Civil society coordinators from 43 Euro-Mediterranean countries gather under the Polish EU Presidency to debate the role of the Anna Lindh Foundation in response to democratic transition and reform in the Arab region

Krakow/Alexandria, 21 October 2011. Today marks the official opening of the 10^th Meeting of the Anna Lindh Foundation's Heads National Civil Society Networks. The Foundation, which was created in 2005 by the governments of the Euro-Med Partnership in response to a perceived crisis in cultural relations across the two shores of the Mediterranean, works as a 'Network of National Networks', bringing together more than 3000 civil society groups, NGOs, cultural and educational institutions from across the region who are committed to working for intercultural dialogue.

It is the first time the Anna Lindh Foundation has organised such a significant gathering in Poland and in Eastern Europe, a region who's recent historical experience of democratic transition is of significance in the context of the Arab Spring. 

This year's Annual Networks Meeting centres its debate on the role and strategy of the Anna Lindh Foundation and its Networks in responding to the new challenges and opportunities related to the process of democratic transition in the Southern Mediterranean region following the historic events of the Arab Spring 2011. Following the events of the New Year, the Foundation, which has its international headquarters in Alexandria (Egypt), launched a series of events aimed at adapting its annual work plan to the new situation, including: organising a Regional Capacity-building Seminar in Cairo with members of its Arab Networks; launching specific award and recognition initiatives related to social change; and mobilising the participation in Tunisia of more than 200 civil society representatives from across the Arab region and parts of Europe for the very first Anna Lindh Tunis Exchange Forum on Building Democratic and Pluralistic Societies. The Foundation also co-organised important gatherings with institutional partners, including the Arab League, the European Union and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, focused on the new and emerging needs for civil society and the media in the new Mediterranean landscape.

Speaking ahead of the Krakow Meeting, André Azoulay, President of the Anna Lindh Foundation and Counselor to the King of Morocco, said: “In many ways, the Foundation was very well prepared for these events. Through the launch of last year’s first Report on Intercultural Trends in the Euro-Mediterranean area, which helped us to know better the changing realities in our region, and through the Anna Lindh Network of National Networks, which has grown to over 3500 civil society groups, we found the roadmap and the tools to act”.

The meeting will also feature the awarding ceremony of the winner of the Euromed Dialogue Award 2011, the organisation Development No Borders (Tanmeya Bela Hedoud) from Egypt. Based in Cairo, Development No Border (DNB) is a youth NGO working for fighting xenophobia, racism, and discrimination and promotion of citizenship and youth empowerment. The main scope of DNB’s work focuses on social and cultural activities, and volunteerism, through non-formal education projects, exchange schemes and trainings. DNB is one of the ALF members in the Egyptian National Network which brings together more than 100 civil society organisations. Taking place this year on the theme of ‘Intercultural Dialogue for Freedom and Citizenship, the Award is unique in the fact that it is bestowed and voted upon by members of the Anna Lindh Foundation’s region-wide Network of 4000 civil society organizations working across the 43 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean.