Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean

Romanian government officials have raised serious alarms on irregularities occurred on TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media, in the period which preceded the first round of Romanian Presidential elections. Ancom, the Romania's National Audiovisual Council, has requested the European Commission to initiate a formal investigation, under the framework of the EU Digital Services Act, for suspicions of manipulation of public opinion. The request of Ancom follows the success of Calin Georgescu, the independent far-right pro-Russian candidate at the election, attributed in part to his campaign's heavy use of TikTok. The EU requested the CEO of TikTok to appear before the European Parliament to answer questions about the platform's role in the Romanian Presidential elections. PAM is currently engaging with its international partners in the monitoring and analyses on how State and non-State actors utilize propaganda, deepfakes, misinformation and disinformation strategies, in order to undermine the resilience of democratic systems. Moreover, PAM is fielding an Electoral Monitoring Mission to Romania to observe the forthcoming political elections. #Disinformation #ElectionSecurity  #ElectionIntegrity #DigitalServicesAct #SocialMediaRegulation #EU #TikTok Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ewqksqBX https://lnkd.in/eKX4C6zq

On 26 November 2024, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, reiterating the full support of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for the implementation of the agreement. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) joins the UN Secretary-General in welcoming the ceasefire, expressing its full support for all efforts, by all parties concerned, aimed at bringing an end to the violence and alleviating the suffering endured by the people in Lebanon and Israel. At the same time, PAM wishes and hopes that this ceasefire could also pave the way for a much needed ceasefire in Gaza. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eRiE5tw5 

26 November 2024, Rome – Today, Hon. Giulio Centemero PAM Vice-President and President of PAM’s 2nd Standing Committee, will represent the Assembly at the Parliamentary Forum of the 10th edition of the Rome MED – Mediterranean Dialogues, which will be held from 2.30 to 4.30 pm, co-promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI). Hon. Centemero will address two critical sessions, the first entitled “Mediterranean Geopolitics: The Region’s Quest for Peace and Stability”, and the second entitled “Mediterranean Economy: Development, Growth Gaps, and Interconnection”. In the framework of the MED Dialogues, PAM has been also invited, to contribute today to the “Closed-door lunch - the digital side of MENA conflicts: the role of disinformation and cyber warfare in Gaza and beyond”, organized in cooperation with the Arab Center Washington D.C To follow today’session, please find the link to connect: https://lnkd.in/dFP7kzu9

26 November 2024, Belgrade, Serbia – Today the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) will host a session entitled “AI & Emerging Tech: Preventing Misuse and Advancing Regulation” during the 9th annual meeting of the UN IGF - South Eastern European Dialogue on Internet Governance (SEEDIG), from 2.00 to 2.45 PM. Hon. Abdelouahab Yagoubi (Algeria), PAM Rapporteur on Artificial Intelligence, and Hon. Tijana Davidovac, Member of the Serbian Delegation to PAM will lead the discussions. This session will explore the urgent need for stronger regulatory frameworks for AI and emerging technologies at both national and international levels and the growing risk of malicious use of these technologies by criminal and terrorist groups. This discussion will also serve as an opportunity to present the findings of the live-report, entitled “The malicious use of AI and emerging technologies by terrorist and criminal groups: impact on security, legislation, and governance”, produced by the PAMCentre for Global Studies - PAM (CGS), in partnership with the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), and the (United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)). If you wish to follow today’session, please find the Zoom link to connect: https://lnkd.in/dYN4jePA

On 24 November 2024, the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29 Azerbaijan) in Baku, concluded with a limited agreement that set a new standard for global climate finance. After two weeks of intense negotiations, nearly 200 countries committed to a New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG). This agreement promises to triple annual climate finance for developing nations from $100 billion to $300 billion by 2035, and aims at mobilizing an impressive $1.3 trillion annually from public and private sources within the same timeframe. This agreement comes at a critical time as nations confront the escalating impacts of climate change. UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, called the deal an "insurance policy for humanity," underscoring that its success hinges on the timely and full delivery of commitments. The new finance framework is designed to strengthen resilience against climate disasters, accelerate the global shift to clean energy, and bolster adaptation efforts for the world's most vulnerable communities. India, however, rejected the NCQG decision, citing the insufficiency of commitments to address the financial and technological needs of developing countries, and calling for a more equitable approach that reflects the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC). Yet, COP29 extends beyond financial commitments. The conference made some advancements in key areas essential to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. Carbon market frameworks were finalized after nearly a decade of negotiations, providing clarity on country-to-country trading and ensuring environmental integrity. Progress in climate transparency was another highlight, with 13 countries submitting their first Biennial Transparency Reports. This marks a critical step in building a robust evidence base for climate policies and identifying financial needs and opportunities. Furthermore, at COP29, the Russian Federation presented a greenhouse gas inventory report also including the emissions from the Ukrainian occupied territories, which it has illegally declared as annexed—Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk. This decicision raised strong condemnation from Western nations, who saw it as a poor attempt by Russia to legitimize its unlawful occupation of Ukraine. PAM takes note of the outcomes of COP29, to which it participated and contributed, highlighting the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf region’s vulnerability to climate change and the critical importance of international collaboration in addressing these challenges. The Assembly reaffirms its commitment to promoting regional initiatives that align with the goals set in Baku. #COP29 #ClimateFinance #CleanEnergy #GlobalCooperation #ParisAgreement Learn more: https://lnkd.in/d28hsEEB https://lnkd.in/dEPdSRQn

