As part of the project “EuroMeSCo: Connecting the dots“, co-funded by the European Union and the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), we are opening calls for researchers to take part in five different Joint Study Groups.

The EuroMeSCo Joint Study Groups 2020 will be made up of four Authors, including a Coordinator, who will jointly produce a Policy Study over a period of 6-7 months. Interested researchers may apply as Authors or as Authors & Coordinators to each Joint Study Group. In both cases, they will have to complete the online form and submit their application before 15 June (included).

Here is a brief description of the rationale of this Joint Study Group:

Moving towards a green economy model in the MENA: identifying and overcoming the stumbling blocks in the region

In its Communication released in December 2019 on the European Green Deal, the European Commission not only commits to mainstreaming sustainability in all is internal policies, but also to develop a stronger ‘green deal diplomacy’, and especially “put emphasis on supporting its immediate neighbours”. This EuroMeSCo Policy Study should feed into the discussions on how to build “strong environment, energy and climate partnerships” between the EU and its Southern Mediterranean partners, as mentioned in the Communication. In order to do so, the study could take stock of how Southern Mediterranean countries are moving towards green economy models, as part of their commitments to meet Sustainable Development Goals. The Study should not consist of a mere enumeration of existing strategies, but elaborate on implementation (including issues such as preparedness of industry and SMEs), in a regional comparative perspective. Based on this overview, the Study should identify what are the stumbling blocks in the countries and how the EU could best support these efforts. The Study should also include specific developments on circular economy, and possibly explore the potential for triangular cooperation between the EU, its Southern Mediterranean partners, and Sub-Saharan Africa, in green economy issues.

The other four Joint Study Groups will be dealing with the following topics: cyber-security in the MENA region; Covid-19 related opportunities for terrorist groups in Africa and the MENA region; human smuggling 2.0; and post Covid-19 trade relations between the EU, its Southern Neighbours and Africa. You may apply to more than one Joint Study Group, but may eventually only be selected to join one of them.

See the EuroMeSCo Joint Study Groups 2020 Terms of Reference for more information.