20 February 2025, Rome, Italy – The Centre for Global Studies (CGS) actively contributed to the 19th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), generously hosted by the Speakers of the Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies in Rome from 20 to 21 February.
The Plenary Session brought together over 300 delegates, including parliamentary representatives, government officials, diplomats and renowned experts from across the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions and featured interventions from several High-Level speakers and key institutional partners, reaffirming PAM’s role as a leading platform for regional dialogue and cooperation.
Enriching the substantial debates on the first day, Hon. Maurizio Martina, Deputy Director-General of FAO, and former Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry of Italy, noted the importance timing of this PAM meeting, especially given the poly-crises proliferating in the region, as well as the work carried out by CGS on Food Security and Agro-Terrorism.
Furthermore, H.E. Dr. Awadh Al Ketbi, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority, stressed the collective need to ensure stronger health systems and underscored the importance of international and inter-parliamentary cooperation in addressing emerging health threats—a key area of interest for CGS. In particular, Dr. Massimo Giangaspero, CGS Senior Advisor on One Health, conducted research in this field resulting in a series of key reccomendations on prevention and control of parvovirus B19 infection, and infectious ruminants diseases.
In this context, in November 2024, the CGS published major report entitled CBRNe, Bioterrorism, and Agroterrorism: The Impact on Human Security and Safety, produced in collaboration with the Council of Europe, FAO, and several other international experts. Building on this momentum, CGS is now preparing a new study entitled Recognition and Strengthening of the Camel Production System, which will explore the crucial role of camels’ production systems in ensuring food security and supporting sustainable livelihoods in the One Health framework.
In his intervention, Amb. Dr. Abdulsalam AlMadani, Chairman of CGS and PAM Roving Ambassador for the GCC, reaffirmed CGS’s unwavering dedication to advancing research and fostering dialogue on global challenges and outlined CGS’s key achievements over the past year.
Amb. AlMadani reiterated CGS’s leadership in addressing the impact of emerging technologies, highlighted earlier by Hon. Abdelouahab Yagoubi (Algeria), PAM Rapporteur on Artificial Intelligence, particularly through the establishment of the Permanent Global Parliamentary Observatory on the Misuse of AI and ICT, and the publication of the report on The Malicious Use of AI and Emerging Technologies by Terrorist and Criminal Groups, developed with CTED and UNOCT, and presented at the 19th UN Internet Governance Forum and a UN Security Council briefing chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The CGS Chairman further announced that the Centre, in partnership with PAM, will organize the Trust Path & Reputation Summit at the 2025 MED Dialogues, focusing on restoring trust in multilateral governance and assessing progress on the implementation of the UN Pact for the Future and expressed gratitude to Hon. Giulio Centemero for his leadership in securing the inclusion of the summit in the MED Dialogues agenda, in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ISPI.
Looking ahead, PAM and CGS will convene an internal coordination meeting on 22 February, to further discuss strategic initiatives and future collaborations. //