Spain, Italy, Portugal and Mediterranean Dialogue
The Madrid office seeks to strengthen cooperation and political dialogue between representatives from political parties, scientific institutions and civil society organisations from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany and the European sphere. We are committed to help contribute to solutions to specific regional challenges in Southern Europe and highlight best practices from this ever more important region for the European integration process. It also seeks to develop a new approach to interregional cooperation in the Mediterranean. With partner organisations, we are developing a liberal approach to geostrategic demands and opportunities in the Mare Nostrum.
News
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Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Barcelona Tech Hub
Technology, innovation and entrepreneurship gathered in Barcelona from February 27 to March 2 at the global tech event of the year, the Mobile World Congress (MWC), to showcase and share the latest projects, products and ideas developed over the past year. In the MWC exhibition halls, more than 100,000 visitors were able to explore everything from go-karts to virtual reality heli- drone experiences. It is in this context that FNF Madrid teamed up with FNF Jerusalem to host a delegation from Hasoub in Barcelona.
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Barcelona's Mobile gets bigger: from mobiles to telecommunications networks
The Mobile World Congress is consolidating its position as one of the main international trade fairs. The big technology companies come together on this stage, which shows that we are immersed in a technological world, although not all countries are advancing in the same way. While in Europe, for example, there is talk of the G5, metaverse or artificial intelligence, in some African countries there is no internet connection.
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Russia, a threat to the liberal order?
At the close of the 59th Munich Security Conference (17-19 February), Russia was still a party to the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), although two days later the Duma ratified President Vladimir Putin's announcement that his country would withdraw from this vital and strategic agreement to halt a new nuclear arms race that now seems inevitable.
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Portugal, a strategic triangle for cooperation and political dialogue
At the beginning of this week, David Henneberger, Head of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Madrid office and Odilia Abreu, Senior Project Manager Mediterranean Dialogue travelled to Portugal, one of our project countries, in order to meet liberal policy makers, partners and German institutions, as well as to participate in the Conference “Strategic Triangle: Africa, Europe and Latin America”, organized by its Portuguese partner Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (IPDAL).
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EU special summit: challenges for European migration policy
Member States still lack an effective policy response to migration to Europe. How to effectively address the suffering of flight and crisis? And why there is a need for more than just an open channel for labor migration, explains migration expert and member of the European think tank EuroMeSCo, Xavier Aragall. He says the EU is still far from regulating entry efficiently and coherently. But one thing has recently become clear: Europe's external borders are to be better protected in the future. What that will look like remains to be seen.
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EU summit on migration: far from consensus
On February 9 and 10, a special summit was held in Brussels to focus on the EU's migration policy. One of the topics at the summit was the European Union's cooperation with relevant countries of origin in joint migration management. What was not addressed was the fact that many people set out precisely because they have no legal means of entry. However, the polarizing issue that continues to divide member states became a sideshow in light of Ukrainian Prime Minister Selenskyi's visit.
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Portugal and the Maghreb: Two old acquaintances
Portugal's markedly Atlanticist vocation, together with its colonial past in Lusophone Africa , has led it to be perceived as an irrelevant actor in the North of the continent, specifically in the Maghreb countries, although it is true that the Portuguese overseas empire would not be understood without its first North African conquest: Ceuta, in 1415.
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The Med Fest, the melting pot for political dialogue and young new voices
A 2-day event which brought together experts, artists and activists from different fields, aiming to create a space for debate, to share experiences and to build alternatives for a better future in the Euro-Mediterranean region. When it comes to the future, who would be better suited than young people?
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Towards a new multiparty system
"We have undertaken a process of refoundation that draws on the successful experiences of numerous European liberal parties, such as the FDP. From a process of listening to the militants and positions and to the Spanish society, we will do everything in our power to revitalize an existing space, that of reformist liberalism. Multipartyism and political pluralism in our country are here to stay, regardless of whoever it may concern." In this article, Begoña Villacís, Deputy Mayor of Madrid (Ciudadanos) analyzes the evolution of the multiparty system in the Spanish political sphere and the essential reformist liberalism to achieve a more modern and prosperous Spain, with a thriving middle class that participates in public life.
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The submarine tunnel between Europe and Africa is closer
It is a dream that dates back to 1869, when the Spanish Public Works Council considered the possibility of connecting Europe and Africa through a tunnel under the Strait of Gibraltar. It was a time when the railway was beginning to consolidate its take-off as a major means of transport for people and goods and the construction of the new and necessary iron roads cut through mountains to facilitate the passage of convoys.
