Networking in the Mediterranean

In the nineties I was involved in a number of international youth organisations dealing with development and global co-operation issues such as matters related to the United Nations and the Mediterranean. Among the most satisfying moments was my election to the leadership bureau of the Brussels based platform the European Youth Forum. That was achieved with the help of a number of close friends including Malta based Giovanni Buttigieg. Giovanni is today doing an excellent job directing the Euro Med Youth Platform. Launched in September 2003, it promotes tolerance, understanding and active networks amongst young people from the Mediterranean region. This is done via numerous exchanges, seminars and activities that encourage youth leadership and development. A profile from the platform's website:

We provide networking services for youth initiatives in the region by assisting in the search for partners, facilitating the creation of networks of youth groups that have similar objectives, publishing a magazine in 3 languages, organising meetings, providing an on-line FORUM for discussion, researching the situation of young people in each country, and distributing information about the Euro-Med Youth Programme.

Our objectives are the nurturing of democracy and its established instruments, and fostering mutual understanding as well as improvement in the issues of racism, gender equality and minority rights.The Commission of the European Union and the Government of Malta are the main financial contributors to the Platform. A Steering Committee composed of the Director of the Platform, representatives from the Youth Unit, AIDCO and DG RELEX within the Commission of the European Communities, SALTO Euro-Med, and the European Youth Forum overlooks the general progress of the Platform.

Together with the Euro-Med Youth Programme, the Platform is an instrument being developed within the framework of co-operation in the youth sector between thirty-five countries, parties to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership Agreement (Barcelona Declaration).


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