at nearly 700,000 of whom almost 150,000 hold higher education degrees. e problem of creating new jobs is a major issue in Tunisia today. Since the revolution of January 14, the social protest movements have only become stronger. Wildcat strikes and sit-ins have spread almost everywhere in the public and private sectors, which has led purely 65

ECONOMY > TUNISIA

“e ETF is not a donor but a technical partner, mobilizing the expertise and experience required to assist decision-making when defining policy on training and employment” and simply to the closure of a number of businesses. Employment has been the main concern for all governments since independence. e issue is even more crucial today because it arises at a moment when the country is going through difficult times. Citizens have become more demanding and have no hesitation in showing their strength. Despite this situation, a farreaching effort is being made to overcome this phenomenon and mitigate the adverse effects of unemployment in Tunisia as far as possible. e provisional government, headed by Mr. Béji Caid Essebsi, is well aware of the situation and is working very hard to resolve it. “I do not have a magic wand,” he emphasises at every opportunity. The provisional government launched

n The number of unemployed in Tunisia is oﬃcially estimated at nearly 700,000 of whom almost 150,000 hold higher education degrees

an emergency employment programme last March intended to support jobseekers to help them find their way into the world of work. The programme is structured into four main lines of action, explains Mr. Ali Takout, Regional Director: developing jobs for salaried employees through the creation of 40,000 posts in the public and private sectors, safeguarding jobs by assisting companies going through challenging times, developing enterprise and micro-

“After the revolution, we doubled the budget allocated to our action in Tunisia. It has become a priority for us” businesses, and helping young people set up their own businesses and improving the employability of young

n Young Arabic Literature graduate working as a waiter in a café

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ECONOMY > TUNISIA

n The Regional Director of Employment, Mr. Ali Takout

graduates (the Amal section of the programme, named after the Arabic word for “hope”), while helping them in actively searching for work. Good practices e issue of employment is not only related to job creation, but also to reform of education and vocational training, as well as the introduction of good practices intended to speed up the handling of this issue and to increase transparency. Since 1995, the European Training Foundation (ETF) has been cooperating with Tunisia in the field of training, supporting the policy adopted by the government and advising on the implementation strategy. Ms. Marie Dorléans, Director of ETF for Tunisia, explains: “e ETF is not a donor but a technical partner, mobilizing the expertise and experience required to assist decision-making when defining policy on training and employment. At a time when the national priority is employment and regional development, we have set up, for example, a project to support a specific region, the governorate of Medenine, situated close to Tunisia's border with Libya. In this initial phase, we organized meetings with all stakeholders with the aim of diagnosing problems in the region in order to improve the match between supply of training and jobs. After the revolution, we doubled the budget allocated to our action in Tunisia. It has become a priority for us.” “We don't have a model to sell,” continues Ms. Dorléans, “but we are trying to identify Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

which approaches or practices, in particular European ones, could be an inspiration for Tunisia. In the medium term, ETF is committed to supporting regional policies integrating education, vocational training and employment. e emphasis will be placed on the development of skills that are useful on the labour market. Our foundation is perceived as a dependable and impartial adviser and as a partner able to bring various players together around the table. e Tunisian government particularly appreciates this kind of neutrality.” e protest movements are continuing Despite the mechanisms newly introduced to improve access to jobs, the protest movements are continuing unabated. Since May 16, a group of young graduates has been protesting in their own way by pitching a tent in front of the Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment. ey are protesting against the job creation mechanisms set up during the Ben Ali era, which are, in their opinion, obsolete today. On the other hand, from 12 to 30 September, the government launched the “Employment Month”, an initiative aimed especially at bringing the players in employment closer together, i.e. jobseekers, training institutions and public and private companies, civil

“We don't have a model to sell but we are trying to identify which approaches or practices, in particular European ones, could be an inspiration for Tunisia” society, political parties and recruitment agencies. Several themes will be discussed, including the release of funds for certain projects, pre-hiring contracts in private companies and sponsorship of jobseekers by employers to finance training. Open days in businesses are also planned. Text and photos by Lotfi Touati ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

n Headquarters of the Tunisian Employment Agency

European Training Foundation http://www.etf.europa.eu/web.nsf/pages/Home_FR?OpenDocument Aims: The European Training Foundation is an agency established by the European Union which aims to contribute to the development of education and training in its European partner countries. With an annual budget of 18 million euro, its mission consists of helping developing countries in a transitional phase to exploit the potential of their human resources through reform in the fields of education, training and employment in the context of the external relations policy of the EU. Find out more: European Training Foundation - website > http://www.etf.europa.eu/web.nsf/pages/Home_FR?OpenDocument European Training Foundation - Tunisia > http://www.etf.europa.eu/web.nsf/pages/Tunisia EU Neighbourhood Info Centre – Thematic portal – Education & Training > http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php?subject=11

