ALForum da-y2 – Anna Lindh Foundation

19 June

10.30-11.45 am

1- Driving Sustainability for Stronger Euro-Med Partnerships: Turning Principles into Action

Hotel of Tirana, Balsha

This session centers on how putting sustainability principles into practice can change the way people in the Euro-Med area work together. Experts, researchers, and stakeholders are meeting to discuss policy, innovation, and collaboration in the area to speed up progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The session is meant to be a high-level discussion about important issues in the area, such as water shortages, biodiversity loss, economic inequality, and social inequality. It will look at these issues through the lens of sustainability and shared responsibility. Speakers will talk about the region’s best practices and most cutting-edge strategies. This will give people real-world examples of how to match local goals with global ones. The session is important and timely because it focuses on ways that can be put into action. The panel focuses on real-life examples, inclusive forms of cooperation, and region-specific solutions that can be scaled up instead of general policy discussions. A lot of thought will go into how to include the SDGs in national and regional plans, which will make sustainability a real tool for Euro-Med cooperation.

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2- The role of museums, cultural institutions, libraries in cultural diplomacy

Hotel of Tirana, Classic

This session rethinks the role of museums, libraries, and other civic spaces as important parts of cultural diplomacy and social healing. This is especially important for a generation of children who are dealing with problems like bullying, school inequality, and the effects of the pandemic. In some Euro-Med countries, almost 1 in 4 children don’t go to school. As a result, civic spaces are stepping in to offer inclusive, alternative learning spaces that encourage empathy, critical thought, and understanding between cultures.

Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) and Object-Based Learning (OBL) will be discussed during the session to help people think about how museums can be more than just places to look at things. They can also be places where people can talk to each other and feel empowered. Through art interpretation, VTS promotes open and honest conversation. On the other hand, OBL makes history real and relevant by linking students to real-life items and stories.

Based on the Tangier Declaration on Cultural Diplomacy, this session brings together educators, members of civil society, and cultural workers to talk about how museums can help bring people of different ages and cultures together. It takes a new look at how heritage and faith stories can be used to bring people together and help them live together, giving kids—especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds—the skills they need to get along in a world that is becoming more complicated and varied.

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3- Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue: Cities Leading Intercultural Transformation 

Opera House, Cultures

This session spotlights a bold cultural shift across the Euro-Mediterranean, where cities are stepping up as frontline actors in intercultural dialogue. Through the Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue initiative—launched by the Anna Lindh Foundation and the Union for the Mediterranean—urban centres are being reimagined as engines of social cohesion, civic participation, and cross-cultural understanding.

The session explores how city-led cultural programming can foster inclusive communities, strengthen local identities, and create shared values. Drawing on the experiences of Alexandria and Tirana (2025), and Tetouan and Matera (2026), the discussion highlights how public festivals, grassroots projects, and international partnerships enable artists, institutions, and citizens to co-create cultural responses to shared challenges.

With contributions from city officials, cultural leaders, and community stakeholders, the conversation will focus on how localised forms of dialogue can shape long-term policy impact. It will also share early insights from the initiative’s implementation—exploring North-S

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4- Shared Narratives, Stronger Ties: The Role of Audiovisual Media for Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation 

Hotel of Tirana, Arbeti 1/2

Co-organising Partner COPEAM

This session highlights the unifying power of storytelling across a Euro-Mediterranean region marked by cultural richness and political complexity. In this context, audiovisual media is far more than entertainment—it is a force for shaping perceptions, fostering cohesion, and constructing collective identity.

In collaboration with COPEAM, this session convenes media professionals and cultural leaders to explore how films, television, podcasts, and digital formats can challenge stereotypes and reshape narratives in real time. Cross-border media collaboration emerges as a powerful means to promote democratic values, amplify civil society, and elevate underrepresented voices—particularly those of young people.

Through compelling examples of co-productions, journalist exchanges, and public media innovation, the session illustrates how regional storytelling can transcend national boundaries and foster new forms of connection. It also spotlights the role of media literacy, mobility schemes, and institutional partnerships in enabling creators to produce content that resonates across linguistic and cultural divides. Reframing media as a strategic instrument for dialogue and cooperation, the session offers a vibrant vision of how shared narratives can forge stronger ties across the Euro-Mediterranean.

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5- Libraries, AI, and the Future of Information

Hotel of Tirana, Bodgani

Co-organising Partner EBLIDA – European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Association

This session explores how artificial intelligence is redefining the role of libraries across the Euro-Mediterranean—from guardians of printed heritage to digital curators of truth. As AI-powered tools like automated translation, content generation, and algorithmic curation reshape how we access and share knowledge, libraries face new responsibilities and ethical dilemmas.

In a region rich in languages, cultures, and histories, libraries are uniquely positioned to bridge technological advancement with cultural diversity. The session examines how libraries are adopting AI to expand access, particularly for marginalised communities, while safeguarding against disinformation, cultural bias, and the homogenisation of knowledge.

Featuring voices from librarians, researchers, and civil society actors, the discussion will spotlight real-world use cases and interrogate the broader implications for literacy, public trust, and ethical knowledge governance. As younger generations increasingly engage with AI-curated content, libraries must innovate to remain relevant, ensuring that the pursuit of truth, inclusion, and intellectual pluralism remains at the heart of the Euro-Mediterranean knowledge ecosystem.

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6- Upskilling Through Storytelling Journey

Hotel of Tirana, Blue

This workshop is designed to take the participants through the storytelling journey, to strengthen their professional skills and enabling them to tell their story. By learning how to craft and deliver impactful narratives, attendees will enhance their ideation, brainstorming, communication, critical thinking, identifying their audience and presentation abilities.

The session combines practical techniques with interactive exercises to show how storytelling can be a powerful tool for leadership, collaboration, and audience engagement across various industries.

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7- Drawing Cultures Together: Interculturality through the eyes of illustrators- Citizen Action Space

Hotel of Tirana, Onufri

This session emphasizes how illustration acts as a universal medium for intercultural dialogue. It will bring together four illustrators – from both the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean – into conversation to showcase how visual art can transcend language and foster empathy and mutual understanding. Each artist will present their work through a specific lens: from activism and political critique to cultural fusion, folklore-inspired narration, and contemporary urban storytelling. Their presentations will unpack how visual elements can reflect complex identities, shared struggles, and cultural narratives.

The session also plans to integrate different interactive elements. Attendees will engage in illustration walkthroughs, live sketching during Q&A, and contribute to a collective mural of interculturality by combining artistic expression with audience participation, the session creates an immersive experience that bridges cultures in real-time.

Part of the Citizen Action Space and held in collaboration with Heads of Network from Luxembourg, Estonia, Denmark, and potentially Jordan, this session positions illustration as both art and activism, offering new and creative pathways to build solidarity and civic participation across the Mediterranean.

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8- Youth economic empowerment: Legal and financial skills for action

Hotel of Tirana, Metropol

This session explores how financial literacy and legal awareness are critical yet often under-prioritised pillars of youth empowerment across the Euro-Mediterranean region. Despite being a major demographic force, many young people lack access to the foundational skills needed to navigate economic systems, launch entrepreneurial ventures, assert their rights, or engage in shaping the policies that affect their futures.

Drawing on new research and regional data, the session will examine how financial and legal knowledge deficits exacerbate youth exclusion and perpetuate socio-economic vulnerability. It will spotlight youth-led initiatives and non-formal education programmes that close this knowledge gap through accessible, community-rooted learning models.

Speakers—including youth advocates, legal educators, and civil society actors—will explore how to mainstream financial and legal education as a core component of youth policy and empowerment programming. Special attention will be given to how legal literacy helps youth understand their labour rights, navigate bureaucratic systems, and protect themselves in informal economies.

The session aims to catalyse scalable, skills-based interventions that support youth agency and informed decision-making. By promoting knowledge as an empowerment tool, it reframes legal and financial skills not as technical add-ons but as essential drivers of autonomy, equity, and sustainable economic participation.

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9- Getting the message across: Outreach and advocacy techniques on policy-relevant issues 

Opera House, Orange

Knowledge alone holds limited power if it is not communicated effectively or directed toward the right audiences. Across the Euro-Mediterranean region, youth-led initiatives, grassroots campaigns, and research projects often struggle to influence decision-makers, despite producing valuable insights. This disconnect not only diminishes the impact of civic work but also prevents institutions from engaging with ground-level realities that could enrich policy development and governance.

This session examines how young changemakers can refine their outreach, advocacy, and communication strategies to influence public policy and civic discourse. Drawing from journalism, digital campaigning, and community organising, it will showcase diverse techniques to translate data and experiences into compelling narratives that resonate with both expert and non-expert audiences. Through practical examples and cross-sector perspectives, the session will highlight how social media, digital storytelling, and targeted messaging can amplify youth voices and promote democratic engagement.

The session will identify the similarities and differences in advocacy styles across professions—from activists and researchers to journalists and institutional communicators—offering participants a deeper understanding of what makes outreach effective. Ultimately, it aims to equip youth and civil society actors with adaptable tools to shape public dialogue, inform policy, and ensure that locally rooted knowledge reaches the people and platforms where it can drive meaningful change.

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10- من الطموح إلى التأثير: شباب يصنعون القرار ويقودون التغيير في المنطقة الأورومتوسطية

Hotel of Tirana, Teuta

يُعد تمكين الشباب عنصرًا أساسيًا في تحقيق التنمية الشاملة والمستدامة، خاصة في المجالات الاقتصادية والسياسية والاجتماعية. ومع ذلك، غالبًا ما يُختزل دور الشباب في تمثيل رمزي لا يمنحهم التأثير الحقيقي في صنع القرار. من الضروري الانتقال من المشاركة الشكلية إلى تمكين فعلي يعترف بدور الشباب كشركاء فاعلين في التغيير. تهدف هذه الجلسة الى تعزيز دور الشباب كقادة وقوة دافعة للتغيير من خلال تمكينهم بالمهارات الازمة لاتخاذ القرارات الفعالة وتعزيز روح القيادة والتنافسية لديهم لمواجهه تحديات العصر وقياده المستقبل بثقة .

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11- Embedding Culture in the Post-2030 Agenda: Localising perspectives

Hotel of Tirana, Consortium

Co-organising Partner, UCLG

This session explores one of the most urgent and under-addressed debates in global development: the need for a dedicated culture goal in the post-2030 agenda. As the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) era nears its conclusion, culture is gaining overdue recognition as a driver of inclusion, peacebuilding, and resilience, particularly in the Euro-Mediterranean region.

Rooted in a landscape shaped by shared heritage and creative diversity, the session will highlight how culture contributes to sustainable development through heritage preservation, meaning-making, and the growth of creative industries. Yet, grassroots cultural actors and civil society organisations often lack the visibility and support to influence global agendas without precise policy alignment.

The discussion will spotlight how international and regional actors join forces to elevate culture’s role in future global frameworks. It will explore pathways for embedding ethics, intercultural dialogue, and cultural rights into development models, and assess how networks like the Anna Lindh Foundation can help drive cultural cooperation from the ground up.

This session brings together policymakers, civil society voices, and regional experts and offers strategic insights and forward-looking recommendations for positioning the Euro-Mediterranean as a global leader in cultural sustainability. Expect sharp analysis, real-world examples, and a roadmap for amplifying cultural voices in the next chapter of global development.

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12- The Suitcase as a Capsule of the Familiar: A Participatory Journey through Aesthetics and Identity

Opera House-Main Hall

This creative workshop explores the suitcase as a symbolic space of memory, identity, and emotional connection. Through storytelling, tactile exploration using Mediterranean elements, and collage-making, participants reflect on their sense of belonging while engaging with fictional personas and meaningful objects.

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12.15-13.30 pm

1- Creative Europe: Fostering Cooperation, Innovation and Funding Opportunities for Creative and Cultural in the Euro-Mediterranean Region

Hotel of Tirana, Consortium

Co-organising Partner Creative Europe

The purpose of this session is to explore EU Creative Europe as more than just a funding programme; rather, it provides a platform for significant cultural engagement and innovation across the Euro-Med region. The session, which is being organised by the Creative Europe Desks of Albania, Cyprus, Italy, Croatia and Portugal, with a representative of European Commission, will dissect the role that the cooperation projects plays in providing assistance to both established and grassroots organizations. 

During the conversation, successful stories will be highlighted in order to demonstrate how Creative Europe fosters inclusive practices, artistic freedom, digital transformation, and sustainability. In addition to providing information on financial support, the session focuses on the role that Creative Europe Desks play as strategic connectors, enabling smaller companies operating in the creative and cultural sectors and industries to gain access to opportunities and creating relationships.

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2- Each One teach One – HipHop culture as a tool for Social Change

Opera House, Main hall

This workshop is interactive and looks at how HipHop culture, which is based on resistance, expression, and community, can be a strong way to bring people together, give young people power, and help you grow as a person. The session goes back to the roots of hip hop and shows how it’s more than just music or dance. It’s a cultural movement based on fairness, strength, and self-expression. The most important part of the session is a lively street dance class for dancers of all skill levels. The goal is for everyone to feel the empowerment that HipHop offers.  

At the end of the session, there will be an open conversation about how HipHop techniques like dance, storytelling, and rhythm can be used to help the health and growth of young people, especially those who are at risk of being left out. This isn’t just a workshop; it’s a place to rethink HipHop as a way to make the world a better place by putting voice, identity, and power at the center of everything, from the dance floor to the streets. 

