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Il Covid-19 ha un forte impatto sui Paesi partner del Mediterraneo.
Sull’impatto socio-economico nell’area mediterranea, il COPPEM ha organizzato un tavolo permanente di esperti europei e arabi sul tema: “L’impatto della pandemia nell’area del Mediterraneo”.
Il suo scopo è stato quello di promuovere un nuovo modello di cooperazione tra gli enti locali e regionali dei paesi del Mediterraneo, attraverso lo scambio di esperienze, know-how e buone pratiche.
Il primo incontro si è tenuto via web il 9 giugno 2020 e si è concentrato sugli aspetti sociali e sanitari, economici e culturali.

Hanno partecipato alla conferenza: Francesco Sammaritano,Segretario generale COPPEM-Italia
Adly Hussein, Ministro della giustizia Egitto
Mohamed Boudra, UCLG, AMPCC, Al-Hoceima – Marocco
Mustafa Aydın, Istanbul Aydin University -EURAS & EURIE – Turchia
Avraham Rabinovitch, LACDE – Israele
Nourredine Sbia, FACM – Algeria
Arch Giorgio Gervasi, direttore generale “Gervasi Srl” Italia
Di seguito pubblichiamo il report della conferenza

Conference topic: “The socio-economic impact of the Pandemic in the Mediterranean area”

Covid-19 in having a strong impact on several Mediterranean partner countries.
For this reason, COPPEM is organising a permanent board of European and Arab experts table on the topic: “The impact of the pandemic in the Mediterranean area”.
Its aim is to promote a new model of cooperation between local and regional authorities of the Mediterranean countries on the topic, through the exchange of experiences, know-how and best practices.
The first meeting was held via web the 9th June, 2020 (from h 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. – CEST) and focused on the social and health, economic and cultural aspects referable to the impact of the pandemic in the Southern Mediterranean countries (including Sicily).
The web platform of the Conference was “Zoom”, downloaded from the following website: https://zoom.us/
For technical reasons the language of the WebConference was English, however some translation was made to facilitate the performance of the event by PhD Ilia Mazzone (French, Spanish, English and Italian language) and Ms Irem Arman (English, Turkish).

Follow up:
After this first WebConference, further will follow with the implication of experts from several scientific institutes (such as: Pasteur Institute France, Hospital la Charité Germany, Migal Institute Israel, Prof Gideon Gross, Italian Society of Microbiology Italy, Spanish virology society Spain, Institute of Biotechnology University of Ankara Turkey, curative Institute Cairo Egypt).

Agenda:

Opening speech:
Dr Francesco Sammaritano, Secretary General of COPPEM – the Standing Committee for Euro-Mediterranean partnership of local and regional authorities.
Panel facilitator:
Dr Ilia Mazzone, International Relations Director of COPPEM
Speakers:
H.E. Adly Hussein, Judge at the General Secretariat for conciliation and dispute resolution committees of the the Ministry of Justice – EGYPT
Dr Mohamed Boudra, President of UCLG – United Cities and Local Governments, President of AMPCC – Moroccan Association of the Presidents of Municipal councils – and Major of Al-Hoceima – MOROCCO
Assoc. Prof. Mustafa Aydın, President of Istanbul Aydin University and President of Eurasian Universities Union-EURAS & EURIE – TURKEY
Dr Avraham Rabinovitch, Secretary General of LACDE – international organization of “local authorities confronting disaster and emergencies“ – ISRAEL
Mr Nourredine Sbia, President of FACM the “Algerian Forum for Citizenship and Modernity” – ALGERIA
Arch Giorgio Gervasi, General Director of the company “Gervasi Srl” – ITALY

Draft speech of Dr Francesco Sammaritano – Secretary General of COPPEM – the Standing Committee for Euro-Mediterranean partnership of local and regional authorities