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Migration dispute between Berlin and Rome
The traffic light coalition in Berlin will in future fund private sea rescue in the Mediterranean with 2 million euros annually - until 2026. In conjunction with the still valid "Dublin III Regulation", which places the main burden of asylum procedures on the countries of first arrival in the EU, this has drawn some sharp criticism from Italy. The issue of migration is known to divide society here and has been a central theme in frequent election campaigns for years. The success of the right-wing government of Fratelli d'Italia, Lega, and Forza Italia in this September's elections can also be attributed in part to the heated migration debate.
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FNF Madrid and the Alicante City Council bring together female executives in the first congress that promotes female talent in the Mediterranean
From the 14th-16th of December, FNF Madrid will organize a conference for a community of executive women in the Mediterranean region, called “EUTHENIA”. This conference will be held in Alicante, and it is a project in collaboration with the municipality of Alicante, Alicante Futura, Casa Mediterráneo and FNF Female Forward Ambassador Eva Diaz. The conference is part of a larger project for executive women that we will be developing further in 2023.
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Reflections on democracy
If Woke Liberalism aims to create change, where is the movement going a little too extreme? How can we point out what works and what doesn't work so that Liberalism and its clear purpose can be more effective? Victoria Campbell-Gillies brings to light the importance of liberal democracy in a time when extremism is on the rise.
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The Mediterranean, the sea of two shores
The memory of the Mediterranean begins with a wonderful song by Juan Manuel Serrat, which has been heard for many years all over the world, it goes through the sadness of the immigrants who do not achieve their dream, because we cannot forget the data of the IOM, which states the death or disappearance of 1,522 migrants in 2022, and it is the sea of the two different shores and both exciting where the historical cultures that the passing of the centuries do not forget meet.
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Are we really a diverse society?
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation brought together leading experts and opinion leaders to discuss diversity and released its publication, Are We Really a Diverse Society? The publication gathers reflections on the complex, misunderstood and overused concept of diversity and features, among others, influencer Adriana Boho and experts such as Sara Giménez, congresswoman for Ciudadanos and president of Fundación Secretariado Gitano, Eva Diaz, CEO of Shaping The New, José Ignacio Pichardo, PhD in social anthropology, or Sylvia Jarabo, managing partner of Promising Women.
Social Media
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Gas consumption in the European Union has fallen by almost 20% between August and January, overshooting the 15% target set by the EU to reduce gas consumption. This is thanks to households and companies taking matters into their own hands and finding ways to cushion the impact from skyrocketing bills. The largest savings were seen in Finland, Lithuania, and Sweden, with other countries also exceeding the target. This reduction in gas consumption has also led to a decrease in carbon emissions, which is a step in the right direction for our planet. Read on to find out more 🔗 https://bit.ly/3ZrV1dE #environment #gasconsumption #carbonemissions #planet #fnfmad #freedompartners
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Check out this article on the war in Ukraine and its impact on Russia's relations with the West. As the conflict enters a transitional phase, both sides are at a stalemate and unlikely to make concessions anytime soon. With continued sanctions and Russia's struggling economy, what can we expect for geopolitics in 2023? The @EIU's latest report sheds light on the emerging global trends and risks that businesses should be aware of. Stay informed and read on: 🔗 https://bit.ly/3ya1a2C #ukraine #russia #geopolitics #fnfmad #freedompartners
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And the winner is…. Santa Cruz de Tenerife! The Foundation for the Advancement of Liberty (Fundación para el Avance de la Libertad), together with FNF Madrid and Atlas Network have awarded the capital city of the Canary Islands as the economically freest city of Spain in 2023! Alicante and Almería come in on number two and three. Through their annual index of economic liberty on a municipal level, FUNDALIB sheds a light on important indicators such as the tax burden, the size of local governments and red tape. Santa Cruz benefits from low municipal taxes, i.e. a very competitive construction tax, and serious efforts to lighten the bureaucratic burden for citizens and companies alike. It is noteworthy that none of the three most populous Spanish cities, Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, are under the top 50. We congratulate the winners and hope other municipalities, in Spain and beyond, make similar efforts to foster growth and employment! Download the full report here: https://bit.ly/3JrwkaD Picture 1: Roxana Nicula, President of FUNDALIB José Manuel Bermúdez Esparza, Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Picture 2: Guests at the Award Ceremony Picture 3: Mohamad Machine Chian, Professor at the University of Pittsburgh Roxana Nicula, President of FUNDALIB David Henneberger, Head of FNF Madrid #fundalib #canaryislands #employment #growth #economy #fnfmad #freedompartners