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3- Unmapping the Mediterranean: Voices from the Edges

Opera House, Cultures

This workshop invites participants to step away from the dominant coastal-centric narrative of the Mediterranean and instead listen to the voices that often remain unheard—those living inland, in deserts, and in rural pockets of the region. What happens when we shift the lens and center the periphery? 

Through an interactive mapping session, participants will engage with songs, films, and stories from communities that exist beyond the spotlight—stories that resist romanticized notions of the Mediterranean and offer a more complex, grounded understanding of place, identity, and belonging. 

This is not about redrawing borders. It’s about unlearning assumptions, making space for multiplicity, and co-creating a living, breathing map that reflects the region in all its depth. The session becomes a space of collective imagination—where forgotten geographies come into view, and the Mediterranean emerges not just as a sea that connects, but as a region shaped by its edges. 

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4- Understanding Feminism and Gender Equality in NGOs: Achieving Progress Through Intercultural Dialogue

Hotel of Tirana, Balsha

This session addresses the challenges NGOs face in promoting gender equality and feminism, often due to cultural taboos and societal sensitivities. It creates safe, open spaces for intercultural dialogue, encouraging participants to share experiences and foster mutual understanding. Unlike traditional gender training, the program uses non-formal, peer-driven methods to explore sensitive topics, empowering individuals to create inclusive environments and drive change within their organisations and communities.

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5- Managing Cultural Diversity in the intercultural cities: local euromed alliances

Hotel of Tirana, Classic

This session examines how intercultural cities may use diversity to promote social cohesion, creativity, and inclusive government. In the context of increased polarisation and trust deficits in culturally rich urban areas, the discussion will focus on how cities across the Mediterranean may go beyond symbolic diversity and embed it effectively in policy and civic life.

Drawing on the Tangier Declaration on Cultural Diplomacy, scholars, civil society actors, and policymakers will discuss how cultural policies might be redesigned to promote dialogue, heritage-based value creation, and poly identity reconciliation. While many cities are lauded for their coexistence, this session questions the assumption that diversity has been fully integrated into policy, advocating for a more intentional, participatory approach.

Speakers will share their experiences and strategies for repositioning culture as a living resource, linked to innovation, inclusive urban planning, and intercultural understanding. From sustainable heritage practices to cultural businesses, this workshop focusses on culture as a strategic asset for navigating challenging urban futures.The conversation intends to spark new ideas about multilateral cultural governance that value variety while encouraging resilience, mutual trust, and a common Mediterranean vision.

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6- Exploring the Potential of Diverse Worldviews in Learning for Sustainability

Hotel of Tirana, Blue

This session challenges the dominant narratives of environmental education in the Euro-Mediterranean, which often rely on secular and scientific frameworks, by highlighting the deep and diverse contributions of spiritual, religious, and indigenous worldviews. As the region grapples with climate disruption, biodiversity loss, and widening inequalities, the session calls for a more inclusive understanding of sustainability that values plural knowledge systems.

Participants will explore how traditions such as Islamic ecological ethics in North Africa, Orthodox cosmologies in the Balkans, and agroecological practices in Mediterranean communities offer grounded, culturally embedded pathways to sustainability. The session asks a critical question: “Whose knowledge counts?”—inviting a shift toward more resonant, context-sensitive approaches to environmental education.

Bringing together educators, community leaders, and interdisciplinary experts, the session will examine how faith-based, indigenous, and grassroots perspectives can enrich sustainability learning, mainly when rooted in lived experience and local ecologies. Rather than replicating dominant paradigms, the session offers alternative models of transformation grounded in tradition, belonging, and ecological stewardship.

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7- Europe’s Role in the civil and political landscape of the MENA Region:" - Voices from Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and reflections on Syria

Hotel of Tirana, Abreti 1/2

This session provides a critical case study of Syria as a lens through which to examine broader sociopolitical trends in the Euro-Med region. It investigates how political transformations, civil society movements, and cultural diplomacy interact with Europe’s changing role in governance and mediation in the MENA region. From Germany’s rising involvement in Mediterranean issues to the EU’s strategic stance toward unstable situations, the panel will discuss how regional actors—both governmental and grassroots—respond to crisis and opportunity.

Drawing on Syria’s current socio-political transformations, the conversation will look at how narratives of resilience, identity, and cooperation are evolving. Cultural activities and public places that encourage discourse and shape post-conflict futures will receive special attention. The event connects high-level diplomacy with ground realities, providing insights into how governance, mediation, and strategic alliances are altering the parameters of Mediterranean cooperation.