On 5 December 2024, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) will actively participate in the Informal Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly to review the biennial report of the UN Secretary-General on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM). The session will take place at the UN Headquarters in New York. PAM’s engagement in this process reflects its unwavering dedication to addressing migration challenges, in line with the GCM's Guiding Principle of a whole-of-society approach. This principle underscores the importance of diverse stakeholder inclusion - parliamentarians, local authorities, civil society, academia, and private sector actors - in ensuring the comprehensive implementation, follow-up, and review of migration policies. As part of these efforts, PAM leads a Campaign Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, in collaboration with the UNODC Blue Heart Campaign and other key international partners, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). This initiative focuses on raising awareness of the severe impacts of trafficking and smuggling, promoting collaboration among parliamentarians to strengthen legislative frameworks, and enhancing regional and international cooperation. #Migration #GlobalCompact #InternationalCooperation #PAMatUN

On 23 November 2024, during the third International Food Security Summit, under the humanitarian programme "Grain from Ukraine", held in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the devastating impact of Russian strikes on Ukraine's vital agricultural infrastructure. Since July, 321 port facilities have been damaged by missile and drone attacks, raising serious concerns about global food security. Ukraine, often referred to as the Breadbasket of Europe, was exporting six million tons of grain monthly before the war. Today, this lifeline for global food supply is at risk, with 400 million people in 100 countries, including Egypt, Libya, and Nigeria, relying on Ukrainian grain. The strikes are not just an attack on Ukraine, but also a threat to international stability, particularly for vulnerable nations dependent on these exports. President Zelenskyy called for global solidarity, stating: "Protecting food security and securing routes for exports is essential to prevent a catastrophic rise in food prices and hunger in many parts of the world." Addressing the Summit, European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, expressed unwavering support for Ukraine and emphasized the European Union’s commitment to global food security. Highlighting the EU’s recent humanitarian and financial support initiatives, he reaffirmed that the European Union will stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary. He further stressed the need for resilient food systems to safeguard the most vulnerable populations, stating, "food security is a basic human right that must never be undermined by war or aggression." Estonian President, Alar Karis, on the same occasion, declared: "Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s food production and supply chains are attacks on the entire international community." He condemned the weaponization of food, drawing parallels with the Holodomor, the famine-genocide, led by Stalin, that devastated Ukraine 90 years ago, causing the death of up to 7 million Ukrainians. Lithuanian President, Gitanas Nausėda, in his address, echoed these concerns, describing Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and grain storage facilities, combined with attempts to block the Black Sea, as a global food security crisis. PAM shares these concerns, further condemning the ongoing war of aggression perpetrated by Russia against Ukraine, and reaffirms its full support for Ukraine sovereignty, territorial integrity, freedom, democratically elected parliament and government, and people. #FoodSecurity #Ukraine #GrainExports #Solidarity Learn More: https://bit.ly/4i1GRKl https://bit.ly/414AdNu https://bit.ly/4fFVaCB

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to eradicating violence against women in all its forms. The Assembly also reiterates its full support to the United Nations "Orange the World" campaign, dedicated to raising awareness and taking action to end gender-based violence, which remains a pervasive violation of human rights and a barrier to achieving equality and justice in the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions. Through the PAM Women Parliamentary Forum (WPF), the Assembly promotes legislative and policy frameworks that empower women, address systemic inequalities, and protect victims of violence. The WPF serves as a hub for regional cooperation, fostering dialogue, sharing best practices, and promoting the rights and dignity of women and girls. PAM calls on all member parliaments, governments, and stakeholders to intensify their efforts in building societies free from violence, where women can thrive in safety, equality, and opportunity. #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #HumanRights #PAMWomenParliamentaryForum #Equality

On 20 November, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, Hon. Enaam Mayara (Morocco), addressed the High-Level Segment (HLS) of the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29 Azerbaijan), in Baku. PAM was the only international parliamentary organization to address the HLS on this occasion.   In his remarks, PAM President conveyed the Assembly’s profound concern over the current climate emergency and the lack of concrete action taken by the international community to address it.   Referring to the Mediterranean Basin as a "Climate Change hotspot", he highlighted the region's alarming vulnerability, exemplified by this summer's record-high surface temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea and by the devastating events recently occurred in Southern Spain, in parallel to widespread lasting droughts in the region.   He also recalled PAM’s commitment to climate mitigation efforts, including the recent publication of the first-ever Parliamentarian’s Guide to Protecting the Mediterranean Sea and Coast, prepared together with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP-MAP), and the institutionalization of the PAM Economic Forum in Marrakesh, which is today a well-established parliamentary platform to promote dialogue on sustainable and renewable energy transitions.   President Mayara’s statement at COP29 can be seen at the following link: https://lnkd.in/ds6xTMXE

On 20 November 2024, Mr. Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, described the war in Gaza as “the biggest stress test” the UN has faced in its work to forge greater peace and a Two-State solution between Israelis and Palestinians, marking a “failure of diplomacy”. Reflecting on the past year, he highlighted the breakdown of political processes and the catastrophic toll on both Palestinians and Israelis. With over 14 months of unrelenting violence, he noted that, while Gaza has become a “nightmare,” in the West Bank, governance structures are collapsing. Despite this, he reaffirmed his belief in the viability of the Two-State solution, calling for a renewed focus on international law and UN resolutions as guiding principles. Wennesland emphasized the urgency of a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in desperate need. He underscored the international community's responsibility to step forward, rebuild frameworks for peace, and address the humanitarian and political dimensions of the crisis. PAM echoes these calls, reaffirming its support for the implementation of a ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and the unconditional release of all hostages. PAM remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for a Two-State solution, recognizing it as a cornerstone for long-term peace and stability. The Assembly calls for the urgent and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian relief, ensuring aid reaches those in need without obstruction, and underscores the importance of strict adherence to international law. #MiddleEastPeace #TwoStateSolution #Diplomacy #HumanitarianAid #PAM #UN #PeaceProcess Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dyquKjMr