Arab Springs and
Transitions: a new
perspective on the euromed partnership
The issue of security: in food, labour and energy
Prof Maurizio Caserta
Department of Economics and Management
University of Catania
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What scenarios for the EuroMediterranean in 2030 in the wake of
the Arab spring?
Rym Ayadi and Carlo Sessa, MEDPRO Policy Paper No. 2 /
October 2011 (Updated 25 February 2013)
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The Arab Spring is a real opportunity for
Europe
Christian Koch, Europe’s world, summer 2011
Web sites:
World health organization
International Energy agency
International labour organizations
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The issue of
security: access to
fundamental
resources
European vision:
ensure access to
eveybody
Euromed
perspective:
integration
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Fundamental
resources:
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Peace
Freedom
Democracy
Health
Education
Wealth
Income
Employment
Focus on food, energy and labour
Security as a legal issue
Accepted wisdom has it that individuals - wherever they live or
however they are – are entitled to a decent life: this means
that they should have access to fundamental resources.
It is therefore up to modern institutions to secure all the
necessary conditions for achieving such a result: a decent life
for everybody whether they are close or distant
Thus security in the provision of fundamental resources is
coessential with the notion of basic human rights: legal
systems should be devised in such a way as to make such a
provision a reality to as many individuals as possible
From shelter, sanitation and food to education, employment and
freedom
Security as right to access
Security as an economic issue
Security is costly: if access to resources were free, no economic
problem existed. Thus the issue of security is coessential with
the fundamental economic question: how to provide goods
and services to everybody
To the fundamental economic question, the issue of security
adds the quest to reliability and stability in the provision of
those goods and services
A further economic question therefore arises as to the necessary
resources to secure reliability and stability: such attributes call
for specific resources which may not always be available
Institutions therefore need to be designed in such a way as to
make those specific resources readily available
Security as reliable and stable
access
Euro-mediterranean partnership
The Union for the Mediterranean promotes economic integration and
democratic reform across 16 neighbours to the EU’s south in North
Africa and the Middle East
Projects address areas such as economy, environment, energy, health,
migration and culture
The Union for the Mediterranean has a number of key initiatives on its
agenda which are somehow related to security in the provision of
fundamental goods and services
◦ the de-pollution of the Mediterranean Sea, including coastal and protected marine
areas;
◦ the establishment of maritime and land highways that connect ports and improve
rail connections so as to facilitate movement of people and goods;
◦ a joint civil protection programme on prevention, preparation and response to
natural and man-made disasters;
◦ a Mediterranean solar energy plan that explores opportunities for developing
alternative energy sources in the region;
European policies
Food security
When all people at all times have access to sufficient,
safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active
life”. (The World Food Summit of 1996)
Commonly, the concept of food security is defined as including both
physical and economic access to food that meets people's dietary
needs as well as their food preferences.
Food security is built on three pillars:
◦ Food availability: sufficient quantities of food available on a consistent basis.
◦ Food access: having sufficient resources to obtain appropriate foods for a
nutritious diet.
◦ Food use: appropriate use based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care, as
well as adequate water and sanitation
Social and labour security
Social security systems provide for basic income in cases of
unemployment, illness and injury, old age and retirement,
invalidity, family responsibilities such as pregnancy and childcare,
and loss of the family breadwinner
Labour security implies safety and health at work: implementation
of procedures for preventing accidents at work, industrial
diseases, and general and sexual harassment
Energy security
It refers to the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an
affordable price
Energy security has two fundamental aspects:
 long-term energy security is mainly linked to timely
investments to supply energy in line with economic
developments and environmental needs
 short-term energy security focuses on the ability of the energy
system to react promptly to sudden changes in the supplydemand balance
Policy options
Market integration and trade
multilateral
bilateral
Financial and investment cooperation
Grants and aid
FDI
Cultural and political cooperation