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8- “Echoes of Change” – A story booth for civic engagement

Hotel of Tirana, Onufri

Echoes of Change is a story booth that has been put together by ALF Networks in Luxembourg, Denmark, Estonia, Portugal, and Lebanon. This session introduces it as a live archive of civic resilience. This place brings together personal stories of migration, activism, and group action from all over the Euro-Mediterranean at a time when dominant narratives often miss what’s going on at the local level.

The booth is more than just a place to tell stories; it’s also a place for people to think about their own lives, share different points of view, and have an open, honest conversation. The session focuses on stories—spoken, written, or recorded—as ways to build understanding, change policies, and improve society. By keeping anonymous stories as multimedia material, the initiative makes sure that they will have an impact beyond the Forum. It shows how powerful it is to work together with people from different cultures and confirms that personal stories, when told with care, can bring about change that affects everyone in an area. This is how political engagement should be: a chance to think, take part, and be human.

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9- الابتكار الاجتماعي وسيلة للإزدهار المجتمعي في المنطقة الأورومتوسطية

Hotel of Tirana, Teuta

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10- Young Civil Society Leaders: Community-based actions empowered by fresh perspectives

Hotel of Tirana, Metropol

This session will focus on the important part that young leaders in civil society play in creating practical, community-driven answers all over the Southern Mediterranean. Based on the Anna Lindh Foundation’s Young Civil Society Leadership Program (YCSLP), it brings together five up-and-coming leaders from the first and second rounds of the program to talk about how youth-led action can help solve the most important problems facing society today. By pushing for fair transitions and the ethical use of AI for civic involvement, these leaders are meeting the needs of their communities and changing what it means for government to be inclusive. The speakers, who come from different countries, will discuss local gaps, share what they’ve learned, and offer real-life answers. This session is one of the few chances to see young people put ideas into practice, making changes that are spreading across the area and getting stronger. It’s also a call for institutions and other important people to see how engaging in youth-led, locally based, and future-focused leadership models can pay off in the long run.

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11- Digital waves: Youth and digital innovation without borders

Hotel of Tirana, Bodgani

As technology currently shapes every aspect of our lives, this session highlights how youth across the Euro-Mediterranean region are leading digital transformation. It explores how youth are using digital tools to address pressing challenges such as education gaps, unemployment, and social exclusion, placing them at the forefront of innovation and impact. The session is set to follow a World Cafe format, facilitating small-group discussions where participants co-create actionable ideas and exchange insights across borders.

The session prioritizes hands-on collaboration between youth, grassroots actors, and digital experts, offering a platform for peer-learning and solution-building. Key themes include digital literacy, equitable access to technology, and strategies to bridge the digital divide. Speakers will not only reflect on their local experiences but also contribute to a shared regional vision of inclusive digital progress.

This session aims to secure long-term partnerships and empower participants to take forward scalable digital initiatives. It aims to create action plans and build cross-cultural networks, driving sustainable digital change led by the region’s youth.

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12- Unlocking Youth Competitiveness: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Skills 

Opera House, Orange

This session focuses on unlocking the full potential of youth across the Euro-Mediterranean, particularly in Southern Mediterranean countries where over half the population is under 25. Even though they experience rapid technological disruption and shifting labour markets, young people’s competitiveness is critical not only for individual empowerment but also for shared socio-economic advancement.

Rather than viewing youth as a demographic challenge, this session highlights them as a driving force for innovation, cultural renewal, and inclusive growth. Through practical case studies and youth-led initiatives, speakers will explore how a blend of formal and non-formal education, digital literacy, entrepreneurial training, and creative thinking can position young people to lead in AI-driven industries, social innovation, and local development.

The discussion will call for integrated regional strategies that invest in entrepreneurship ecosystems, skill development programmes, and cross-border knowledge exchange. It will also explore how to remove structural barriers, such as unequal access to finance, outdated curricula, or limited mobility, and align youth development policies with evolving economic realities.

Participants will come away with fresh insights into how innovation and skills-building can be scaled inclusively, making youth a strategic asset in building a competitive, cohesive, and future-ready Euro-Mediterranean region.

