The question of migrants and refugees is increasingly showing and outlining a regressive face and profound injustice from several European countries. The walls that stand in defence of the borders represent the image of a Europe unable to distribute the vast wealth produced and at the same time is a prison for the European peoples themselves, trapped in the austerity policies, which invariably impoverish wider strata of the population. On the other shore of the Mediterranean, the spring seems to have fallen back into a cold winter and war favours the emergence of new and old forms of dictatorships that reduce spaces of democracy.
transform! europe promotes, throughout the festival “Sabir”, to be held in Pozzallo from 12 to 15 May, a meeting between political representatives and civil society of the two shores of the Mediterranean with the aim of strengthening the democratic movements and political alliances of these two shores.
What is the European Union’s role in building peace policies, who are the subjects and the forces with whom to build relationships that can strengthen forms of democracy and participation, that can redefine economic and social policies that replace the new forms of economic colonialism and neo-liberal dominance?
These are some of the questions we will try to answer, in order to strengthen and expand the social and political alliances between the many sides of the sea, cradle of our civilization.
The meeting organized by transform! europe will take place on May 14 and is composed by two sessions.
Contact and information
transform.italia@gmail.com
Roberto Morea
Phone: +39 3396234477
Programme
Saturday, 14 May 2016
9.30 – 11.30: The Democratic Transitions
Coordination: Roberto Morea, transform! europe
Tasia Christodoulopoulou, former minister of immigration, Greece
Messaoud Romdhani, Tunisia, Forum for Economic and Social Rights, Maghreb Social Forum and Executive Board Euromed Rights network
Kamal Lahbib o Hamouda Soubhi, Marocco, Alternatives Morocco and Maghreb Social Forum
Stefano Galieni, Rifondazione Comunista, Italy
Marie-Christine Vergiat, MEP – Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union
Maria Jaidopulu Vrijea, Nicos Poulantzas Institute, Greece
11.30 – 13.00: Struggles and Convergences
Coordination: Katerina Anastasiou, platform change4all, Vienna
Cagla Elcin Aykac, Network University of Peace, Turkey
Ziad Abdel Samad, Arab NGOs network for Development
Jan Robert Suisser, Vice-president of the European Civic Forum, League of Human Rights
Lorenzo Marsili, European Alternatives, DiEM 25
Domenico Rizzuti, La Sinistra Euromediterranea, Italy
Sahkry A., Democratic Confederation of Labour (CDT), Morocco
For the full program please refer to the folder (pdf) on the right.