ECONOMY > JORDAN

‘Made in Agadir Zone’: what hope for ambitious vision of the future? In 2004, four Arab Mediterranean nations signed a pact – the Agadir Agreement – to establish a regional free trade area and to promote economic integration. e key elements were to eliminate barriers to trade and to facilitate investment. e European Commission was (and is) a strenuous financial supporter of the project. Seven years down the road, as experts keep tackling technical issues, figures show a promising future: intra-Agadir trade exchange has registered a 45% increase. But many obstacles are still preventing the Agreement from reaching its full potential.

n A worker at the CJC textile factory, in the industrial compound of Sahab, close to

Amman.

“AMMAN - ‘Made in Agadir Zone’: is this a dream, or just an ambitious target for the future of the Agadir trade agreement, the pact designed to build a Euro-Med free trade area? “We would like one day to see products made in Agadir Zone, using accumulation of origin rules from industries in the four member states, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco,” says Waleed El Nozahy, Executive President of the Agadir Technical Unit. Some seven years after the Agreement was signed, a group of experts in the Agadir secretariat in Amman keeps working to realize this dream, despite mounting obstacles. e Agadir Agreement between the four southern Mediterranean nations was signed in Rabat, Morocco on 25 February 2004. It aims at establishing a regional free trade area between Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco, covering 115 million people. It also aims at promoting economic integration within this area, and with the European market. Finally, the creation of a regional free trade area is supposed to enhance investment in the Agadir partner countries: by eliminating barriers to trade and by facilitating investment, the overall objective of the agreement is to boost economic activity, to support employment, and to improve living standards. Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ECONOMY > JORDAN

“By getting together, these countries can eventually be better off to produce for the EU market. But this is still a long way off, as these countries have a lot of barriers between themselves” Many technical issues are to be tackled by the four signatory countries with the EU's financial and technical support. e European Commission has contributed €8 million since the beginning of the process, investing in a Technical Unit that works on practical aspects: legislative approximation, custom regulations, rules of origin, etc. ree sectors were identified to kick start inter-Arab Med trade exchange: textile, leather and automotive technology. Figures show a promising future. Since the agreement’s inception, intra-Agadir trade exchange has registered a 45% increase. In Egypt, exchange with Agadir signatories jumped by 160 percent between 2007 and 2009. During the same period, Jordan saw a 70 percent increase in trade with member states, while Morocco witnessed a 30 percent rise. Despite the promising figures, experts and businessmen believe the agreement lags behind, as member states face an uphill battle to overcome political, legislative and logistical obstacles. e four countries share no common borders, have outdated clearance and standardization legislation and suffer from high cost of transportation. Such obstacles, they say, can stop the Agadir dream from becoming a reality. Better focus on bilateral trade rather than aiming directly at the EU market EU officials in Amman insist that the accord is on the right track, despite the challenges. “Total trade among these countries is 4% of their total trade worldwide. is is very little, but it shows a Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

tendency and trend for growth,” says Bertrand Jolas, EC Trade and Transport Attaché and liaison officer for Agadir. He calls on members to focus attentions on bilateral trade rather than aiming for the EU market straight away. “By getting together, these countries can eventually be better off to produce for the EU market. But this is still a long way off, as these countries have a lot of barriers between themselves,” he adds. Some Jordanian businessmen agree with this vision. They say that a weak intra-Arab trade is not due to a lack in

agreements, pointing to a 17-member Arab league free trade agreement that has yet to be realized in full. They are aiming at an integrated Arab market that emulates the EU experience. “The Agadir agreement is better than the pan Arab agreement," says trader and exporter Talal Ghazawee. “It is easier to establish B to B business between two countries, to get the networking going,” he says. Barriers to access the EU market Businessmen also face tough obstacles

n An employee of a retail company talking to a consumer in Amman

ECONOMY > JORDAN

n Workers at a textile factory in Irbid’s industrial qualified zone

“It is important to exchange goods among Arab countries. is opens a new horizon, but this issue has not yet been treated seriously by putting political sensitivities aside”