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16.30-17.45 pm

1- Wahda We Nos: The Untold Story of Egyptian Dance

Opera House, Main Hall

This cultural activity combines a panel discussion and live performance to explore baladi dance (belly dance) as both a cultural heritage and a tool for women’s empowerment. Led by anthropologist Dr. Mai Amer and performer Marina Ali, the session unveils the dance’s regional diversity, feminist roots, and power to challenge stereotypes. Through storytelling, performance, and audience interaction, the activity fosters intercultural dialogue, highlights shared traditions across the Mediterranean, and reframes belly dance as a unifying force for identity and expression. 
The live performance will feature the iconic instrumental piece “Aziza” by Mohamed Abdel Wahab, a landmark composition from Egypt’s Golden Age of music. Revered across the Middle East, “Aziza” embodies both elegance and strength, offering a rich musical tapestry that celebrates the cultural roots of baladi (belly dance). Its shifting rhythms and emotive melodies serve as the perfect backdrop to explore identity, heritage, and the powerful narrative of women reclaiming space through movement.

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2- Building AI Literacies, Skills, and Competencies for Higher Education

Hotel of Tirana, Abreti 1/2

This session brings together educators, policymakers, and innovators to explore how artificial intelligence reshapes higher education across the Euro-Mediterranean. As AI technologies increasingly influence teaching, learning, and employment pathways, institutions face new opportunities and responsibilities.

The discussion will focus on equipping students and educators with AI competencies beyond technical proficiency—emphasising ethical reasoning, intercultural awareness, and critical digital literacy. Speakers will present inclusive strategies for delivering AI training to underserved communities, non-traditional learners, and marginalised groups in a region marked by diverse education systems and socioeconomic contexts.

Participants will hear from actors across sectors, including intergovernmental bodies, pioneering universities, and civil society organisations, working to democratise access to AI education. The session will also confront urgent challenges such as algorithmic bias and data privacy, offering actionable guidance for embedding human rights, equity, and digital inclusion in future-ready curricula.

This is a vital conversation for those committed to shaping an AI-powered education ecosystem grounded in fairness, accountability, and shared opportunity.

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3- Fostering international cultural relations: Pathways for a Future Euro-mediterranean Agenda

Hotel of Tirana, Classic

This session goes into detail about how culture can become a key factor in bringing people together and handling crises in the Euro-Mediterranean area, which is becoming more divided. When other diplomatic methods don’t work, cultural diplomacy steps in as a quiet but important tool that brings people together, builds trust, and gets people working together across countries again. This talk is based on the Tangier Declaration and the results of five cross-network meetings led by Belgium, France, Ireland, Tunisia, and Morocco. It turns the lessons learnt into suggestions for the future. In a time of political instability, shifting migration patterns, and rising social tensions, the session will look at how artists, local institutions, and members of civil society have changed the way people interact with culture.

People who go will learn about how culture is being repositioned not only as heritage but also as a way to build unity, start community diplomacy, and change the way Euro-Med partnerships work. The session will focus on good examples of how to include intercultural views in policy and practice, drawing on new information from real-life interventions and locally led projects. A final road map with policy-based suggestions will be given out, showing how cultural tools can be used as part of bigger plans for social resilience and working together in the area.

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4- Local and Regional Authorities & Civil Society: A Partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Mediterranean Societies 

Hotel of Tirana, Metropol

Co-organising Partner Arlem

This session explores how local and regional authorities (LRAs), in partnership with civil society, are reimagining governance across the Euro-Mediterranean. Faced with overlapping challenges, climate disruption, rising inequality, migration, and social fragmentation, LRAs stand as key anchors of resilience. Their proximity to citizens enables more responsive, context-aware policymaking that reflects real-world needs and fuels innovation. Civil society actors, in turn, amplify community voices, build social cohesion, and drive equitable solutions. When these two forces collaborate, they forge people-centred governance rooted in trust, cooperation, and inclusive policies. This session will showcase impactful partnerships from across the region and explore how decentralised governance, participatory planning, and cross-sector alliances generate tangible progress. The discussion will also highlight emerging mechanisms for embedding community input in decision-making, including in regional initiatives such as the New Pact for the Mediterranean. Participants will discover how local institutions and civil society are shaping inclusive economies, resilient communities, and a competitive, cohesive, and future-ready Euro-Mediterranean—driven from the bottom up.

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5- Unscripted: Breaking Gender Norms Across the Mediterranean

Opera House, Cultures

Unscripted is a high-energy, participatory workshop that brings together diverse individuals from across the Mediterranean region to challenge gender norms through storytelling, role play, and cultural dialogue. This session invites participants to step outside their comfort zones, explore unfamiliar perspectives, and co-create a collective commitment to gender equality through immersive, interactive activities.

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6- Citizen Action Space for Spoken Word Stage- Citizen Action Space

Hotel of Tirana, Onufri

This session welcomes participants to the Citizen Action Space, an open, participatory space where creativity meets civic dialogue. The CAS is a live, collaborative platform that brings together poets, spoken word artists, and literary voices from across Europe and the Mediterranean to explore shared challenges, celebrate diversity, and promote grassroots opinions.

