Engineering Association of the Mediterranean Countries.
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The strategic importance of the Mediterranean Area strongly imposed because of many factorsin the last years. The Mediterranean is today more than ever a fundamental strategic node forthe geopolitical international balance and for the enormous potentials it may express in terms ofdemand and offer of resources towards an autonomous and sustainable development.More than ten years ago, the European Union and twelve countries of the southern shore of theMediterranean have created a global partnership to make the Area a common space of peace,stability and prosperity. Political dialogue, economic, financial, social and cultural cooperationare the bases of the agreement.This process has given birth to a Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, thus providingthe region with a parliamentary forum that is uniquely placed to address common concerns andin which Mediterranean parliaments participate on an equal footing theThe inaugural Session of the new entity was held in Amman (Jordan), on September 2006. Veryinteresting, on my opinion, is a sentence in the final declaration of the Assembly which reads asfollows “A long-term vision of Mediterranean relations should prevail over short-term interests. Itis not only necessary but also possible to maintain a permanent political dialogue between allthe Mediterranean partners”Italy has an enviable geographic position as the European country closer to the African andMiddle East countries of the Mediterranean and sustainable development and appliedengineering are almost synonym.So, the Consiglio Nazionale degli Ingegneri (CNI) thinks to have a role to play towards thetargets of development and streamlining of resources as well to encourage a flexible mobility inthe area. The establishment of cooperative efforts amongst the Mediterranean Associations ofEngineers within an agreed framework of intents has been our first stepThus, the so called “Engineering Associations of the Mediterranean Countries” (EAMC) hasbeen launched in Lecce under the auspices and collaboration of WFEO (World Federation ofEngineers’ Organizations) on the 8th of May 2014, at a Conference of the MediterraneanEngineering Associations.The initiative had the consensus of all the international Engineers’ Associations of the EuropeanMediterranean CLAIU-EU (Council Associations Long Cycle Engineers), ECEC (EuropeanCouncil Engineering Chambers), ECCE (European Council of Civil Engineers), FEANI(European Federation National Engineering Associations). Furthermore, FAE (Federation ofArab Engineers) gave its support and collaboration to involve as many Arab Associations aspossible.This first Conference has been finalized to the mutual exchange of information on the educationand the professional systems in the various countries, and to analyze in-depth the perspectivesof engineers in the future decade. For this purpose, a common Statement of Intent with anoperative Annex has been signed in Lecce by WFEO and the following 14 NationalOrganisations of Engineers.Albanian Association of Consulting Engineers Engineering Associations ofMediterranean CountriesUnion Nationale des scientifiques et technologues algériensTechnical Chamber of CyprusEgyptian Syndicate of EngineersTechnical Chamber of GreeceConsiglio Nazionale degli IngegneriOrdre des Ingénieurs et Architectes du LibanLibyan Syndicate of EngineersChamber of Engineers of MaltaUnion Nationale des Ingénieurs MarocainGeneral Union of Palestine EngineersSlovenian Chamber of EngineerSyrian Engineers SyndicateOrdre des Ingénieurs TunisiensFor the purpose of facilitating the mobility of engineers within the area, CNI drafted andillustrated in Lecce a research on the formation and professional systems in the variouscountries, concerning 21 Mediterranean countries. The results of such research were thesubject of a lively roundtable.A second roundtable focused on the cultural and social heritage: recovery, restoration,and improvement of the built environment, has been very successful.Last but not least, EAMC planned five technical tables on topics of particular relevanceand complying with the strategic cooperation lines specified in the Annex to theStatement of Intent. In detail:? Exchange of information on national engineering education and professionalsystems to facilitate the free movement of the Engineers in the MediterraneanArea.? Promotion of sustainable and renewable energies, energy efficient lighting, andeco-friendly designs.? Sharing and transferring innovative technologies, in particular those related to safewater and sanitation, water-recycling systems waste treatment.? Exploring issues to safeguard of the cultural and social heritage, promotingrestoration and renovation of the built environment.Climate change adaptation of infrastructures Engineering Associations of Mediterranean Countries The second Conference will be held probably in Egypt next year and we should to make an initial assessment of the activities undertaken and the results obtained.