Dear ladies and gentlemen,

Dear friends of the EuroArab Forum,

If the pure number of initiatives and institutions was a proper indicator for success of international relations, Euro-Arab relations could be considered as a model for other regional exchanges. However, a closer look reveals a more pessimistic evaluation. The recent history of Euro-Arab relations brought to life several institutions and institutional settings for dialogue. Some survived, others did not. The Euro-Arab Dialogue, the Barcelona Process and the Union for the Mediterranean, the EMPA or bilateral meetings are all manifestations of a “culture of institutions”. But which are the political institutions that matter most for Euro-Arab relations and why do they matter? What is the role of the League of Arab States, the European institutions, joint EU-Arab states meetings or the late Union for the Mediterranean? When and why are political institutions promoting or hindering EuroArab relations? Finally, how will the future of EuroArab relations look like? Is there room for new political institutions and how should they look like?

To discuss these questions the EuroArab Forum has the honour to welcome:

- For the Arab perspective: Sayed Torbey , Deputy Head of the Permanent Mission of the League of Arab States in Brussels

- For the European perspective: Eberhard Rhein , former Director for the Mediterranean, Near & Middle East, DG RELEX, EU Commission

EuroArab relations: Why do political institutions matter?

25 February 2010, 19h00-20h30

at

„Cercle des Voyageurs”

(18, Rue des Grands Carmes)

To attend this event, please RSVP by e-mailing Olaf Deussen at olaf.deussen@euroarab-forum.eu before Tuesday, 23 February 2010 .

We are looking forward to a challenging discussion and to seeing you in two weeks.

Yours sincerely,

EuroArab Forum Team

(Rouba Al-Fattal, Mona Shair, Bilal Benyaich, Francesco Cerasani, Olaf Deussen, Alexander Geiger, Mohammadi Laazzouzi, Johan Vrints)

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