More than a performance venue, the CAS serves as a living space for expression and exchange. The event, which features a gender-balanced and geographically varied lineup of creatives, mixes artistic storytelling with intimate discussion, incorporating poetry, prose, and contemplation with real-time audience involvement. A distinctive open mic segment encourages audience engagement, transforming them into co-creators. The format of this workshop is unique: informal yet forceful, intimate yet collective. It bridges the literary and political spheres, highlighting voices that are frequently overlooked in formal civic venues. Through this dynamic integration of art and activism, the Citizen Action Space serves as a springboard for new ideas, creative energy, and shared ownership of public discourse across cultures.

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7- Inclusive Innovation: Pioneering Social Entrepreneurship for Community Solutions

Hotel of Tirana, Bodgani

This session reimagines social entrepreneurship as a powerful vehicle for community empowerment and a response to structural inequalities across the Euro-Mediterranean region. In contexts shaped by forced

displacement, gender-based exclusion, and unequal access to opportunity, marginalised communities are leading grassroots innovations that transform local challenges into engines of resilience and inclusion.

Speakers will explore how social entrepreneurship fosters agency, from migrant-led ventures navigating restrictive systems to women-led micro-enterprises revitalising rural economies and cross-border platforms advancing intercultural collaboration. The session will spotlight inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems that connect early-stage changemakers with diaspora networks, mentorship, and digital tools to amplify their social impact.

The discussion also examines how policymakers, funders, and private sector actors can move beyond short-term support and meaningfully invest in long-term, community-rooted innovation. It will highlight the importance of accessible finance, enabling legal frameworks, and co-designed strategies that reflect the realities and aspirations of underserved groups.

This session focuses on field-tested approaches and adaptable models, positioning entrepreneurship as a practice of social justice and solidarity. Participants will gain actionable insights into how inclusive innovation can foster equitable growth and sustainable futures across the Euro-Med region.

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8- Rhythms of Change: Engaging the Future

Hotel of Tirana, Balsha

This session offers an immersive approach to youth engagement by blending creative expression with sustainability dialogue. Featuring a dancer, musician, youth influencer, and academic speaker, the session creates a platform where young people can explore innovative ways to contribute to environmental and social change.through storytelling, artistic performances, and personal reflections, participants are invited to share what sustainability means to them and discover how creativity can drive community-based action.

This session encourages open dialogue, peer-to-peer inspiration, and the exchange of ideas, positioning youth not only as participants but as changemakers. By showcasing real-life examples and lived experiences, the session highlights the transformative impact of sustainable engagement on individuals and their wider communities.

Adding to its innovative edge, the session incorporates live streaming and interactive social media tools, enabling broader participation and real-time feedback from virtual attendees. The session also offers practical tools and resources to help participants carry their engagement forward after the event.

The session champions the idea that when knowledge is mixed with creativity and personal experiences, the social and environmental impact is much more sustainable and long lasting.

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9- From Dialogue to Policy: Strengthening Youth Participation in Local Decision-Making

Hotel of Tirana, Blue

This session stresses the importance of moving Euro-Mediterranean youth from informal dialogue into structured roles within local policymaking. While young people are often vocal on issues such as justice, inclusion, and sustainability, their engagement is frequently confined to consultative spaces rather than integrated into formal governance structures. This discussion addresses that disconnect by highlighting how youth-led initiatives transform grassroots conversations into actionable influence on public decision-making.

The session will spotlight participatory models that foster inclusive civic spaces through concrete examples, ranging from municipal youth councils and citizen cafés to youth-led heritage preservation projects. It will emphasise marginalised youth from rural or underrepresented communities, showcasing creative tools, digital platforms, and intergenerational partnerships that enable effective youth-adult collaboration.

Participants will explore innovative monitoring and evaluation strategies that enhance the accountability and visibility of youth-led efforts, including data-driven advocacy. The session also calls for stronger institutional support, co-designed policy frameworks, and sustained political will to embed youth participation as a standard component of democratic practice, not as an exception, but as the norm. This conversation aims to catalyse a shift from temporary engagement to meaningful, long-term inclusion of youth voices in shaping the future of the Euro-Mediterranean region.

Panelists: 

10- Learning from each other: Peer to peer-based campaigns and community projects

Opera House, Orange

This session highlights the transformative power of peer-to-peer learning in catalysing social innovation and collaborative action across the Euro-Mediterranean region. In a context rich with civic energy yet often fragmented, peer-based approaches offer a dynamic pathway to co-creation, community resilience, and lasting impact.

