Citizens from both shores of the Mediterranean, newly-elected Members of the European Parliament (MEP’s) and political forces
This petition is run by Maydan Association
Petition text
On the eve of the European elections, we ask citizens from both shores
of the Mediterranean to sign this petition urging new MEPs and
political forces to support a new initiative toward integration between
the European continent and the Mediterranean space. Petition results, along with the Appeal, will be presented to all parliamentarians on 2 July, the inaugural plenary session for the new European parliament.
Why is this important?
The Mediterranean means a community of around half a billion people, a unique cultural heritage, the home of over thirty languages, breath-taking landscapes and an amazing biodiversity second only in importance to
rainforests, a globally recognised rural and food culture, extraordinary
energy sources, and – last but not least – fantastic human potential in
sciences, culture, economic development, spirituality, labour and creativity.
Today, we are de facto living a new global war, which plays cultures and
religious identities against each other; frustrates people’s struggles for
freedom and justice in the name of stability, growth and national interest;
pushes families to flee despair; creates borders between people and denies
the natural right of mobility; and places human beings and nature in
opposition. The hottest front line of this fabricated war runs through the
Mediterranean and May election results in countries like Italy, France, Poland and Hungary, will likely serve to exacerbate tensions. This is why we have launched this call for a “Free and United Mediterranean sharing a common destiny with Europe”, exactly in
the moment when nobody would bet on it.
When the two shores will finally meet and embrace, we are convinced that
their institutions, resources, intelligence, and human potential will provide
the solutions to save Europe from the temptation of disintegration and its
Mediterranean neighbours from the perils of authoritarianism and
chaos. This is the legacy Europe and the Mediterranean deserve today, so
that – together – they can step onto the world stage once more as a
beacon of enlightenment, humanism, hospitality, and progress.
The Petition has already been endorsed by over 80 key figures from the
worlds of culture, politics, science, and activism. Please follow this link to see the list of the first signatories and the various linguistic versions of the Appeal.
An initiative of Maydan Association, in partnership with:
- Albanian Forum for the Alliance of Civilization, Albania
- Tadamon-Egyptian Refugee Multicultural Council, Egypt
- Efimerida ton Syntakton, Greece
- Progetto Mediterranea, Italy
- Mediterranean Democratic Institute for Development and Training, Morocco
- Greater Middle East Platform, Netherlands
- Centre for Comparative Conflict Studies, Serbia/Croatia
- European Institute of the Mediterranean, Spain
- Irenia- Jocs de Pau, Spain
- National Museums of World Culture, Sweden
Next step - spread the word
Embracing the Mediterranean means saving Europe!