abroad, saying that their exports to the EU have dropped, due to stricter rules of origin regulations. At the CJC garment factory in Jordan’s bustling Sahab industrial zone, managing director Sameer Maqdah says realizing the full potential of Agadir requires a reassessment of strict EU import regulations. “Prior to 1999, nearly

n Sameer Maqdah

seriously by putting political sensitivities aside,” he remarks. Emrani calls for an Arab League strategy to boost trade and remove regional trade obstacles, arguing that the Agadir pact cannot succeed with four countries alone. Although the road to a common market is a long and winding one, experts say that as Agadir success stories take shape, more countries will look regionally in order to better compete on the global market. “If we manage to have Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Algeria on board – concluded Imrani – Agadir will be the agreement we have all been waiting for.” one third of my production went to Europe, but with rules of origin and other problems, I am finding it more diﬃcult to export to Europe," he says. “I do not know why we should build a business model on an agreement, rather than an agreement that addresses the business model that exists,” he says. Look regionally to compete globally Still, for countries such as Jordan, which suffers 14 percent unemployment and high poverty rates, the Agadir agreement could be the prescription for economic growth. Fathallah Emrani, president of the Federation the Jordanian trade union of textile workers, says the agreement could be the answer to Jordan’s unemployment, as the textile industry demands a large-scale workforce. “It is important to exchange goods among Arab countries. is opens a new horizon, but this issue has not yet been treated

“If we manage to have Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Algeria on board, Agadir will be the agreement we have all been waiting for”

Agadir Agreement – EU support project (phase II) http://www.agadiragreement.org/ The project contributes to the realisation of a Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area and promotes economic integration in the region, through consolidating the institutional framework set up under the Agadir Agreement Participating countries Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco Timeframe: 2008 - 2012 Budget: €4 million Aims: The Agadir Agreement seeks to promote economic integration and cooperation between the participating countries, reinforcing south-south cooperation. It contributes to the on-going process of economic liberalisation throughout the Mediterranean region, and supports the Euro-Med Partnership’s goal of creating a regional Free Trade Area. Find out more: Agadir Agreement fiche > http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php? id=314&id_type=10 EU Neighbourhood Info Centre > Economy thematic portal > http://www.enpiinfo.eu/thememed.php?subject=4

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ECONOMY > LEBANON

e new trade routes of old natural soap Cosmetics were chosen because of their great potential for market expansion: olive oil soap and other ointments from the East and the South are now within closer reach of European consumers. e Med Cosmetic project – completed in 2011 and part of the EU supported Invest In Med programme – has seen the involvement of 150 representatives from European, Lebanese, Syrian and Jordanian companies, who were able to promote their brands through business-to- business meetings, conferences and workshops. Every year, around 600 companies from Mediterranean partner countries export to Europe 42,000 tonnes of industrial cosmetics: a wealth of products now advertised to foreign markets, just as local business people are more aware of the rules to better sell abroad… Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

n A Lebanese man wearing a traditional outfit arranges scented soaps displayed

inside Khan El Saboun factory shop located in the oldest market of Tripoli

BEIRUT - From the old workshops of Tripoli, in the north of Lebanon, or Aleppo, in northern Syria, olive oil soap and other ointments from the East are now within reach of European consumers thanks to the eﬀorts of Med Cosmetics, a project financed by the European Union as part of the Invest In Med programme. e project, which lasted from May 2010 to March 2011 and saw the involvement of around 150 representatives from Lebanese, Syrian, Jordanian and European companies, is part of European plans to develop sustainable trade routes between producers on both sides of the Mediterranean. "e main aim of our work has been to strengthen the long-term capacity for production and product export and the ability for Lebanese, Syrian and Jordanian companies to promote their brands through business-to-business meetings,

workshops and conferences held in Beirut, Damascus, Aleppo and Paris," says Aline Farajan, the director of Med Cosmetics for Lebanon. 42,000 tonnes of cosmetics on the way Syria, Lebanon and Jordan have more than 600 companies exporting around 42,000 tonnes of industrial cosmetics every year and around 45,000 tonnes of natural soaps. "is richness needs to be strengthened and publicised to foreign markets, just as local businesspeople need to know the rules in order to sell products better abroad," says Farajan. e culmination of the work carried out by Med Cosmetics came in meetings organised during the 2010 edition of Beyond Beauty Paris, which was held in September last year. "Around 50 Euro71