Moving beyond conventional training models, the session explores how shared experiences, empathy, and real-life role models can strengthen local initiatives and advocacy campaigns. Emphasising the psychological dimensions of learning—motivation, trust, and recognition—it showcases how community-driven exchange can turn lived knowledge into effective practice.

Participants will be introduced to proven methodologies that harness storytelling, co-design, and collective reflection to build communities of practice. Whether supporting grassroots activism or addressing systemic challenges, the session offers tools for scaling impact and strengthening regional peer networks through mutual learning and local ownership.

Panelists: 

11- Putting Euro-Med Youth at the Centre of the Peace and Security Agenda

Hotel of Tirana, Consortium Room

Co-organising Partner- OECD

This session reframes the role of young people in the Euro-Mediterranean peace and security agenda—from passive stakeholders to essential architects of resilience. In a region marked by conflict, exclusion, and fragility, youth-led solutions are increasingly recognised as key to addressing root causes of insecurity, from political marginalisation to socioeconomic disenfranchisement.

The discussion will explore how youth participation can be structurally embedded into governance and policy processes at local, national, and regional levels. Drawing on the OECD Youth Policy Toolkit and regional case studies, speakers will examine concrete mechanisms such as youth advisory councils, participatory policymaking platforms, and intergenerational dialogue formats. These models will be assessed for their potential to foster trust, reduce fragmentation, and promote sustainable peace.

The session will also highlight how youth-led civil society bridges institutions and communities, translating lived realities into policy-relevant insights. Best practices will be shared on how multi-stakeholder cooperation, including government, civil society, and international actors, can institutionalise youth engagement beyond symbolic gestures. Framed as both a policy imperative and a democratic opportunity, this session will advocate for long-term investment in youth leadership, emphasising that resilience and cohesion in the Euro-Med can only be achieved when young people are recognised as co-creators of peace.

Panelists: 

12- Tales of Taste – A Mediterranean Storytelling Experience

Hotel of Tirana, Teuta

“Tales of Taste” is an engaging storytelling activity that invites participants to explore the rich culinary heritage of the Mediterranean through the tasting of traditional food ingredients. Utilizing a food and flavors tasting wheel, participants will sample various ingredients that reflect the shared historical lineage of the east, west, north and south of the Mediterranean. This tasting exercise will achieve a sensory experience that brings unity through diverse flavors that are linked through a shared historical heritage. As they taste, participants will hear captivating stories paired with visuals—including videos, pictures, and maps—that highlight the cultural significance and historical connections of these ingredients, fostering a deeper appreciation for the Mediterranean’s diverse yet intertwined culinary traditions.

1.15

Ingredients tasting

Data show projection9visuals)

Presenter will explain basic of flavour tasting

Into about topic

Setting the ground by sharing visuals

Plates setup

Explanation about the ingredients

7 types of ingredienrs that link thed Mediterranean

Total Duration: 75-90 minutes

Target Audience: Forum participants interested in culture, gastronomy, and Mediterranean heritage

Setting: Small group setup (20–30 participants), immersive and informal atmosphere with thematic decoration reflecting Mediterranean identity

1. Welcome & Introduction (10 minutes)

Facilitator opens the session with a warm welcome.

Brief overview of Nakoll, the concept of culinary storytelling, and the session objectives.

Introduction of team members: chef, and assistant.

2. Setting the Scene: The Mediterranean Tasting Wheel (10 minutes)

Participants are introduced to the Mediterranean Tasting Wheel

Visual aids (projected map, presentation,) used to familiarize participants with the format.

3. Sensory Tasting & Storytelling Experience (45 minutes)

This section is divided into four tasting rounds, each representing a different Mediterranean region:

For Each Round (~10 minutes each):

Participants sample 1–2 ingredients from that region.

The chef explains the culinary use and preparation of the ingredient.

The asisstant shares stories, cultural origins, and historical connections, supported by visual aids (short video, images, historical maps).

Interactive moment: Participants reflect and share any memories or associations with the ingredients or region.

4. Group Reflection & Dialogue (15 minutes)

Guided group discussion: What common threads were found across regions?

Reflection on the shared culinary heritage and cultural intersections in Mediterranean cuisine.

Prompt questions (e.g., “What did you taste that surprised you?”, “Did a story remind you of your own cultural background?”).

5. Closing Remarks (10 minutes)

Summary of key insights from the session.

Emphasis on cross-cultural unity through food and shared history.

Invitation to connect with Nakoll or join follow-up activities at the Forum.