The MedForum 2020 in Croatia will mark exactly 10 years since the establishment of the MedForum in 2010 in the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the European Council. The first MedForum took place in the city of Barcelona (2010), followed by Marseille (2013) and Valletta (2016).

The Barcelona Forum, from 4th to 7th March 2010, was the first time since the launch of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) that over 1000 civil society representatives from all 43 countries of the Union gathered together for intercultural dialogue; the Forum conclusions directly impacted the Foundation’s regional programme development, in particular, the emphasis on the importance of intercultural citizenship learning, investment in capacity- building in the Southern Mediterranean, and responding to the impact of the global economic crisis on social cohesion.

The Marseille Forum, from 4th to 7th April 2013, went a step further in terms of scale, mobilizing more than 3500 civil society leaders during its preparation process, increasing significantly the participation from the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region. Taking place in the aftermath of the historic 2011 Arab social uprisings, the Forum’s conclusions underlined the role of Mediterranean cooperation in supporting civil society’s work for open and pluralistic societies and the emphasis on the contribution of citizens to building Mediterranean cooperation.

The Valletta Forum, from 23rd to 26th October 2016, introduced a global dimension through 2 partnerships with the United Nations and a strategic focus on Youth, Peace, and Security, with #MedForum2016 a global trending topic during the three main days. The Forum was the platform for the EU High-Representative and Commission to announce the expansion of Young Mediterranean Voices, from its precursor Young Arab Voices, and the Forum registered a global increase of more than 15% in requests for self-financed delegates.

Based on the preparation process to date with the Foundation Civil Society Networks and partners, emerging themes for MedForum2020 include:

• THE FUTURE OF CIVIL SOCIETY & INTERCULTURAL TRENDS, from the impact of Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization to trends in civil society-led creative entrepreneurship.
• CLIMATE RESILIENCE & INTERCULTURAL SMART CITIES, focused on good practice in bringing people together to increase the capacity of socio-economic and environmental systems to cope with the effects of climate change.
• YOUTH ON THE MOVE & DIALOGUE FOR EMPLOYABILITY, bringing into focus the nexus between intercultural learning, mobility and skills for employability.

These themes are aligned with the priorities of the Croatian Presidency of the European Council which center on Youth Employability; Digitalisation; Climate Change; and Enlargement. Transversal themes on YOUTH and WOMEN are anticipated, along with a theme of the New Geography of Euro-Mediterranean region connected to the EU Summit on Enlargement and the 25th Anniversary of the Barcelona Process.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia and the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for Dialogue between Cultures have entered into a new phase of cooperation in promoting intercultural dialogue and public diplomacy in the Mediterranean. The two institutions, together with Croatia’s National Foundation for Civil Society Development, are co-organizers of the 4th Mediterranean Forum of the Anna Lindh Foundation (MedForum2020) from 2nd to 5th April 2020 in Šibenik, Croatia.

The upcoming Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union - from January to June 2020 – will foster the strengthening of political, social and economic ties between the EU and its neighbors in the Mediterranean area. Equal opportunities and social inclusion, as well as the fight against poverty, will be strongly promoted by the Croatian Presidency. This fact, as well as Croatia’s geographical position at the crossroads between Central Europe and the Mediterranean, makes Croatia an excellent host country for MedForum2020, the largest civil society gathering and the most influential process of its kind for intercultural dialogue across the Euro-Mediterranean space.

“Croatia highly appreciates the endeavor of the Anna Lindh Foundation in restarting and deepening dialogue across Europe and the Mediterranean through intellectual, cultural and civil society exchange. Deeply aware of the strategic relevance of the Mediterranean in history, at the present moment and in the future, Croatia firmly believes in fostering exchange between institutions, networks and individuals on crucial challenges and opportunities in the common Mediterranean area.”

Mrs. Marija Pejčinović Burić, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia

"The Croatian Network for Cooperation in the Mediterranean, as one of the ALF civil society networks, and the National Foundation for Civil Society Development as Croatian Head of ALF Network are pleased to be local co-organisers of MED FORUM 2020 in Sibenik. Investing in and supporting cooperation, exchange and knowledge sharing between civil society organisations are key priorities of the National Foundation. We strongly believe that recently established Euro-Med Academy for Philanthropy and Society Development (based in Zadar, Croatia) will provide new opportunities for civil society and other stakeholders in 42 countries on the Euro-Mediterranean to act together towards better world."  

Cvjetana Plavša-Matić, Director, National Founation for Civil Society Development

The Anna Lindh Foundation acknowledges the decisive role of Croatia, due to its historical and geographical dimension and its European and Mediterranean identity, in promoting regional cooperation and integration, and supporting exchange and dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean area, placing the people at the center of this cooperation.

"I would like to thank the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs - but also congratulate us all, as this Memorandum of Understanding marks a new era in which we will further our work on finding solutions to the challenges and answers to the questions that our societies are facing today and in the years to come. I am looking forward to MedForum2020 knowing that together, through cooperation and exchange, we can and will deliver decisive and concrete results and a tangible benefit for all of our societies."

Mrs. Elisabeth Guigou, President, Anna Lindh Foundation

"This agreement, and the upcoming MedForum to be held in Šibenik, will serve as a testament of the readiness of the future Croatian Presidency of the Council of the EU and the Anna Lindh Foundation to tackle the common issues affecting civil societies to the North and South of the Mediterranean. We welcome this opportunity to collaborate closely on finding solutions to key challenges for our peoples and foster greater mutual understanding."

Dr. Nabil Al-Sharif, Executive Director, Anna Lindh Foundation

Building on the success of the first three MedFora (Barcelona 2010, Marseille 2013, Valletta 2016) the fourth assembly will focus on promoting a comprehensive intercultural dialogue strategy in the face of common regional challenges affecting the societies from the North and South of the Mediterranean, among them rising xenophobia, extremism, youth-related developmental issues and the migrant crisis.

The Forum will bring together representatives from 42 Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), including civil society organizations, youth associations, regional and international institutions, media bodies, donor agencies, institutes, and foundations. In addition to commemorating the United Nations 75th Anniversary, this forum will coincide with the 25th Anniversary of the Barcelona Process. The Forum’s conclusions and echoes will have an impact on EU programming from 2020, such as the expansion of Erasmus + virtual exchange program and the implementation of the new Neighbourhood policy in the wider Mediterranean region. 

The Anna Lindh Foundation acts as a Network of National Networks which today brings together over 4000 civil society organizations from across the region for the promotion of dialogue between cultures. The National Networks reflect the diversity of their own civil society and work across fields including intercultural relations, heritage, religion, research, human rights, democracy and community development, arts, youth and education, gender, environment and sustainable development, and media. If you want to join a Network please:

1. Ensure you are established as an organization in one of the forty-two Euro-Mediterranean countries

2. Complete the online application form for membership

As the Anna Lindh Networks are independent and autonomous, the decision about admission will be taken by the concerned Heads of Network to whom your application will be sent.

The Anna Lindh Foundation is a growing organisation and increasingly global player. Our international secretariat is in Alexandria and we have coordinators and management staff based across more than 40 countries - from our EU liaison office in Brussels to regional centres of excellence in association with our national CSO networks and multi-lateral partners. We are looking for people who share our strategic vision and organisation values of empathy, inclusivity and creativity. People who want to work as part of a broader movement to create a culture of dialogue and exchange in the face of a historic era of polarisation among and within our societies.