“Dear colleagues, dear friends,

Since January, I had planned a series of institutional visits to your countries to discuss the issues that we should have considered during our General Assembly in June.
It would have been my first General Assembly as Secretary General and I must confess that with great emotion I was also waiting for this moment to see you all again. This pandemic, this bloody pandemic has changed our lives and even the programs that we set out to do.
In recent months, COPPEM secretariat has committed its energies to involving in our body the educational institutions of the Member States with twinning programmes among our young people who will be the future ruling class.
We also thought we would give the Persian Gulf countries observer status in our activities.
Finally, another important point in our view was the organization of meetings between representatives of entrepreneurs in our countries, with a view to establishing commercial and entrepreneurial relations. This is one of the reasons why Mr Giorgio Gervasi is taking part in our meeting today.
We are convinced that even in the light of what the pandemic has produced in economic terms, the future of our peoples must be in the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean continent. On these points, of course, we ask for your consent and your approval.
Everything has changed since March.
Today, and in this context, I ask for your support, which I believe to be indispensable to me; COPPEM has a duty to make its contribution to the economic and cultural social and health recovery of our Member States.
Today’s meeting serves not only to meet again, even if via web, but also to discuss the possibility of organizing a meeting in September on the theme “Covid 19 social, health and economic impacts”, in the presence of experts from our member countries.
COPPEM could manage the data collection on the health situation of the Mediterranean countries, on the repercussions that the Covid 19 has had on the economies. It would then be up to the secretariat to draw up a report on these indications. The report will then be sent to the European Commission and the Arab League.
At the same time, we are organizing the general assembly in December. If God wills it will be held in Palermo in the presence of the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella.
Then every year we would have two meetings one in an Arab capital and another in a European one.
Mrs Mazzone, PhD, is doing an extraordinary job and I thank her for her engagement in renewing our Arab and European delegations also with the support of historical COPPEM members.
We are moving forward with the project on interreligious and intercultural dialogue. COPPEM actively cooperates with the Sicilian Region on issues such as immigration and the fight against fundamentalism and international organized crime.
New challenges await us but as General Hannibal wrote to his men, we will always find a way and if we do not find one we will build one.

Finally, I would like to thank the outgoing Secretary General, Mr Lino Motta, for creating this Euro-Mediterranean dream.
My thanks go to my dear friend to Chancellor Adly Hussein, whom I have always called the father of COPPEM.
Special thanks to Dr Mohamed Boudra, who we greet today as President of UCLG, an honor also for COPPEM.
Thanks to Prof Mustafa Aydin who is always close to us with his precious advice, to Rector Ali Abu Ganimeh, to my dear friend Nouredine Sbia.
I am grateful to Avraham Rabinovitch for his generous cooperation with our secretariat.
Finally, a warm greeting to Prof Said El Dakkak with whom we have continued to work for COPPEM in recent months.
God bless you and your families. Thank you.”

Draft speech of Chancelor Adly Hussein, Judge at the General Secretariat for conciliation and dispute resolution committees of the the Ministry of Justice – EGYPT

In the beginning, I would like to welcome my colleagues and friends who are now present at this important meeting and express my great happiness for the return of COPPEM activities.
I totally appreciate the all efforts that Mr. Carmelo Motta the former Secretary-General of COPPEM did for the Mediterranean countries and a greeting to the new Secretary-General, Dr. Francesco Sammaritano, and Dr. Ilia Mazzone as International Relations Director, we are all ready for cooperating with them.
The topic of this meeting, is necessary after the exposure of the whole world to COVID19 Perhaps this great harm that affected the Mediterranean countries, specially Italy, prompted all of us to think about the harmful effects that have been happened.
I was very keen throughout past years through Cairo COPPEM office to keep the name of COPPEM present in international and local forums as much as possible, for example:
1-Representation in the conferences of the Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL) in South Korea’s and in its conferences in the United Nations, Ethiopia, Jorden and Egypt
2- Through the UNESCO Organization in South Korea, (ICCN)
3- The most recent conference, was about “The Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” signed by Grand Imam Sheikh Al-Azhar and the Pope of the Vatican that was held in Torino
4- conferences held with the Federation of Arab Women Leaders:
a) Attending a seminar entitled “Violence against Women”
b) The first regional conference for the Federation of Arab Women Leadership under the auspices of the League of Arab States in presence of Dr. Kamal Hassan Ali, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs and His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Khair, Director of the Department of Specific Organizations and Associations
c) Anti-Corona conference with Bio Misr for Pharmaceutical Industries and Pharco Pharmaceutical Company to explain how to deal with the COVID19
d) Conference of the “Expected effects on the Arab economies and manufacturing industries” with the Arab Union for Export Development and economic experts in Egypt and the Arab countries
5-Very important note:
The call that I sent to all the competent authorities for the necessity of conducting a high-level investigation through the Security Council to investigate the cause of COVID 19, which received a wide and welcome response.
The effects of COVID 19 on the Mediterranean countries was disaster as all tourism, commercial and investment activities have been stopped:
Which led to an increase in the unemployment rate and social effects.
Which are similar among Mediterranean countries, and appeared in an increase in cases of family violence and family unrest which was the subject of study between Cairo COPPEM and the National Centre for Social and Criminal Research in Egypt
All of that really requires several meetings and protocols between all the leaders of the Mediterranean countries, the governors, mayors of the departments, municipalities and localities to develop future solutions and plans to address all these negative effects that resulted from COVID19 without delay to achieve the goals of the sustainable development of the United Nations 2030(SDGs)
Future activities of Cairo Coppem with federation of Arab Women leaders and Arab League’s
Conferences for the crisis in the energy
Artificial intelligence and digital transformation
Finally, I am very glad to meet with you in this conference and totally optimistic for the future plans and achievements.

Draft speech of Dr Mohamed Boudra, President of UCLG – United Cities and Local Governments, President of AMPCC – Moroccan Association of the Presidents of Municipal councils – and Major of Al-Hoceima – MOROCCO

It is in an unprecedented and difficult context that the Mediterranean celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Process.
First of all, because we have seen see in the last years how the Barcelona declaration and its spirit of cooperation, of promoting peace, prosperity and stability in our region did not advance as we had hoped in 1995.
The Mediterranean is not immune to the challenges that the planet faces as a whole; on the contrary, we see these exacerbated in our cities and in the sea that we share.
But the Mediterranean is undoubtedly at a crossroads.
First and foremost, the economic crisis started as a side effect of the Covid Pandemic is having a deep impact in all Mediterranean countries.
Second of all we must consider that the Mediterranean population grew by 20% between 1970 and 2018. This rate of population growth inevitably implies a very high rate of urbanization, because the 22 coastal countries bordering it include more than 500 million people, two thirds of whom live in the cities.
Moreover, armed conflicts in some countries of the region have serious social, environmental and economic consequences for the cities, and pose considerable challenges to any attempt towards sustainable development.
Up to now, the strategies implemented in the region are struggling to adapt to the situation caused by the strong population growth. The result is an uncontrolled urban expansion, particularly in the form of informal settlements, which goes hand in hand with problems of degradation, sometimes pauperization and lack of provision of services.
Rapid urbanization processes must not leave vulnerable groups behind. Extreme income inequality threatens future social cohesion and sustainable development. Our region is the one that creates the greatest gap between the rich and the poor.
Managing migration flows at the gateway to Europe must make us rethink the way we treat migration, but also reflect on our relations and our common territory, through an approach to human rights.
The Mediterranean is precisely this space where history shows that the benefits of migration, intercultural exchange and socio-economic progress are possible only through inclusion and social cohesion, and regional local authorities have a crucial role to play in building inclusive and pluralistic societies, not only by catalysing dialogue, but also by guaranteeing access to basic services and encouraging welcoming policies for newcomers.
We are at a time in history when we must conceive of our region as a space filled with opportunities and allowing us to define a new narrative and new solutions for migration.
The challenges of the North and South Shores are common; and these challenges know no borders. The difference lies in the means available to face them. In a context of rising temperatures, extinction of species, and widespread risk for biodiversity, it is important that all the actors involved commit to protect this source of wealth that is the Mediterranean. We need to make a real ecological transition, we need to work to keep the rise in temperature below 1.5 degrees centigrade, and we need to work to adapt and transform our habits.
To achieve all these objectives, it is essential to change the paradigm of cooperation in the region.
The principles set out in the Barcelona Declaration are foundational. Its objectives of dialogue between different actors, respect for rights and freedoms, its willingness to resolve conflicts peacefully, and to cooperate to solve common problems together, are still relevant.
As Mayor of an intermediate city in Morocco, president of a national association of local authorities, and president of the world organization of cities and regions, I believe in the need to consolidate political dialogue, economic cooperation and social and cultural dialogue, not only between countries in the Euro-Mediterranean region, but also through decentralized cooperation between cities and different actors, including civil society, and also a frank dialogue between the central state and local and regional governments.
This is the only way to overcome the doubts that beset the multilateral approach, to consolidate the decentralization processes in the region, and to strengthen effectively the Mediterranean.
Since my various duties, I have consistently called for a multi-stakeholder approach, involving all stakeholders in urban planning.
To do this, it is necessary to bring to our relations a territorial dimension that is really tangible, that makes the idea of a «Union for the Mediterranean» conceived from the local scale, from the spheres of government closest to citizens.
Local voices and perspectives must occupy a different space in debate and governance.
“Cooperation” is still a too technical a concept. Exchanging good practices, working in a decentralized way, learning among peers is vital, but the concept of cooperation must take on a new meaning.
Local-national dialogue and cross-border dialogue are essential. Our movement understands the localization of agendas and how to ensure that they are carried out properly, and to place the local sphere at the very heart of policy-making.
For this localization to take place in a tangible way, it is essential to reverse the system of multi-level governance, so that it starts from the bottom and encompasses all spheres of government as being part of a single gear.
“Cooperation”, as we understand it in the various jurisdictions I represent, includes the adoption of a new concept of citizenship. “Cooperation” also means encouraging dialogue between local communities in the Mediterranean region in order to strengthen diplomacy between cities.
Since my various functions, local democracy has been the basis for the development and strengthening of peace in the region, prosperity and solidarity.
We are now facing the challenge of renewing the agenda for the Mediterranean, with the intermediate cities and the solidarity as axis of transformation.
Luckily the Mediterranean is not only a succession of failures. We note that in several countries of the South, democracy has been able to advance and in particular the local democracy, major infrastructures have appeared. The Arab Spring also brought a new breath of freedom and the beginning of the consolidation of human rights with an extraordinary emergence of civil society. From countries of transit and departure the countries of the South become countries of reception for migrants thus testifying the economic growth and the opening towards multi-cultural societies.
You can count on my commitment to encourage political dialogue between the cities of the region, to collaborate and strengthen the work with the Mediterranean networks, as well as the cooperation between cities and regions, to achieve greater social cohesion.
This is extremely urgent after the economic crisis started as a consequence of the recent Pandemic.
I invite the European Union and all those involved to open a new page in the history of the Mediterranean basin and to act on the urban and social questions, not only within the Union but also in the context of its external relations with neighbouring countries, particularly in the southern neighbourhood.

Draft speech of Assoc. Prof. Mustafa Aydın, President of Istanbul Aydin University and President of Eurasian Universities Union-EURAS & EURIE – TURKEY

Our world has been struggling with the Covid-19 outbreak for the last 6 months.
It shows us that we will experience radical changes at the global level in the economic, social, cultural, political and many other issues of this extraordinary situation that we have been in so far. It has become increasingly clear that the new era we live in can no longer be considered a social public health problem. At the academic level, there are a number of new challenges. To understand and analyze this new world requires many different disciplines to work together. The multi-dimensional and multi-component situation in front of us can be handled in this way.
Global warming, desertification, migration and security issues have been busy the world agenda for a long time. On the other hand, Covid 19 made many vulnerabilities in the world even more visible. Apart from what I have listed above, poverty, disorder of income distribution, racism, feeling of hopelessness, xenophobia, extreme nationalism and similar issues have started to be emphasized much more. From the yellow vests in France to the protests in America, this is an evidence that this unfair global order is unsustainable.
This crisis, which started in China, spread to almost every part of the world in a very short time. Particularly, it seems that the member states of the European Union are among the most affected by this epidemic. The fact that our most important trade partner is the EU and that we are geographically close makes the developments there more important for us.
World; With countless crises and difficulties leaving 2019 behind, it faced a very rare threat in the last months of the year, which will alter its entire agenda and the usual course of life. This threat that manifested itself in December of the year we left behind; It was a threat that has not been seen until now, is not accustomed, and that almost all countries are caught off guard and hunted off guard.
The 6-month period we left behind showed us that none of us were prepared for such an epidemic and that most countries had serious difficulties in crisis management.
However, there is a particularly prominent situation in this process that is related to the fact that international institutions and organizations have not passed this exam successfully. This situation imposes a serious questioning of the international institutional structure. At this stage, the roles, positions, institutional arrangements and missions that international organizations will play in the future need to be re-evaluated. We are facing serious reform at the international level.
If we look at the attitude of the United Nations, it has been revealed that the organization does not have a superior identity in the process so far. This institution, as a supra-state structure, could not be involved in effective activities during the crisis period. In terms of providing international cooperation for the crisis in the international system and providing necessary assistance to the countries in need, the United Nations exam has not passed.
Similarly, one of the most talked about international institutions in this period was the World Health Organization, and its functionality was questioned before the developments.
One of the most important effects of coronavirus is on globalization. Countries gradually needed to protect themselves from the beginning of the process and started to close themselves and to isolate themselves. International trade has been severely disrupted, and the airline companies, tourism and services sectors have been the most affected by the economic sectors. Naturally, global human mobility and commodity trading have declined significantly. This triggered the questioning of whether the globalization process has come to an end in many circles. One of the most important effects of coronavirus was undoubtedly seen on the phenomenon of globalization. The isolation environment created by the pandemic and the protectionism brought forward by the countries will show us whether we are at the end of globalization.
Our observations are that the European Union will come out of this process quite worn out. This strengthens our expectation that it will bring some changes in Europe. Countries such as Italy and Spain could not see the support and assistance they expect from the union in this process.
In the context of the impact created by the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, which has affected almost the whole world in a very short time after its emergence in China, we can say that it will be the beginning of some changes in the world. In the light of the data so far, it is possible to say that Europe, which is the second centre of the epidemic, and the United States, which is the third centre, will experience changes in both economic, political and social systems after the crisis.
The only truth revealed by the pandemic is that no country in the world is strong enough to fight this crisis alone. In the light of the data so far, it is possible to say that Europe, which is the second centre of the epidemic, and the United States, which is the third centre, will experience changes in both economic, political and social systems after the crisis.
The only truth revealed by the pandemic is that no country in the world is strong enough to fight this crisis alone. Many developed countries, including the United States, today launched as the world’s number one superpower, have been heavily wounded in the fight against the crisis. After the first wave of the crisis has been overcome, it is clear that countries need to seek more cooperation and solidarity with each other and try to overcome the problem together.
We are both in our respective institutions both taking our measures, we continued our work at the highest level and will be Turkey. From the moment the epidemic first became apparent, we have implemented policies in line with our belief that “let the nation live, let the state live” with the understanding of “nation first”. We closed our borders, especially Iran, and banned international flights. Later measures were always related to our understanding of “keep people alive”.
We continue all our academic studies with all means of technology with online education at Istanbul Aydın University where I am the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and BİL Colleges where I am the Chairman of the Board. Both our teachers and our students take all necessary precautions for health, as well as we continue our work in various online platforms.
We provide maximum support to the society and our government in many sectoral, social, social and economic matters through many non-governmental organizations that I head.
In addition, as the Chairman of the TIM Education Services Committee affiliated with our Ministry of Commerce, we develop new applications and solutions to adapt to the measures brought on behalf of all our Universities, to ensure the health and safety of our students and academics, and to continue our education sector in the most effective way. In order to adapt to the new norm, we develop studies, projects, new applications, and nurture the society and the state in this sense, aware of the duties and responsibilities of the academy.
As the President of the Küçükçekmece City Council, we are continuing our improvement projects with the help and support works for our youth, disabled citizens, elderly people and community members in need, as well as being aware of the importance of our work in our region.
Our country has taken many precautions and measures within the scope of Covid 19 epidemic. In order to increase, improve and revise these measures and measures, the support we provide through our university’s strong academic and research staff and non-governmental organizations continues. We continue our works in constant contact with all our Ministries regarding the reports we have prepared.
A difficult, different and foreign process is waiting for us. But together, we will look forward to the future with hand and realistic approaches, take the necessary lessons and continue our lives.

Draft speech of Dr Avraham Rabinovitch, Secretary General of LACDE – international organization of “local authorities confronting disaster and emergencies” – ISRAEL

The international organization LACDE “Local Authorities Confronting Disaster and Emergencies” was established in 1994, with the goal to put local authorities in the centre in the management of emergencies. Our slogan is: “you are not alone”.
The cities and regions are the first to face disaster and the last to remain. However, the fact is that governments took decision and put regulation without talking with the leaders of the local authorities. In fact, this brings to misunderstanding and problems with the citizens.
The human factor in resilient cites is a key to success and to overcome the disaster, but this can be done by the cities and not regulation. For example, after the Covid-19 pandemic, in Israel the government wanted to open schools at the beginning of this week, but the cities said: “we are not prepared and the responsibility on the health of our citizens is on our shoulders there for we do not obey” and at the end the government agreed and postponed the re-opening.
International cooperation between cities and regions can bring a lot of help and contribute to save lives. For example, if there will be a bank of information about the real capacity of cities to deliver masks, gloves and gel and could be transit in the region this could be a very important aid with no big investment or money.
Nationally, the emergency shows that good things can come from the situation. Arabs and religion were very much not appreciating societies in Israel but in this situation, people saw the beautiful face of Arab doctors, nurses and pharmacists. The religion joins to the emergencies forces to help old people. The army that came to help suddenly had another face to them. In the long run it will bring a strong resilience to the national society and more unity.
Locally, municipalities show a great importance to the civilians by answering to their need in the unexpected situation. It also strengthens the cooperation between neighbourhood, this helps also to rise the moral.
To Conclude: the human factor in resilient cities is not less important than medical, economic and technical aspects.
International cooperation before and during emergencies could help to save lives, especially within the same region.
Local authorities are a key and central factor to fight, disaster and the national organs have to take it in consideration when they deal with disaster.
COPPEM could play an important role to bring this voice in the international arena

Draft speech of Mr Nourredine Sbia, President of FACM the “Algerian Forum for Citizenship and Modernity” – ALGERIA

Mr. Nello Musumeci, President of the Sicily Region, President of COPPEM ;
Mr. Francesco Sammaritano, General secretary of COPPEM ;
Ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues and friends;
Allow me, before approaching the subject of my communication, to thank Mr. Musumeci Nello for having made it possible to relaunch the activities of COPPEM by agreeing to chair it. On this occasion I am pleased to renew my sincere congratulations to him. I also welcome the commendable efforts made by our dear friend, Mr. F. Sammaritano, whom I congratulate on his elevation to the post of Secretary General of our Organization, so dear to all of us, and who had the honor and the privilege of organizing this 1st conference in the difficult circumstances we are experiencing.
I would also like to thank the members of the Staff who made their precious contribution to it.
Regarding the health situation relating to the Corona Virus Pandemic in Algeria, it is as follows according to official data:
The health situation is clearly improving, there is a decrease in the number of cases. In general, we see a positive stabilization, currently, Algeria is in the descent phase.
In total, the number of confirmed cases amounts to 9,935, that of deaths to 690, while the total of cured patients increases to 6,453.
Economic Consequences
Experts expect a decrease of more than 5% in 2020 in Algeria. Hydrocarbon revenues up to the end of February 2020, forecast at $ 6 billion, have decreased by $ 1 billion, reaching $ 5 billion, mainly due to the repercussions of the raging Coronavirus pandemic on the world oil market. Hydrocarbon revenues represent 90% of Algerian state revenues. At 30 dollars a barrel, 80% of Algerian deposits become unprofitable. According to the latest estimates from OPEC and the International Energy Agency, the incomes of oil and natural gas exporting countries are likely to fall by “50% to 85%” if the global economic crisis in the context of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic persists. In order to be able to cope, the Algerian government decides to cut the state’s operating budget by 30% and to reduce the national oil company’s operating and investment expenses from $ 14 billion to $ 7 billion, Sonatrach.
On the commercial side and since the beginning of the epidemic in China, Algerian import-export and distribution companies have suffered huge losses due to the dependence on imports from China estimated at 25% of total imports from Algeria is 8 billion dollars. The sectors most affected are construction and public works. In turn, the Algerian Society of Fairs and Exhibitions (Safex) announced the postponement of all the fairs and events scheduled for the months of March and April 2020, this is the International Environment and Energy Fair Renewable, the International Exhibition of Olive, Olive Oil and Olive Derivatives, the International Exhibition of Elevator and Escalator Technologies “Lift Expo”, the Games and Comic con Maghreb, the International Tourism Exhibition of ‘Algiers and the Batimatec Exhibition for industrial vehicle.
The commercial activity of the national petroleum product marketing and distribution company, Naftal, has fallen by 50% since the second half of March, mainly due to the suspension of air traffic, where a 99% drop in Kerosene supply has been recorded, in terms of supply to the maritime fleet, the decrease recorded varies between 70 and 75%.
On the finance and tax side, the Directorate General of Taxes announced on March 17, 2020 that the filing of declarations and the payment of duties and taxes are postponed, adding that this measure is exceptional and will not entail any penalty for delay
Socio-economically, the prices of vegetables and fruits have experienced a sharp increase since March 17 following the rapid spread of the coronavirus in the country, followed by a shortage of semolina (durum wheat) and flour (common wheat) registered, from March 24, in commercial premises and supermarkets across the national territory due to the large influx of citizens.
On Tourism
The closure of 3,500 travel agencies in Algeria, following the closure of airspace and the introduction of containment has caused colossal losses in the sector and the layoff of more than 150,000 workers in technical work. accommodation and catering. According to the consultant in sustainable tourism, Mohamed Boudra, the pandemic has paralyzed the travel sector 100%, with ticket cancellations and booking packages in outgoing and coming, especially for the Sahara destination.
50% of tourism programs to Tunisia, Morocco and several European and Asian countries have been cancelled by tourism and travel agencies, after the spread of the coronavirus worldwide.
On transport
In air transport, the national airline Air Algérie had announced, on March 18, 2020, the suspension of all international flights, followed by a suspension of domestic flights four days later, almost all of the air fleet of the company is nailed to the ground. According to the Association of African Airlines (Afraa) of which Air Algeria is a member, 95% of the African air fleet is immobilized due to the pandemic, with the exception of cargo plane flights, international flight reservations are in free fall in Africa registering a decrease of around 20% in March and April 2020 while domestic reservations fell by around 15% during the same period. African airlines had lost $ 4.4 billion in revenue by March 11, 2020, the sector losses in Africa will be colossal estimates the International Association is Air Transport. However, airlines in which the State is a shareholder will be more likely to survive, like Air Algeria, explains aeronautical expert Nasser Skalli Housseini.

Draft speech by Arch Giorgio Gervasi, General Director of the company “Gervasi Srl” – ITALY

“The changes that will characterize the post-pandemic Covid-19 world will also display objective opportunities.
Among others, the redefinition of the “Supply Chain”, which will have to accept an adjustment towards new production demands; a strong shock or at least a modulation of the so-called globalized world as we have understood in the last decades and a return to the criterion of proximity.
China was a fertile laboratory in Supply Chain, which is now get stuck in virus time before and after, showing us how can difficult in extreme cases like those of a pandemic not comparable even to a war for the invisible enemy, can be the normal supplies of goods from a single country acclaiming that eccentricity criteria is no more possible
The pandemic crisis of Covid-19 represents a great magnifying glass on all the dyscrasias and problems that can be underway for years, especially and paradoxically in many civilized countries, where the trend has been to sweep a scandal under the carpet: on the altar of its country-system’s growth, everything was sacrificed in terms of acquiring market shares
Due to a short-sighted although profitable perspective, a vision of structured, sustainable and eco-friendly development is missed, but not in terms of global development sharpening in terms of welfare the differences of social classes between States and within each individual State, but in the Smithian way to benefit the others instead of the single man
The globalization process had showed its cracks and limit during the 2011-2013 crisis; but the world economy not helped with some corrective action because of immediate
During the last five years, global world had started to divided in different blocks observing an interruption and alteration process
Covid-19, producing a health and economic crisis never seen before, has underlined, according to a Keynesian rule, how important a rule of a State can be managing a crisis: as regulator of different needs and as defender of citizenship and equally giving logical indication for well-balanced hints
The most evident fact, among other things, of this crisis, that is not enough to draw a line to establish common boundaries within to stay, on the basis of a semi-continental limit, even if historical and geographic, without a common political vision and above all engulfing the interests of the nations themselves, or inculcating legitimate expectations.
All these actions have weakened the fragile supranational structures like WHO, UNO and UE calling into a question the inspiring principles and common roots.
UK exit was not a helping hand like Trump’s criticism and an EU driven by Germany. Its commercial surplus is a factual data; we’d ask ourselves if this success is a value of Germany or a demerit of UE countries
The lack of a common view and collective decisions in EU ambit can push the member states towards a sort of alienation with regard to a body which cannot protect the needs of the weaker States and cannot show a managerial coherence for a States members’ cohesive growth. This could trigger a breakdown process with the independent states, with independent political lines replacing the actual setup with different forms of aggregation and constitution of free trade areas. Also, we’d imagine a return to borders exporting and activating a system of proximity socialization and discovering the neighbour’s richness
As far as tourism is concerned, a domestic tourism can be outlined in the ambit of some areas like the Mediterranean one with common traditions and habits.
It’s appropriate to review the strategic central role of the Mediterranean, which it’d become the cradle of civilization making Sicily a centre of cultural landmarks and relief thanks to its climate
Is it too futuristic thinking a Mediterranean Custom Union which join the interests of likeminded people in culture, traditions, habits and climate reasons? Is it true or not that nowadays the reasons of common roots are more pervasive then the economic and trading reasons?
Formalizing some existing criteria which claimed the economic relationship for all the Mediterranean countries could be a provocation but a perspective also.
Why don’t we think a “free trade zone” including all the Mediterranean countries? Its purpose could be a union lake of countries and people where the production is focused among these countries, in the ambit of proximity and reinforcing the exchange and trade balance within this huge area which is becoming poor after the America discovery in 1492
On this planning, Sicily could have a vital role, both for geographical central position and its role of cultural and economic mediator
An island like a zipper or a bridge between countries and people that will be actors of an unstoppable integration process and not like the last border of Europe or the first border of Africa
We live in a moment where Sicily seems to be abandoned to its destiny, instead of powerful steering and change of direction to restart with available tools in order to outlined cultural, creative and productive aspects which could be a combination of its millennial history
The re-launching, in financial ambit too, unthinkable months ago, can be a new opportunity for those who can glimpse in this beautiful island, seat of the first European parliament which enhanced the previous domination with The King Frederick II, an occasion to build something important step by step with the courage of those who want to face an historic challenge.