Message from the new Executive Director of the Anna Lindh Foundation

Since its creation in 2005, I have always considered that the Anna Lindh Foundation is a unique organisation. Unique in terms of its nature, of its objectives and in the way it promotes dialogue between cultures and societies in the Euro-Mediterranean space.

Three years on, I have the privilege to lead this institution, knowing that it has today become a vibrant reality and that the responsibility we have is immense.

The Foundation is the expression of the will of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership who founded it by common agreement, to make the region a space of dialogue, exchange and encounters between human beings whose living conditions, cultures, ways of thinking and living and beliefs are diverse.

Its objectives are among the most noble: to ensure that the societies around the Mediterranean can better understand each other, mutually enrich each other and think about the future together.

The Anna Lindh Foundation is here to confront all forms of xenophobia and to promote dialogue as an antidote to all forms of exclusion and extremitism. It was created to contribute to the definition of a space of shared values, defence of human rights and respect for cultural diversity.

Today it is recognised as a major actor of Euro-Mediterranean dialogue. It has promoted hundreds of projects centred on cultural dialogue, especially among young people, and supported the creation of support networks within civil society of all concerned countries, bringing together more than 1800 organisations.

As its President André Azoulay indicated, the Foundation now has to face new expectations, which demands more ambition and creativity as well as audacity in its action.

We commit ourselves to this. With the team I have the pleasure to lead, the networks of each country, and the intellectual contribution of the Advisory Council, we will work to make the launch of a new phase a reality.

We wish to do this with the contribution of the largest amount of people, all those who share our objectives and values.

Andreu Claret
Executive Director of the Anna Lindh Foundation

Anna Lindh Foundation issues statement condemning terrorist attacks in Mumbai
01-12-2008

The Heads of Networks of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures has condemned the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in sharpest terms during the seventh Heads of Network meeting, held in Nice in France from the 28th to 30th December 2008. The Anna Lindh Foundation sends its condolences to the families of the victims and to the families of the Indian police killed.

The Anna Lindh Foundation expresses its great concern with relation to growing intolerance, extremism and the risk of terrorism in many countries. The Foundation embraces cultural diversity as one of the most valuable assets of global civil society.

In this tragic context and mourning period, the Anna Lindh Foundation as a network of networks with more than two thousand non-governmental organisations across the forty-three EuroMed countries, is calling for resisting the temptation of stigmatisation of Islam or the Arab culture.

The Foundation is committed to the goals of dialogue between cultures and condemns violent resolution, in particular conflict.

The Anna Lindh Foundation supports fields of action focused on promoting mutual understanding, and calls on all member and non-member countries to support actions and projects to enhance mutual understanding; respect for cultural diversity and cross cultural education.

Anna Lindh Foundation 7th Annual Meeting of Heads of National Networks

From the 27th to the 30th of November 2008, the Heads of the Anna Lindh Foundation National Networks of the Euro-Mediterranean region will gather in Nice, France – currently holding the Presidency of the European Union - to have a debate over the Foundation's triennial programme 2009 – 2011 and the development of the work with Euro-Med civil society. The meeting is co-organized by the Anna Lindh Foundation and Fondation René Seydoux, Head of the Anna Lindh Foundation French National Network, and hosted by the city of Nice.

The discussion will centre on the strategic fields of action which the Foundation proposes to focus on in the next three years, fields which have an impact on our ways of thinking and on mutual perceptions, as well as new tools for supporting and mobilizing civil society actors in the region. During the meeting, the winner of the 2008 Euro-Med Award for Dialogue, the Lebanese photographer Ms. Rima Maroun, will make an intervention with a presentation of her work and the forty three Heads of Network will also have the opportunity to meet with members of the French Network. The works will be concluded by the Anna Lindh Foundation's President M. André Azoulay, who will share its views on the Foundation's policy and political agenda for the second operational phase (2009 – 2011).

The Foundation welcomes its new staff members

Following its call for candidatures that was launched on 23 September 2008, the Anna Lindh Foundation is glad to announce that twelve new staff members have joined the team at its Secretariat in Alexandria, Egypt.

In addition to their exceptional profile and professional experience, the selection took into consideration the diverse cultural background of the candidates and their ability to integrate into a working environment representing different nationalities of the Euromed region.

The new staff members are Mrs. Gemma Aubarell Solduga, (Spain) who will work as a Programme Coordinator; Ms. Renata Papsch (Austria) Programme Administrator of the Foundation's activities; Ms. Claudia Marinaro (Itlay) Programme Administrator for monitoring and evaluation; Ms. Corinne Grassi (France) Programme Administrator for Network Coordination Unit; Ms. Wafa Katba (Palestine) Assistant; Ms.Vera Cerbara (Italy) Assistant; Ms. Sarah Zaaimi (Morocco) Assistant; Ms. Chaymaa Ramzy (Egypt) Assistant; Mr. Dimitrios Cavouras (Greece) Assistant to the Network Coordination Unit; Ms. Nihal El Nahas (Egypt) Administration and Finance Assistant; Mr. Stefano Zucchiatti (Italy) Online Media Developer and Ms. Marwa Salah (Egypt) Secretary.

Furthermore, Ms. Sarah Abdel Gawad who was formerly working for the Gender, Academic Cooperation and Culture Unit will be affiliated to the Executive Director Office as Secretary. And finally Mr. Hady Agina will be in charge of the Foundation's training development in addition to his current position as Grants and Procurements Officer.

Anna Lindh Foundation welcomes new Executive Director and Advisory Council

Brussels, 9th April 2008: the Board of Governors of the Anna Lindh Foundation formally appointed Mr Andreu Claret in the post of Executive Director.

The Board of Governors, comprising ambassadors and senior officials from all members of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, were unanimous in their selection of Mr Claret, the former Director of the European Institute of the Mediterranean. He is renowned for his extensive knowledge and experience in leading programmes for regional cooperation in the Mediterranean region.

Mr Claret will direct the Anna Lindh Foundation's work from its headquarters in Alexandria in coordination with the Foundation’s National Networks and in close collaboration with the President of the Foundation Mr André Azoulay.

Following the appointment of the new Director the Board of Governors formally elected members of the Advisory Council. The Council, which will be presided over by President Azoulay, is responsible for advising the Board, Director and Networks on the strategic policy orientations of the Foundation. It is comprised of eighteen leading individuals in the field of intercultural dialogue and regional cooperation, nine from the EU countries and nine from Mediterranean Partner countries.

The elected members of the Advisory Council are:

Mr. Besnik Mustafaj (Albania), Mme. Aïcha Kassoul (Algeria), Ambassador Nevine Simaika Halim (Egypt), Mr. Ron Barkai (Israel), H. E. Senator Professor Rowaida Al-Ma'aitah (Jordan), Dr. Antoine Nasri Messarra (Lebanon), Dr. Taleb Mahmoud Omran (Syria), Prof. Mohamed Mahjoub (Tunisia), Ambassador Ayse Sumru Noyan (Turkey)

Dr. Heidi Dumreicher(Austria), Mr. Eduard Gombárd (Czech Republic), Mr. Tuomo Melasuo (Finland), Ms Caroline Fourest (France), Ms Aliki Moschis-Gauguet (Greece), Ambassador Lucio Guerrato (Italy), Karina Petersone (Latvia), Ms. Nevenka Koprivsek (Slovenia), Dr. Sara Silvestri (United Kingdom)