Programm Naher Osten und Nordafrika

Tunesien ist das einzige arabische Land in der Region Naher Osten und Nord-Afrika (MENA) mit einer parlamentarischen Demokratie. Damit ist Tunesien ein Hoffnungsträger, der aber auch vor vielen Herausforderungen im Transformationsprozess steht, wie die 16 tunesischen und europäischen Teilnehmer eines Workshops betonten.

As a result of low oil prices, Saudi Arabia’s young population is faced with numerous challenges: the traditional welfare system—the Saudi social contract, dependent on high oil rents—is under strain. The expert roundtable organized by the DGAP’s Middle East and North Africa program discussed the concerns and aspirations of Saudi youth, the status of an evolving Saudi civil society, the chances for a political reform under Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, and to what extent the traditional social contract between the state and its citizens needs to be transformed.

As a result of low oil prices, Saudi Arabia’s young population is faced with numerous challenges: the traditional welfare system—the Saudi social contract, dependent on high oil rents—is under strain. The expert roundtable organized by the DGAP’s Middle East and North Africa program discussed the concerns and aspirations of Saudi youth, the status of an evolving Saudi civil society, the chances for a political reform under Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, and to what extent the traditional social contract between the state and its citizens needs to be transformed.

Discussions focused on the key challenges facing Morocco as both a country of origin and a recipient country for migration; how the current Moroccan migration system needs to be adjusted to adequately respond to challenges related to migration; to what extend the education system should be decentralized in order to address and reflect regional differences; the mismatch between the labor market and the education system; and the prospects for the impact of EU foreign policy instruments to tackle socio-economic issues in Morocco.

Discussions focused on the key challenges facing Morocco as both a country of origin and a recipient country for migration; how the current Moroccan migration system needs to be adjusted to adequately respond to challenges related to migration; to what extend the education system should be decentralized in order to address and reflect regional differences; the mismatch between the labor market and the education system; and the prospects for the impact of EU foreign policy instruments to tackle socio-economic issues in Morocco.

In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Egypt cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed travel and trade bans. They accused Qatar of sponsoring terrorist organizations, of keeping close ties with Iran, and of undermining regional stability. Since then, the relations between Qatar and the blockade states have deteriorated and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has increasingly weakened through fragmentation. Oman and Kuwait have failed to mediate the conflict; international actors such as the United States, France or Germany also faced the same fate.