YOUNG MEDITERRANEAN VOICES is primed to become the central flagship regional youth network connecting civil society, education institutions and policy-makers across Europe and the Neighbourhood South (Southern Mediterranean and Europe)[1] .
Building on more than five years investment in the field, as well as established networks, pioneering methodologies and independent research, the overall objective of Young Mediterranean Voices programme is to: “Empower young people to enhance a culture of dialogue, to contribute to public policy and shape media discourses, and to create a shared understanding with peers across the Mediterranean on how to address issues of common concern to their communities.”
This programme will bring the experience of Arab youth-led debate to other parts of the Euro-Mediterranean region. The programme will provide opportunities to open doors for young influencers to shape policy and media narratives. One of the most pioneering aspects of this programme is to contribute to enhance the “Euro-Med dialogue” paradigm by bringing the experience of a pan-Arab programme to the North and consequently challenging the traditional cooperation dynamics that were dominated by programming towards the South.
This project is grounded on the positive experience of Young Arab Voices and benefits from the support of the EU. “The EU will support the second phase of the Young Arab Voices programme to deepen the dialogue between young leaders and civil society representatives and counter extremism and violent radicalisation”. Joint Communication “Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations (8 June 2016).[2]
[1] ENI/2016/039-475 - Annual Action Programme 2016 “Empowerment of women and men in the Neighborhood South”
[2] Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council “Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations”:
