SUBSIDIARITY/ An Italian School for ties between countries around the Mediterranean Sea

The Barcelona Process, in 1995, opened a new phase in the relationships between the countries of the European Union and the countries bordering the South-Eastern Mediterranean Sea. In this context, investment in human capital is the first condition to build long-lasting cultural, political and economic relationships.

Driven by this conviction, the Foundation for Subsidiarity of Milan started a project five years ago, entitled “The Euro-Mediterranean School” (EMS), aiming to offer young managers from the countries bordering on the Mediterranean Sea an opportunity to obtain the entrepreneurial and managerial skills necessary to start and/or develop a business capable of operating in multiple markets within the Mediterranean Basin

It could seem like just a drop in the ocean, but it is the most efficient and inspiring way to begin an international cooperation capable of sparking new ways of thinking and promoting a development that values the human capital present on the southern banks of the Mediterranean Sea. It can work as an example of a methodology that indicates a path that others can follow if they want to help those countries, which, because of their history, geography and economy, require our participation.

Born out of the collaboration between the Chambers of Commerce of Milan, Naples, Venice, the ICESD (International Center for Subsidiarity and Development) and the Venice International University, the school was founded on the conviction that investing in formation is the basis upon which to build strong political, cultural, and commercial ties in any context.

The fifth edition, 2010/2011, was focused on the course “Introduction to Entrepreneurship”, and had the support of the Milan Chamber of Commerce and the Lombardy Region of Italy, and the participation of the Chambers of Commerce of Naples and Reggio Calabria. Together with the Fondazione per la Sussidiarietà, the scientific side was covered by the Catholic University of Milan.

In this latest edition, beside young graduates coming from African and Middle Eastern countries (Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Israel, and Jordan), graduates from other Mediterranean countries, like Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Montenegro also attended the school.