Promoting Water Security in the MENA

Water technology solutions in development cooperation & the role of SMEs

In the exchange, leading experts and innovators in the field of water technology will present their latest innovations and give best practices examples of successful knowledge transfer and implementation of water technologies in the region. Local and international experts and representatives from politics, business and civil society will discuss and tackle the following questions: • What are the MENA region’s most pressing challenges concerning water security? How to address them properly? • What are best economic framework conditions to promote and improve inter and intraregional water technology transfer of SMEs? How to enhance investment protection and capacity building? • How to make sure water technology knowledge is sustainable and to the benefit of the people in need?

Stabilising the war economy of Libya

Policy recommendations for EU action

Finding sustainable solutions to stabilise the war economy of Libya requires a holistic approach. Key economic issues are linked to political processes and the highly complex security architecture in the country. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has increased its efforts to support economic reforms. In its policy recommendations for the European Union, a KAS task force similarly called for a broader and more coherent EU-approach in Libya. This briefing seeks to debate policy recommendations for the European Union to support Libya in stabilising its economy.

Towards a European sustainable battery industry

How to create jobs for a low carbon society?

A year following the establishment of the European Battery Alliance, this seminar will take stock of progress achieved in boosting Europe’s battery manufacturing base. The panelists will present on the state of the art battery technologies and their applications, share innovative initiatives and best practices, and discuss the legislative and financial needs for battery sustainability across the entire value chain: from raw material extraction, to battery manufacturing, vehicle-to-grid applications, second-life batteries, and recycling.

Strengthening Multilateralism – Challenges and Strategies

Opening of the KAS Multilateral Dialogue office in Geneva

For decades, the rules-based international order has provided a strong basis for prosperity and global conflict resolution. It also helped to shape widely accepted norms and increased living standards across economies, countries and peoples. While the UN’s Agenda 2030 and the Paris Climate Agreement continue the trend towards a joint global agenda, unilateral action, protectionism and populistic movements undermining the political consensus on global burden sharing are on the rise. It was thus very timely for Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel to stress at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the spirit of multilateralism which rebuilt Europe and formed the international institutions in the aftermath of the Second World War is under serious threat. Germany is deeply rooted in the rules-based international order and has an interest in fostering multilateralism and strengthening multilateral institutions. Moreover, challenges in an interconnected world have grown more complex and demand new approaches on sustaining peace and stability, sustainable development and economic growth. The imperative of the universal protection of human rights puts another important layer of responsibility on the international community. In this context, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) will organize a discussion event on “Strengthening Multilateralism – Challenges and Strategies” to foster the exchange on the global agenda between representatives from multilateral institutions, civil society and think tanks in order to develop new avenues of cooperation and strategies for common action. The keynote speech will be held by Hermann Gröhe, Deputy Chairman of CDU/CSU-Parliamentary Group, Deputy Chairman of KAS, and former Federal Minister. The event will also celebrate the opening of the KAS Multilateral Dialogue office in Geneva and mark the beginning of KAS activities at the center of multilateral diplomacy and global policy.

SUSTAINABLE FINANCE IN GERMANY, THE EU AND THE ARAB WORLD

STUDY AND DIALOGUE PROGRAM FOR EXPERTS FROM THE MENA REGION

Within the framework of the proposed dialogue program, experts from both, private and public sector, science and civil society from the MENA region will learn about current developments and perspectives in the field of Sustainable Finance in Germany and at European level. The main objective is to discuss the political framework for Sustainable Finance and to highlight how appropriate investments in the countries of the region can be facilitated. In addition, possible cooperation opportunities between the participants and German/European stakeholders will be identified.

The Islamic Republic at 40: Has the Revolution Run its Course?

hosted by Ramona Nicole Mănescu, Member of the European Parliament

As Iran commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, the West looks at the country with concern. While the regime’s stability remains uncertain under financial and political constraints, Iran’s regional policy displays an aggressive expansionism that contributes to further inflaming an incendiary Middle East. The European Union’s continued course of engagement following the United States' unilateral withdrawal from the Joint and Comprehensive Plan of Action has borne fruit in keeping Iran within the provisions of the nuclear agreement. But neither EU nor U.S. approaches have provided any workable solutions to contain Iran’s aggressive regional ambitions, as shown by its missile program, its threats against Israel, its support to Hizbullah, the Houthis and other proxy militia, and its increasing entrenchment in Syria. The panel will review the linkages between Iran’s domestic dynamics and regional ambitions, and outline possible ways forward for the EU and the United States.

Smart Solutions for Resource Security Hot Spots

KAS International Workshop at Plante Security Initiative Conference in The Hague

With its global program for energy security and climate change, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) addresses challenges and solutions in this field of political action. At three "fish bowl" round tables, carried out simultaneously, experts will focus on three security hot spots, including water scarcity challenges in the Lake Chad Basin and the MENA region as well as GHG emission challenges of Asian mega cities.

The Digitalization of Energy Systems: Experiences from Europe and Asia

International Workshop

In the workshop, Dr Frank Umbach will present the findings of his KAS-funded study on "Energy Security in a Digitalized World and its Geostrategic Implications". Local and international experts and representatives from politics, business and civil society will discuss the following issues: •Global Energy Megatrends: from Scarcity to Abundance? •Rising New Cyber Security Threats: Protecting Critical Energy Infrastructure •Digitalisation and Decarbonisation: Coping with Disruptive Developments

What Is Turkey up to in the Middle East?

Turkey, a regional actor and a mid-size power, tries to project influence in the Middle East through religious and cultural affinities, and increasingly, through the use of military power and proxies. While Turkey is part of the Astana Process together with Russia and Iran, its end goal in Syria is in conflict with that of Russia and Iran. Conflicting strategies of the United States and Turkey are contributing to the ongoing escalation of tension between the two allies. Despite disagreements, Turkey and the European Union have managed to sustain their cooperation on refugees and on counterterrorism. What is Turkey's role in Syria, particularly in the implementation of the Idlib agreement? How does Turkey project its interests in relations with key actors, including Russia, Iran, NATO, the United States, and Europe? Does Turkey's regional role bear any windows of opportunity for European interests?

Armenia: A Lighthouse for Sustainable Energy Scale-up

International conference in Yerevan on 3-4 December 2018 on topics dedicated to sustainable energy development in in Eastern Partnership countries Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.