EuroMeSCo Joint Policy Studies

Serie de publicaciones en colaboración con otros centros de investigación y seguimiento de las relaciones euromediterráneas.

Nº. 17. “Infrastructures and Power in the Middle East and North Africa”

Eduard Soler, Silvia Colombo, Laura Basagni, Ahmed Kandil, Florence Gaub, Lotje Boswinkel, Victor Salama Una gran competencia de poder más agresiva y los efectos disruptivos de las nuevas tecnologías han dado un nuevo impulso al análisis del impacto de la geografía en las decisiones políticas. Durante la última década, el Mediterráneo y Oriente Medio y el Norte de África (MENA) han experimentado transformaciones sociales, políticas y económicas profundas y de gran alcance que han contribuido a niveles de volatilidad e incertidumbre sin precedentes. Este estudio examina estos cambios que han remodelado muchas de las características tradicionales del orden geopolítico vigente en la región durante décadas y que pueden tener el potencial de hacerlo en un futuro próximo en el ámbito estratégico de las infraestructuras.

Founded in 1996 and comprising 102 institutes from 29 European and South Mediterranean countries, EuroMeSCo is the main network of research centres in the Mediterranean, striving at building a community of institutes and think tanks committed to strengthening Euro-Mediterranean relations.

The objectives of the network are to contribute to inclusive policy making and generate influential quality analysis and reflection on Euro-Mediterranean politics and policies, in particular in relation with economic development, security and migration issues; to serve as a platform for dialogue between the members of the network and key stakeholders to discuss the key trends and challenges on the region´s agenda. The EuroMeSCo work plan includes a wide range of publications involving experts from both sides of the Mediterranean and including reactive and policy-oriented formats, as well as a number of activities including multi-stakeholders events and a specific scheme targeting young researchers. The European Institute of the Mediterranean The Rome-based Istituto Affari Internazionali (IEMed), founded in 1989, is a consortium (IAI) is a private, independent non-profit think comprising the Catalan Government, the tank, founded in 1965 on the initiative of Altiero Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Spinelli. It seeks to promote awareness of Cooperation and Barcelona City Council. It international politics and contributes to the incorporates civil society through its Board of advancement of European integration and Trustees and its Advisory Council formed by multilateral cooperation. IAI is part of a vast Mediterranean universities, companies, international network, and interact and organisations and personalities of renowned cooperate with the government and its prestige. ministries, European and international institutions, universities, major national In accordance with the principles of the economic actors, the media and the most Euro-Mediterra nean Partnership's Barcelona authoritative international think tanks. Process, and today with the objectives of the Union for the Mediterranean the aim of the IEMed is to foster actions and projects which contribute to mutual understanding, Exchange and cooperation between the different Mediterranean countries, societies and cultures as well as to CIDOB, the Barcelona Centre for International promote the progressive construction of a space Affairs, is an independent and plural think tank of peace and stability, shared prosperity and based in Barcelona, dedicated to the study, dialogue between cultures and civilisations in the research and analysis of international affairs. Mediterranean. CIDOB is one of the founding members of EuroMeSCo and the Mediterranean and the Adopting a clear role as a think tank specialised Middle East is one of its main areas of expertise, in Mediterranean relations based on a together with European integration, migration, multidisciplinary and networking approach, the global cities and Latin America. It leads and IEMed encourages analysis, understanding and takes part in several EU research projects. From cooperation through the organisation of 2016 to 2019 CIDOB coordinated the seminars, research projects, debates, MENARA project, focusing on geopolitical conferences and publications, in addition to a shifts and its impact in the regional order in the broad cultural programme. Middle East and North Africa.

Colaboración con: Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), Roma; CIDOB, Barcelona

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C A I R F RTH A NO D N LE E AS T A D D I E M N T H R I E O W D P N S A E UR C T U R AS T R F N I

Nº. 16. “The Role of China in the Middle East and North Africa. Beyond Economic Interests?”

Katarzyna Sidło, Lars Erslev Andersen, Camille Lons, Tamás Peragovics, Erzsébet N. Rózsa

Oriente Próximo y el Norte de África han sido tradicionalmente más bien periféricos a los intereses de China. No obstante, desde principios de los años 2000, con una demanda de energía rápidamente creciente en el gigante asiático y el lanzamiento de la llamada guerra mundial contra el terrorismo, la región ha estado cada vez más en el radar de Pekín, que en 2013 ponía en marcha la Iniciativa del Cinturón y Ruta de la Seda. El presente estudio explora este proceso de aproximación entre China y el mundo árabe que no es solo económico, sino que tiene claras vertientes sociales y políticas. También analiza qué supone este creciente vínculo para la Unión Europea y su área de vecindad.

Founded in 1996 and comprising 102 institutes from 29 European and South Mediterranean countries, EuroMeSCo is the main network of research centres in the Mediterranean, striving at building a community of institutes and think tanks committed to strengthening Euro-Mediterranean relations. The objectives of the network are to contribute to inclusive policy making and generate influential quality analysis and reflection on Euro-Mediterranean politics and policies, in particular in relation with economic development, security and migration issues; to serve as a platform for dialogue between the members of the network and key stakeholders to discuss the key trends and challenges on the region´s agenda. The EuroMeSCo work plan includes a wide range of publications involving experts from both sides of the Mediterranean and including reactive and policy-oriented formats, as well as a number of activities including multi-stakeholders events and a specific scheme targeting young researchers. The European Institute of the Mediterranean CASE – Center for Social and Economic (IEMed), founded in 1989, is a consortium Research is an independent, non-profit comprising the Catalan Government, the Spanish research institute founded on the idea that Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and research-based policy-making is vital for the Barcelona City Council. It incorporates civil economic welfare of societies. society through its Board of Trustees and its Advisory Council formed by Mediterranean Established in Warsaw in 1991, CASE today is universities, companies, organisations and recognized as the top think tank in Central and personalities of renowned prestige. Eastern Europe and is one of the most highly regarded think tanks internationally. In accordance with the principles of the Euro-Mediterra nean Partnership's Barcelona CASE carries out policy-oriented research and Process, and today with the objectives of the development assistance projects, specializing Union for the Mediterranean the aim of the IEMed in the areas of: is to foster actions and projects which contribute to mutual understanding, Exchange and 1) Fiscal, monetary and financial policies cooperation between the different Mediterranean countries, societies and cultures as well as to 2) Sustainable development policies promote the progressive construction of a space of peace and stability, shared prosperity and 3) Trade, innovation and productivity policies. It dialogue between cultures and civilisations in the predominantly focuses on the economies and Mediterranean. societies of Poland and the European Union, as well as the EU's Eastern and Southern Adopting a clear role as a think tank specialised Neighbourhoods. in Mediterranean relations based on a multidisciplinary and networking approach, the Drawing on an experienced in-house staff, a IEMed encourages analysis, understanding and network of fellows, and a database of cooperation through the organisation of approximately 1,000 experts, CASE provides seminars, research projects, debates, rigorous quantitative and qualitative analyses, conferences and publications, in addition to a innovative methodologies, and sound broad cultural programme. recommendations.

Colaboración con: Centre for Social and Economic Research (CASE), Varsovia

JOINT POLICY STUDY 16

THE ROLE OF CHINA IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (MENA). BEYOND ECONOMIC INTERESTS?

INFRASTRUCTURES AND POWER IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

S. Colombo, E. Soler i Lecha (Eds.)

EUROMESCO JOINT POLICY STUDY

17

THE ROLE OF CHINA IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (MENA). BEYOND ECONOMIC INTERESTS?

Katarzyna W. Sidło (Ed.)

EUROMESCO JOINT POLICY STUDY

16