ALF Closing the Circle

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We are proud to unveil the launch of our series of Public Policy events that will take place this year. Through this series of events, we aim to bridge the gap between research, policy-making, and on-ground implementation. ALF Public Policy initiatives are designed based on a Euro-Mediterranean participatory approach, by linking civil society entities with researchers and policymakers.

In 2024, our events will cover three main intercultural public policy themes: Unpacking the process of youth engagement in participatory dialogues and decision-making, fostering an intercultural approach to the ethics of AI, and promoting the concept of living together.

These series of public policy events will help us enhance our programmes, strengthen civil society networks’ capacity, and our contribution to Euro-Med Policy frameworks.

On May 21st and 22nd, 2023, we held our latest public policy debate on Protecting Pluralism in Brussels which covered our third and last driver.

We convened a diverse group of experts, including representatives from international organizations, academia, civil society leaders, and youth advocates. Together, we explored various perspectives, innovative approaches, and multi-stakeholder strategies to protect and promote pluralism in the EuroMed region.

The policy dialogue addressed the urgent need to safeguard pluralism. Through panel discussions on complementary topics, we collectively developed actionable recommendations. These included measures to protect pluralism, enhance civil society engagement for community participation, empower youth advocacy, and preserve cultural and religious heritage.

We are grateful to the European External Action Service for hosting this important event.

Our second #ALFClosingTheCircle public policy dialogue on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence happened in Brussels on May 14th and 15th.

Over the two-day event, we gathered a group of prominent academics and practitioners in the field of AI ethics. They shared insightful perspectives on how to implement pragmatic approaches to the ethical development of AI technologies across our region.

By bringing together these distinctive individuals from both shores of the Euro-Med region, our goal was to contextualise the opportunities and challenges of AI ethics in today's world. Analysis on how intercultural dialogue can serve as a multilateral tool in designing unbiased and equitable AI algorithms were explored.

Through this debate, #ALFClosingTheCircle has taken two steps closer to bridging the gap between theory and practice by connecting research, policymaking, and real-world application of ethical AI.

Our first Multistakeholder Policy debate event took place on April 17th and 18th in Brussels.

The event's objective was to address the challenges and prerequisites for involving youth in the Euro-Med region. The event successfully brought together a wide range of participants, including experts, academics, practitioners from civil society organisations, and representatives from various institutions. During the ALF Multistakeholder Policy debate, participants delved into crucial topics such as how to effectively reach and identify youth who embody the diverse perspectives prevalent in the region. The focus was on ensuring their legitimacy and representativeness. Additionally, discussions revolved around the roles that governments, institutions, and civil society organisations play in equipping youth with the necessary skills, knowledge, resources, and opportunities. By doing so, they can empower young people to make meaningful contributions to participatory and decision-making processes.

Special thanks to the EESC - European Economic and Social Committee for hosting us throughout these last 2 days.