ECONOMY > LEBANON

n A Lebanese youth wearing a traditional outfit checks the display of various vegetables and fruits

made of scented soaps at Khan El Saboun factory shop located in the oldest market of Tripoli

“is richness needs to be strengthened and publicised to foreign markets, just as local businesspeople need to know the rules in order to sell products better abroad”

n A Lebanese worker shapes the freshly made soap into balls at

the Med Cosmetics factory near Tripoli, northern Lebanon

pean representatives met around 30 Lebanese delegates, 60 Syrians and a delegation of Jordanian producers," says Farajan, a researcher at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon (CCIB). Beyond the CCIB, the project was also partnered by the Syrian centre for business aﬀairs (SEBC) and the Jordanian business development association (JEDCO). e project also featured a study into cosmetics production in Lebanon and Syria and a workshop in Damascus, during which local businesspeople were shown new technical and administrative procedures in force in Europe. "Cosmetics were chosen by the organisers of the project because of their great potential for market expansion. Lebanese and Syrian producers are known for their lengthy tradition in crafts, particularly olive oil and laurel soaps, which are increasingly in demand on the European market," Farajan says. With regard to results obtained by Med Cosmetics, Farajan says that "between March and today, a number of important cooperation agreements have been signed between local and French companies”.

“e main aim of our work has been to strengthen the long-term capacity for production and product export and the ability for Lebanese, Syrian and Jordanian companies to promote their brands”

A strong network of contacts between operators Invest in Med is a Euro-Mediterranean Network of organisations, funded by the EU with a budget of €9 million, committed to investment promotion and trade facilitation, strengthening SME collaboration and exchange of best-practices. It aims to increase the abilities and eﬃciency of Mediterranean Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), thus enabling

n Visitors look at products made of various soaps at Khan El

Saboun factory shop located in the oldest market of Tripoli

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ECONOMY > LEBANON

n Lebanese men shape soap blocks into

balls as they sit in the courtyard of Khan El Saboun factory shop located in the oldest market of Tripoli

Some 40 governmental agencies and international networks participate in this programme. To achieve the objectives, Invest in Med works on the global image of the Mediterranean, the investor reception conditions in Partner Countries and practices. From road shows and seminars, training and conferences, the programme has moved on to technical assistance missions. Text by ANSAMED & EU Neighbourhood Info

“Lebanese and Syrian producers are known for their lengthy tradition in crafts, particularly olive oil and laurel soaps, which are increasingly in demand on the European market”

more foreign direct investment in the Mediterranean Partner Countries. is multi-country platform supports the economic development of the Mediterranean and reinforces cooperation between European and Mediterranean IPAs. Each year, the Invest In Med programme, which began in 2008 and has continued throughout 2011, provides a network of contacts between operators in the sector from all 27 EU member states and nine partners on the southern shores of the Mediterranean. Its activities cover three areas: institutional support, the creation of a network, and promotion of regional investment.

INVEST in MED A Euro-Mediterranean Network of organisations committed to investment promotion and trade facilitation, strengthening Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) collaboration and exchange of best-practices

n A Lebanese woman looks at necklaces made of colored soap

Participating countries Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia Timeframe: 2008 - 2011 Budget: €9 million (ENPI South) Aims: It aims to increase the abilities and eﬃciency of Mediterranean Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), thus enabling more foreign direct investment in the Mediterranean Partner Countries. This multi-country platform supports the economic development of the Mediterranean and reinforces cooperation between European and Mediterranean IPAs. Find out more: Invest in Med : ENPI fiche > http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php? id=16&id_type=10

n A Lebanese worker handles natural herbs to be used in the making of

ENPI Regional thematic page: economy > http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php? subject=4 Invest In Med website > http://www.investin-med.eu/

soap at the Med Cosmetics factory near Tripoli, northern Lebanon

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ECONOMY > OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

e Old Khan restored to its former glories

n Renovation works underway in the Khan Alwakala

Few would have imagined that this ancient caravanserai could be restored to its former glories after it had been reduced to rubble by a powerful earthquake in 1927. Prior to that, generations of merchants had spent the night here on their travels from Asia to North Africa. But the earthquake left the site in such a state that nobody really believed it could be rebuilt… until the European Union decided to act and kick-start a restoration project. In the first 12 years of the project, only about three and a half years of construction work was done on the site due to conflicts, political standstill and civil unrest. But now the Old Khan is well and truly back and ready to take on a new challenge: to become an incubator for handicrafts, tourism and cultural services for the city of Nablus. NABLUS - You really have to see it to believe it. What once looked like rubble from a World War II movie has become a noble, outstanding, brand new building. is is a story about giving an urban 74

building a second lease of life. “In Nablus, Khan Alwakala is a landmark; a landmark that we wanted to bring back to life for the people of this city and for all Palestinians," said the EU Representative Mr. John Gatt-

