An international network for the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Euro-Mediterranean area, which, despite the crisis, have shown signs of vitality that cannot go unheeded. This is the main thrust of the new Euro-Med Development Center for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (EMDC), a network for logistical and technical support for small and medium businesses in the Mediterranean. The Centre was introduced today at the Milan Chamber of Commerce-Promos, where Minister for Foreign Affairs Emma Bonino was present, and has been set up by the Milan Chamber of Commerce and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Economic Development, with the Unicredit and Banca San Paolo group, which have already announced their participation as “supporters”.
Euro-Med Centre to rely on 21 partner agencies in 10 countries
Also attending this morning’s presentation were President of the Milan Chamber of Commerce Carlo Sangalli, President of Promos Bruno Ermolli and President of the EMDC Giancarlo Aragona. The main goal of the project, which falls within the framework of the foreign ministry’s “economic diplomacy” efforts, is to ensure technical assistance to innovative and sustainable business start-ups, create jobs, and promote economic cooperation, development and internationalisation on both sides of the Mediterranean. The Euro-Med Centre has 21 public and private agency partners in 10 of the region’s countries, from Tunisia to Serbia, Egypt to Lebanon and Morocco to Jordan, and has earned the official recognition of the 43 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean, the European Commission and the Arab League as an important instrument for fostering the socio-economic development of the Mediterranean region, not least because, despite the economic crisis and political instability affecting, for the most part, Northern Africa, recent economic returns have been positive. According to Chamber of Commerce data, exports toward the countries of the Mediterranean in the first half of 2013 equaled 5.2 billion euro, while imports recorded in the same period were 2.8 billion euro — respectively marking growth of 3.1% and 2.9% compared with the first half of the previous year.
Bonino at ISPI, Europe must share responsibility for southern borders
Minister Bonino’s Milan mission also included a stop at ISPI (Institute for International Policy Studies), where she spoke at the conference “Mediterranean in transition: Where to? What role for Italy”. The Mediterranean “is one of the most important themes we have”, she underscored, recalling the current troubles “associated with violent crises, instability and refugee flows from countries such as Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Libya. In order to confront all this, and above all the refugee emergency that has emerged over recent weeks, Europe needs a common strategy. “This is a problem that Italy cannot resolve on its own, much less Malta. That is why we are so committed to Europe’s sharing responsibility for its southern Mediterranean borders”, Minister Bonino remarked, explaining how, beyond the present emergency, efforts in Sub-Saharan efforts have been aimed at “building a different relationship between Europe and the African Union”.
