The Issue of Security: Access to Fundamental Resources in Euro-Med Partnership

Arab Springs and Transitions: a new perspective on the euro- med partnership The issue of security: in food, labour and energy Prof Maurizio Caserta Department of Economics and Management University of Catania

What scenarios for the Euro- Mediterranean in 2030 in the wake of the Arab spring? Rym Ayadi and Carlo Sessa, MEDPRO Policy Paper No. 2 / October 2011 (Updated 25 February 2013) The Arab Spring is a real opportunity for Europe Christian Koch, Europe s world, summer 2011 Web sites: World health organization International Energy agency International labour organizations

The issue of security: access to fundamental resources European vision: ensure access to eveybody Euromed perspective: integration Fundamental resources: Peace Freedom Democracy Health Education Wealth Income Employment Focus on food, energy and labour

Security as a legal issue Accepted wisdom has it that individuals - wherever they live or however they are are entitled to a decent life: this means that they should have access to fundamental resources. It is therefore up to modern institutions to secure all the necessary conditions for achieving such a result: a decent life for everybody whether they are close or distant Thus security in the provision of fundamental resources is coessential with the notion of basic human rights: legal systems should be devised in such a way as to make such a provision a reality to as many individuals as possible From shelter, sanitation and food to education, employment and freedom Security as right to access

Security as an economic issue Security is costly: if access to resources were free, no economic problem existed. Thus the issue of security is coessential with the fundamental economic question: how to provide goods and services to everybody To the fundamental economic question, the issue of security adds the quest to reliability and stability in the provision of those goods and services A further economic question therefore arises as to the necessary resources to secure reliability and stability: such attributes call for specific resources which may not always be available Institutions therefore need to be designed in such a way as to make those specific resources readily available Security as reliable and stable access

Euro-mediterranean partnership The Union for the Mediterranean promotes economic integration and democratic reform across 16 neighbours to the EU s south in North Africa and the Middle East Projects address areas such as economy, environment, energy, health, migration and culture The Union for the Mediterranean has a number of key initiatives on its agenda which are somehow related to security in the provision of fundamental goods and services the de-pollution of the Mediterranean Sea, including coastal and protected marine areas; the establishment of maritime and land highways that connect ports and improve rail connections so as to facilitate movement of people and goods; a joint civil protection programme on prevention, preparation and response to natural and man-made disasters; a Mediterranean solar energy plan that explores opportunities for developing alternative energy sources in the region; European policies

Food security When all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life . (The World Food Summit of 1996) Commonly, the concept of food security is defined as including both physical and economic access to food that meets people's dietary needs as well as their food preferences. Food security is built on three pillars: Food availability: sufficient quantities of food available on a consistent basis. Food access: having sufficient resources to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritious diet. Food use: appropriate use based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care, as well as adequate water and sanitation

Social and labour security Social security systems provide for basic income in cases of unemployment, illness and injury, old age and retirement, invalidity, family responsibilities such as pregnancy and childcare, and loss of the family breadwinner Labour security implies safety and health at work: implementation of procedures for preventing accidents at work, industrial diseases, and general and sexual harassment

Energy security It refers to the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price Energy security has two fundamental aspects: long-term energy security is mainly linked to timely investments to supply energy in line with economic developments and environmental needs short-term energy security focuses on the ability of the energy system to react promptly to sudden changes in the supply- demand balance

Policy options Market integration and trade multilateral bilateral Financial and investment cooperation Grants and aid FDI Cultural and political cooperation