Rutter. "Nablus is a city with an immortal spirit, full of history and full of life. We started from the heart of its old city not just to restore a site, but also to revitalize the commercial and cultural life of Nablus." Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

ECONOMY > OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

Palestinians call it Khan Alwakala, which is Arabic means ‘hostel’. Built some 350 years ago, the site used to serve as caravanserai for merchants en route from Asia to North Africa through the historical land of Palestine. ey used to tie their mules in the courtyard and spend the night here. In 1927, a powerful earthquake destroyed the site, leaving it entirely neglected until the mid 1990s. It was then that the Mayor of Nablus, Ghassan Shakaa, and the chief municipality engineer Adala Attireh came up with the idea of restoring the place. At the time, it seemed like just a pipe dream. “We met with European Union officials and explained what we were thinking of doing,” recalls Adala, now a chief engineer at Ramallah City Council. “After a long discussion, the City Council agreed to go ahead with the project provided that the whole compound became the property of the municipality. As such, the City Council decided to buy all the privately-owned sections. The site became public. The EU became fully committed to the project and it took off.” e history of the country in one building Nablus is one of the largest cities on the West Bank. e Old City has a story of its own to tell and its buildings tell the history of the country. Restoring the Khan Alwakala was a challenge not only because of the amount of damage caused by the earthquake but also because it could lead to the ‘unthinkable’, namely the further restoration of the Old City. is is an idea that almost every mayor who has ever stepped into the City Hall has dreamed of. When the EU decided to get involved in this 2.5 million euro project, it demanded that - in addition to the municipality stakeholders include both the Najah University in Nablus and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). All the parties worked together as best they could, but there were inevitably hiccups Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

n Throughout all the phases of work, the workers never used heavy machines, but only hand tools

“e day when I am 80 or older, I can imagine chatting with my grandchildren and explaining to them the kind of work I did, to restore a place that none of us thought could be restored” along the way. When the second Palestinian intifada broke out in 2000 and was followed by Israeli troop incursions into the West Bank cities in 2002, work stopped for almost three years. During this period very little was done, and during an exchange of fire in 2002, a missile brought down a considerable part of the area that was under diagnostic. e old gate of the site was actually destroyed by the Palestinians, after Israelis attacked the neighbouring soap factory, in a vain eﬀort to search for survivors. When things cooled down, work resumed for a couple of years only to be disrupted again. is time, it wasn’t armed fighting but a political dispute after the 2006 legislative elections, which brought Hamas to power and a raise in tension with the international community. It took several years of negotiations in order to resume the works, and now that the project is so close to being finalised, it all seems worthwhile despite all the prob-

lems it has encountered along the way. e Old Khan is well and truly alive and kicking again and it is quite magnificent. “Looking at the quality of the renovation," says the EU Representative Mr. John Gatt-Rutter, "this has been a worthwhile investment and one of huge potential in terms of job creation and economic growth for Nablus." “The rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of the Khan Alwakala has accompanied UNESCO’s action for the preservation and revival of Palestinian cultural heritage for more than a decade," says Derek Elias Head of Office Unesco Ramallah Office. "It has been at times a way to understand the Palestinian context, a real challenge when we were confronted with external factors driven by force majeure, and a reason of pride after its restoration.” Handicrafts, tourism and cultural services Apart from the historical and cultural aspects

n A team of 12 Palestinians received training in old stone

restoration techniques

ECONOMY > OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

“We started from the heart of its old city not just to restore a site, but also to revitalize the commercial and cultural life of Nablus” of the restoration of the caravanserai, the project aims to improve standard of living of residents of Nablus. e infrastructure close by the caravanserai has been renovated to be used as an incubator for handicrafts, tourism and cultural services. In addition, experts have prepared a plan for the municipality on how to transform the site into a profit-generating centre to ensure that the restoration work has a long-term impact. Once the compound has been oﬃcially opened, it will house a small nine-room inn and several shops to sell traditional handicrafts such as the famous olive oil soap and traditional embroidery. Other shops will contain tourism centres and agencies to help visitors. ere will also be a restaurant on two floors, and the old courtyard, where mules used to be tethered overnight for hundreds of years, is now a venue for public events. ere are already plenty of ideas for entertainment evenings and concerts during the next Holy Month of Ramadan. Workers on ly used hand tools While restoring infrastructure was an

