1. ESPON Internal Seminar, Paphos 5-6.12.2012 Stella KYVELOU, Asst Professor, Director of Greek ECP SDMed President E-mail : kyvelou@panteion.gr

2.  Although the spotlight is currently on the turbulence upsetting the European Union and the Arab Mediterranean, one way of reducing uncertainty is to get back to the structural trends and envisage the upshots of Euro-Mediterranean growth and long-term regional integration.  The Mediterranean is in progress and is the object of political and private investment.  The macro-region is subjected to strong uncertainties on its future, whether it is national or collective.

3. WHAT ABOUT STRUCTURAL TRENDS AND GROWTH IN THE REGION ? Just as Europe has trued to build a nation from nations, the Mediterranean should be built on its cultures and be a “rendez- vous” of civilisations. Yet, the growth of Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries ( SEMC) remains low in comparison with that of the world’s most dynamic geographical areas. The shift in the world economy brings the risk of marginalising the less dynamic regions.

4. Synergies Demographic synergy Natural Resource related synergy Synergies between goods and services

5. Common challenges Political and social crisis-solidarity Productivity gains Energy efficiency and green economy- capacity to adapt to climate change- Sustainable development More mediterranean oriented agricultural policy Migration-More qualified migrants

6. What can be done by ESPON ? Extent of the ESPON tools : ESPON Database, ESPON Hyperatlas, Data Navigator ….to SEMC. To this end, a network of information and harmonisation of data should be installed. A MED-T2050 Project to be confronted with ET2050 and take especially into account the “Europe of cities” Scenarion An ESPONEnergy&Climate Med would be a priority Last but not least, ESPON should establish an ESPON educational pole of competence in the Mediterranean region – Edge for a long-term strategy of ESPON expansion in the European neighborhood.. This can be facilitated by and based on the ESPONTrain VLE Project

7. The key for European cohesion in the Mediterranean “…. The mediterranean was always what Europe strives to become today. From this point of view, it is probably in the Mediterranean that there is the “key” of European cohesion, because cohesion does not only mean economic prosperity, social justice and political democracy. It presupposes the existence of a common identity, the interplay between civilisations, the contact and exchange and dialogue between cultures…“ ( Antonis Samaras, Greek Prime Minister ) Mediterranean does not simply mean “in the middle of the earth” The Mediterranean is also the place where nature, people emotions ideas and cultures come to an equilibrium. It is a place of birth, rebirth and balance.

8. www.et2050.eu Thank you for your attention! Greek ESPON Contact Point, wwww.espon2013.panteion.gr