Transformation and Integration in the Mediterranean – Choices to Consider Mats Karlsson, Director, Center for Mediterranean Integrationi – April 4, 2011 The Arab Democratic Spring opens opportunities for long awaited economic and social progress. The untenable gaps have long been visible.ii Reforms have been held back by poor government. The private sector has been stymied by the constraints of privilege rather than boosted by the creative forces of competition.iii Gaps within and between countries became increasingly unacceptable to a young generation aware of what is possible and tired of waiting. While more, decent and better paying jobs is the one overall objective, dignity was the most important word at the onset of the Arab Spring. Dignity as in empowerment, means the ability to change, and transformative change is today intrinsically linked to integration. The immediate objectives are to create democratic, non-corrupt societies and to kindle stable, growing economies, overcoming the current downturn and the costs of change. This can be achieved if choices are faced linking the short and longer term. Mediterraneaniv integration, with the European Union a real major anchor, is the necessary framework to deepen and renew. Five hundred millionv people live around the Mediterranean, with an economy of $5 trillionvi and a general growth rate of 2.2%.vii In this highly interdependent environment, new orientations of reform are being set out in the south, and so external actors, too, need to embrace higher levels of ambition. Drawing on earlier lessons from broad European integration, a Mediterranean Economic Area might complement current bilateral and regional agreements. While this must come at the costs of investment, the win-wins cover every aspect of objectives: from security to prosperity to values. Some choices to consider are here presented under the three headings of Empowerment; Employment, Entrepreneurship and Equity; and Integration.viii
Empowerment Use the Capacity of the Youth Nearly four out of every 10 among the Arab Mediterranean Countries’ (AMCs) 180 million people are between the ages of 15 and 34. The demographic transitory increase in the number of youth should not be seen as a burden, but as a transformative generation that can drive growth and development for decades to come. 1. Promote real civic participation: Understand youth concerns through surveys, use IT and social media both as sources of information and interaction, and create national policies that are met with trust. 2. Scale up youth livelihood programs. Consider a Mediterranean Youth Voluntary Service. Free the Potential of Women Women remain a largely untapped resource in the region. Young women’s prospect of participation in economic life is far lower than for young men. There is a dire need for a new public gender agenda. 3. Promote inclusiveness and accountability in public institutions. Review the legislative environment. 4. Emphasize skills and lifelong learning to open economic opportunities, as women face additional challenges because of early marriage and childbearing. 5. Invest in infrastructure which can vastly expand a woman’s horizon and free up her time. More Power to Urban and Local Government The urban share of total population will grow from 56% in 2005 to 65% by 2030. While urbanization can be a positive factor if harnessed, spatial disparities are a major factor behind discontent. 6. Give local empowerment a much higher order of priority. 1