The
Social cultural and human theme
Regional
projects :
In addition to cooperation in the economic and financial
field, Tunisia has been involved in all social and cultural
projects intended to preserve the patrimony, to stimulate
the youth's role and to foster all aspects of audio-visual
and cultural cooperation. In this regard, a number of projects,
intended to help preserve the patrimony and the cultural
heritage in general, have been financed in Tunisia, in addition
to other youth-oriented projects, symposiums and meetings.
Employment
and vocational training :
The project of a "Euro-Mediterranean observatory for employment
and vocational training", proposed by Tunisia in 2000, ranks
as the most important initiative so far submitted in this
field. This proposal, premised upon Tunisia's belief in
the importance of the question of employment, especially
in the economies of Mediterranean partner countries, was
supported by France, Sweden Germany and Algeria. Following
the meetings of the Euro-Mediterranean follow-up committee
which appreciated the Tunisian initiative, two expert meetings
were held in Tunisia (February and April 2002) to define
the observatory's areas of action, objectives and mission.
To materialize these efforts, the initiative was adopted
during the Valencia conference (April 202). Besides, Tunisia
expressed to host this observatory, in case it has been
agreed on establishing an office for it.
In this same regard, Tunisia proposed the establishment
of a "program for the employment of the youth in the field
of modern technologies". This proposal was adopted during
the Valencia conference.
Migration and human exchange :
Tunisia organized in October 2002 a ministerial conference
on migration in the Western Mediterranean countries, during
which emphasis was laid on the Tunisian approach in this
regard, consisting in tackling the migration phenomenon
in a comprehensive way, by addressing all of its dimensions,
not only the security dimension of it.
Women's
role in public life :
In 2000, Tunisia submitted a project on the enhancement
of women's role in economic life, based on its own experience
in this regard. To materialize this idea, Belgium, president
of the European Union in the second half of 2001, organized,
in July 2001, a symposium on the role of women in economic
life.
Dialogue
of cultures and civilizations :
From the start, Tunisia has asserted that the dialogue of
cultures and civilizations has nowadays become a necessity,
especially in our region which was the cradle of numerous
civilizations. The aim is to allow our peoples to exist
within this common space in a context of peace and stability,
away from any form of racial discrimination, violence or
confusion between terrorism and religion. In this respect,
Tunisia supported the project of establishing a Euro-Mediterranean
institution for the dialogue of cultures and civilizations,
which has already been adopted and is still being prepared.
Tunisia is indeed widely known for having acquired a rich
experience as regards the consecration of this dialogue,
through the establishment of "Ben Ali's Chair for the dialogue
of civilizations and religions", and by hosting numerous
symposiums in this field.
It is worth reminding that the latest Euro-Mediterranean
ministerial conference, held in May 2003 in the Island of
Crete (Greece), adopted the Tunisian initiative to organize
"the Year of the Mediterranean" submitted in 2002 as part
of the Mediterranean forum. This initiative aims at consolidating
and valorizing the Mediterranean's patrimonial, cultural
and civilizational capital.
