The PolDiMed Program Celebrates its 10th Anniversary
The Regional Program for Political Dialogue and Regional Integration in the Mediterranean (PolDiMed) of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation (KAS) has celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of commitment to more effective governance, structured dialogue, and enhanced cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean.
Launched in 2015, PolDiMed has gradually established itself as a regional reference platform, contributing to the analysis of Mediterranean issues, supporting public reforms, and developing institutional synergies aimed at strengthening stability, economic integration, and coherence of public policies in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The program relies on a solid network of national, regional, and international partners, who have praised its driving role in promoting a more resilient, cooperative, and forward-looking Mediterranean space.
On the occasion of this celebration, key partners such as SALMA Dialogue (Tunisia), IEMed (Spain), ISPI (Italy), and MEDAC (Malta) highlighted the impact of PolDiMed's work in structuring inclusive dialogue, deepening expertise exchanges, and strengthening cross-border cooperation, in a context marked by growing geopolitical, economic, and climate challenges.
The FIPA - Foreign Investment Promotion Agency, whose president, Mr. Jalel Tebib, attended the ceremony, emphasized the strategic importance of PolDiMed in strengthening Euro-Mediterranean dialogue and the key role of regional and international cooperation in economic attractiveness. "The economic attractiveness of our region is intrinsically linked to our ability to dialogue, coordinate our policies, and build solid alliances. PolDiMed is an essential pillar of this ongoing effort in the Mediterranean," said Mr. Jalel Tebib.
For his part, H.E. José Maria Arbilla, Ambassador of the Republic of Argentina in Tunisia, stressed that PolDiMed has a positive impact on South-South cooperation and constitutes a strategic lever for the consolidation of durable political and economic alliances. Michael Bauer, Resident Representative of the KAS in Tunisia, congratulated Mr. Winfried Weck, Director of the PolDiMed program, and praised the KAS's commitment to strengthened strategic dialogue and sustainable cooperation in the Mediterranean. "This milestone marks a renewed commitment to supporting a more integrated, stable, and forward-looking Mediterranean," said Mr. Winfried Weck.
After ten years of action, PolDiMed is entering a new phase of development, oriented towards in-depth strategic reflection, the creation of sustainable synergies, and the maximization of its impact in the service of regional actors.
Priorities for the Years to Come
- Intensifying dialogue between institutional, economic, and civil society actors;
- Consolidating concerted approaches to security, governance, and climate change issues;
- Strengthening the role of women in positions of responsibility;
- Promoting mechanisms for enhanced cooperation between think tanks, public institutions, and international partners.
