Euro-Mediterranean Association for Cooperation and Development

The Euro - Mediterranean Association for Cooperation and Development Association ( EMA ) is a German country club that is committed to the cooperation between Europe, especially Germany, and the Mediterranean and Middle East region. From its headquarters in Hamburg and the offices in Berlin, Bavaria and North Rhine -Westphalia, the association promotes economic cooperation as well as the political, cultural and scientific exchange between Germany and the countries of North Africa, the Middle East and Turkey ( EMA region ).

History and Organization

The club was in 2008 at the initiative of several Hamburger personalities from business and politics in reference to the Barcelona Process. President of the EMA is since January 2013 Adelheid Sailer -Schuster, President of the Office of the Deutsche Bundesbank in Hamburg, Mecklenburg- Vorpommern and Schleswig -Holstein. Secretary General of the Association is Abdelmajid Layadi. Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan was appointed in January 2012 as honorary president.

Tasks and objectives

The association provides business contacts and support German companies with a market entry or expansion of their business activities in the countries of the region, but places special emphasis on a deeper understanding of cultural relations as a basis for long-term partnerships. This cooperation projects will be created to support the sustainable development of the region. For this purpose, organized the EMA including a variety of events in Germany and the MENA region, among other things, each in collaboration with relevant institutions under the patronage of high-level representatives, Federal ministers take place. About the site are also provided various information about the countries of the region with a tender database, country profiles and other offers. In their work, the EMA is politically, ideologically and religiously independent.

Activities

Regularly be EMA - technical forums to cover focus areas - eg Organized and focus areas - water, environment, logistics, and the role of women. So led the Maghreb Forum in Hamburg's Representation in Berlin in 2011 for the first time representatives of all the Maghreb countries outside of Germany at a table. In addition, the EMA provides delegation travels to the countries of the Middle East and North Africa. Through seminars and panel discussions, intercultural training, Euro -Med forums and hamburger culture talks, the EMA also supported the economic, scientific, civic and cultural exchange between Europe and the MENA region. Leading members of the EMA will also take part in discussions on the Middle East and the region.

Publications

Every six months, the association publishes the journal " mediterranean ", which deals with current developments in the EMA - core Environment, Water, logistics, infrastructure and trade, politics and diplomacy in the region. In addition, each issue examines with particular attention each changing a focus topic. The breadth of topics and authors from academia, politics and business a wide readership is addressed.

Since 2012, the EMA the German - and English-language newsletter " Ouissal " are out to all members and other interested parties that provides information on past and upcoming projects and events as well as other relevant activities of the EMA.

Members

The EMA is one of the largest countries in clubs in Hamburg., With a focus on small and medium-sized companies in the areas of waste and ( waste) water management, finance and investment, logistics and infrastructure, and renewable energy is. In addition, the EMA operates a number of cooperation agreements, including with Chambers of Commerce Annaba / Algeria and Casablanca / Morocco and with the Union des Jeunes Euro - maghrébins ( UJEM ).

Board of Directors

• Honorary President: His Royal Highness Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan
• President: Adelheid Sailer -Schuster, President of the Office of the Deutsche Bundesbank in Hamburg, Mecklenburg- Vorpommern and Schleswig -Holstein
• Vice President: Michael Freytag (former finance minister of the City of Hamburg and CEO of Schufa AG), Ibrahim Abouleish (owner Sekem, Cairo - Egypt, winners of the Right Livelihood Award ), Hermann J. Zoder ( CEO: GATCON GmbH, Hamburg), Juergen Papadopoulos ( CEO: Papadopoulos Associates GmbH)
• General Secretary: Abdelmajid Layadi