important part of the project, another essential component was to develop the restoration skills of Palestinian workers. at’s why a team of 12 Palestinians received training in old stone restoration techniques at Najah University and abroad. Experts from the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee also joined in, oﬀering a considerable amount of their expertise. roughout all the phases of work, the workers never used heavy machines such as sand and water compressors but only used hand tools. ey even sought the expertise of elderly stone-cutters, who only make use of hammers and chisels. Raed Arafat is a carpenter who used to work in his father’s shop just a few metres away from the Khan Alwakalah. When the municipality headhunted workers to join the team, he was one of the 12 workers

“It has been at times a way to understand the Palestinian context, a real challenge when we were confronted with external factors driven by force majeure, and a reason of pride after its restoration”

who received intensive training in restoration techniques. Today, Raed and two colleagues, Alaa Rihan and Kayed Okasha, still work on the site. e others have left, because they could not aﬀord to be unemployed for extended periods of time. “I am very proud of what I have done,” says Alaa, who is in his mid 20s. “e day when I am 80 or older, I can imagine chatting with my grandchildren and explaining to them the kind of work I did, to restore a place that none of us thought could be restored…” Text by Elias Zananiri Pictures by EPA ©EU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

Nablus Old City Centre Renovation To provide a model for future protection of the cultural heritage in Nablus and the occupied Palestinian territory; to contribute to the rehabilitation of the urban fabric of the historic town, as well as the upgrading of its services and the improvement of the living standards of the inhabitants Participating countries Occupied Palestinian Territory Timeframe: 1999 - 2012 Budget: €2.5 million Objective: The first is the restoration of the historic building known as Khan Al-Wakala; the second is the renovation and upgrading of the public infrastructure in the immediate surroundings of the caravanserai; and the third is the re-use of the building as an urban facility that acts as an incubator for handicraft, tourism and cultural services, in order to ensure the sustainability of the intervention. Find out more: EU assistance to the Palestinians http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/westbank/index_en.htm

n The compound will house a small nine-room inn and several shops

EU Neighbourhood Info Centre Thematic portal: culture http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php? subject=10

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

EU N Neighbourhood eighbourhood

Handbooks Neighbourhood FFrom rom the EU Neighbour hood Centre IInfo nfo nf oC entre website, website, a number different of differ diff erent handbooks can be downloaded, offering off ering downloaded, offer tips to to media professionals prof ofessionals essionals improved oved ccoverage overage of EU ffor or impr cooperation activities, tivities, but cooperation ac also providing information providing infor inf ormation on how to how to to access access EU funding or to navigate jargon. gon. navigate through through EU jar A wealth our wealth of knowledge knowledge aatt yyour disposal, way on disposal, just a click aaway www.enpi-info.eu. w ww.enpi-inf .enpi-info o.eu.

Supporting budget Supporting change EU Budget Support is not a gift. It is a mutually agreed contract aimed at supporting reforms in a jointly agreed sector, explains Luca Oriani Vieyra, responsible for Budget Support, Macro-Fiscal Policy and General Coordination with International Financial Institutions at the Neighborhood Directorate of the European Commission.

Tunisian students before the courses in the Technological High School of Bizerte, in Bizerte, Tunisia on 09 March 2012. The Tunisian educational system is the target of a large European budget support programme. PHOTO EPA ÂŠEU/Neighbourhood Info Centre

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

Interview with Luca Oriani Vieyra Responsible for Budget Support, Macro-Fiscal Policy and General Coordination with International Financial Institutions at the Neighborhood Directorate of the European Commission

“Positive changes for the citizens can take place through the support of reforms leading, for example, to a more educated and informed society”

What is Budget Support in practical terms? It is a contract that involves the European Commission, on the one hand, and the government of the partner country, on the other. So it is a type of cooperation based on a clear set of mutually binding commitments. e EC authorizes the full transfer of the Budget Support funds when agreed commitments have been implemented fully by the partner country’s authorities. If this is not the case, the size of the financial transfer authorized by the EC is reduced accordingly or there is no transfer at all. So, in simple terms, budget support is “reforms done = money paid”. In the ENPI region, there are 9 countries benefiting from EU Budget Support, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine in the East, and Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia in the South. e key objective is to support the policies of legislative and regulatory approximation in the European Neighborhood, and the types of reforms include promoting good governance, improving conditions for trade and investment, etc. – in other words, the EU Budget Support programmes help create a more favorable environment for the benefit of the citizens and businesses. Obviously, EU Budget Support is no silver bullet. e ultimate responsibility and merit for the success and the speed of reforms lie with the elected executive. How does Budget Support work? A Budget Support programme lasts 3-4 years and the money is disbursed based on conditions attached to the annual tranches. It is then clearly specified what the government should achieve, for example with regard to justice reform in Georgia, healthcare system reforms in Moldova or higher education reforms in Tunisia. Finally, and depending on the degree of success in the results achieved, the actual disbursement related to each tranche is paid by the EC. What is the impact of Budget Support on the citizens? Citizens do not benefit from a Budget Support programme in an immediate way, as such programmes are not emergency transfers to fill, say, salary-related gaps in the budget, but rather focus on mediumterm structural changes.

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

However, when Budget Support programmes favour the acceleration of structural changes in the area of, say, education or transport, this benefits citizens and businesses, ensuring a more sustainable development of society as a whole. ere is another important issue related to the citizen. Should you, as a donor, provide Budget Support to a country with questionable governance? One could say ‘no’ and wait until the situation reaches, say, Swiss levels. However, one should also bear in mind that positive changes for the citizens can take place through the support of reforms leading, for example, to a more educated and informed society. ere are of course several aspects to consider but ultimately a decision is taken. In Belarus, for example, we are not engaged in Budget Support programmes. What are the criteria for providing Budget Support? We apply three eligibility criteria, namely there must be: • a sound national or sector development plan; • a stability-oriented macroeconomic framework, with fiscal and monetary policies conducive to economic growth; • a progressive improvement in the management of public finances. As long as such conditions are met, budget support can then be implemented in support of specific reforms in, say, trade or energy. How will Budget Support evolve in the future? Soon there will be one additional condition for countries to be eligible for EU Budget Support, and this will focus on budget transparency. Interested citizens will have better access to relevant information and see what exactly has been agreed in the area of, for example, justice system reforms, and this will further contribute to increasing transparency and accountability. To sum up, while being a rather sophisticated policy instrument, as reforms in the ENP region are increasingly complex, EU Budget Support is becoming a powerful means to support the strengthening of national ownership and accountability in critical areas such as public governance reforms.

Find out more

ENP

ENPI

European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) It was developed after the EU’s enlargement in 2004 with 10 new countries, in order to avoid the emergence of new dividing lines in Europe. Through it, the EU oﬀers its neighbours a privileged relationship, building upon a mutual commitment to common values - democracy and human rights, rule of law, good governance, market economy principles and sustainable development. The ENP oﬀers a deeper political relationship and economic integration through reforms as a means of achieving peace, stability and economic prosperity. Following an extensive review, in 2011, the EU launched a renewed ENP, seeking to strengthen ties through a ‘more for more’ approach – making more funding available, for those countries more committed to reform. The participating countries are: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine. Although Russia is also an EU neighbour, and benefits from the ENPI, relations are developed through a Strategic Partnerhsip. http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/index_en.htm

The Partnership Instrument: from ENPI to ENI The financial arm of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), in place since January 2007. It is the single financial instrument that replaced the MEDA (South), TACIS (East) and various other financial instruments. The ENPI aims at supporting partner countries achieve sustainable development and approximation to EU policies and standards, based on agreed priorities. For the budgetary period 2007-2013, approximately €12 billion in EC funding are available to support reforms in neighbouring states. From 2014, the ENPI will be replaced by the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), an in-creasingly policydriven instrument, which will provide for increased diﬀerentiation, more flexibility, stricter conditionality and incentives for best performers. http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/neighbourhood/overvie w/index_en.htm

Useful links

Commissioner Enlargement and ENP http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/fule/ ENP website http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/welcome_en.htm Development and Cooperation – EuropeAid http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm External Action Service (EEAS) http://eeas.europa.eu/index_en.htm

Projects in Action 2 - Southern Neighbourhood

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