The Mediterranean Committee conference of 2019 took place in Madrid, Spain from the 14^th to the 17^th of March, in the presence of youth leaders of the IUSY family. This year’s theme of the Committee is “Neo-liberalism and populism in the Mediterranean” and it was organized in partnership with Socialist Youth of Spain. The representatives of the member organizations had the chance to discuss important issues such as Neo-liberalism and populism in the Mediterranean Region, potential for conflict transformation in the Middle East, as well as Refugee and Migratory issues. The meeting was a chance for the member organizations to know better and discuss the different political, economic, and social situation in the Middle East.

Neo-liberalism and Populism in the region:

IUSY is dedicated to opposing the spread of neo-liberalism in the Mediterranean, especially using populist methods and claims. IUSY, as always, calls for the democratization of regimes in the area, based on socialist ideals, equality and justice.

Palestinian-Israeli Conflict:

IUSY Reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine on the June 1967 lines (with territorial exchanges) and East Jerusalem as its capital. It reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to bring a complete end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories that started in 1967, so as to achieve the two-state solution, as two sovereign democratic states, living in peace and harmony; and a just negotiated solution to the issue of the Palestinian refugees.

IUSY members reaffirm their commitment to:

1. Support the immediate recognition of the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.
2. Reiterates its solidarity with the progressive forces in Israel and Palestine, Including Young Labor, Young Meretz, Young Fateh and Young PNI.
3. Support a greater international role through an international conference that will include various international actors in order to achieve a just and lasting peace based on International law for Israel and Palestine, including an end to the occupation.
4. Support a total end of settlement activities, the immediate cessation of the destruction of homes, the deportation of Palestinians, and incarcerations that are being made with no accordance with the international law.
5. Encourage a nonviolent approach at all levels by all parties, including against acts of terrorism aimed at civilians, and the cessation of all forms of violence against non-violent Palestinian resistance. Recognizes the right of the civil society to endorse nonviolent measures, insofar as such measures are not intended to delegitimize the State of Israel but to bring an end to the occupation.
6. Encourage equality between all Israeli citizens, Palestinians and Jews; and oppose discriminating laws, as the nationalism law of Israel.

Western Sahara:

The IUSY Mediterranean Committee Leadership Conference recalls all previous resolutions adopted by IUSY on Western Sahara, calling on the international community and the UN to expedite the resolution of this last conflict of decolonization in Africa in accordance with the relevant UN Resolutions, African Union’s decisions and UN’s doctrine on Decolonization; commending the two parties to the conflict, the Kingdom of Morocco and Polisario Front, for their participation to the Round Table organized by the UN in Geneva last December 5-6th 2018, and welcomes their participation to the coming Round Table that will be organized this 21st and 22nd March 2019 in Geneva.

The Committee is also concerned with the persistence of Moroccan violations of human rights in Western Sahara as reported in various international reports and concerned with Morocco and EU renewal of trade and fisheries agreements that violate the European Court of Justice’s rulings of 2016 and 2018.

The Committee urges all sister organizations and international partners to campaign for the boycott of products originating from occupied Western Sahara and condemn all national and multinational companies involved in the illegal plunder of the natural resources of this colony. It Further urges all sister organizations to directly pressure European Parliamentarians of their political groups requesting them to respect the rulings of the European Court of Justice on Western Sahara.

North-Africa:

IUSY Condemns the executions against youth in Egypt, and Support the project occurring in Tunisia for the freedom of movement, housing and work among the peoples of North Africa in order to reduce the suffering of the Saharawi people.

Lebanon-Israeli Conflict:

IUSY calls for support of international community to refer to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in order to find solutions to the ongoing conflict between the Lebanese Republic, Cyprus and Israel over the 9th Block. IUSY condemns any act that breaches international law and the Law of the Sea. Based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which obliges States to reach an agreement on disputed maritime areas through reinforcing the Law of the Sea’s mandate regarding the Exclusive Economic Zone, IUSY requests the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which will consider the recommendations made by the International Maritime Organization. This in order to maintain security and stability on Lebanese Southern borders and respecting the blue line demarcation during the process of oil and gas drilling that will be taking place in the Middle East.

Refugee and Migration Issues:

IUSY calls for an immediate opening of humanitarian corridors as legal and safe ways to access different European countries. IUSY calls the international funding agencies to support refugee hosting countries in the region especially Lebanon and Jordan.

Present in the Council:

• DYUEK, East Kurdistan
• DYUIK, Iranian Kurdistan
• GUPS, Palestine
• JSD, Tunisia
• PNI, Palestine
• PYO Lebanon
• UESARIO, Western Sahara
• UJSARIO, Western Sahara
• Young Meretz, Israel

* YL, Israel – did not sign the statement

IUSY Black Sea Area Committee gathered in Tbilisi, Georgia during 13-15 April. The topic of the meeting was decent work for young people!

Based on common past and present challenges almost all organisations and countries from the region face the same issues when it comes to youth, especially when it comes to youth unemployment, quality education and decent work rights. Lack of access to quality education, almost inexistent social protections and failures of welfare system represents the main challenges that the youth of the region faces.

But at the same time young people are not a homogeneous group. Their employment prospects vary according to sex, age, educational level, ethnicity, health status and disability, etc. In many countries, female youth un(der)employment rates are almost invariably higher than those for their male counterpart.

IUSY Black Sea Area Cooperation considers that following measures need to be taken to improve the situation of the youth in the region:

• To facilitate young people’s transition from educational institutions to formal economy and labour market;
• To provide quality and accessible education;
• To take into the consideration the needs of the youth in fragile situations;
• To regulate self-employment and shared economy in order to provide social protections for youth that are mostly self-employed in such kind of spheres;
• To create more sustainable and green jobs for youth.

IUSY Black Sea Area cooperation countries are standing in solidarity with each other when it comes up to the current political situations in the consecutive countries as we are remaining committed to the common values of human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality and rule of law;

Reiterating aspirations of all participants at the Black Sea Area Cooperation, member organisations stand for/in/with:

 Georgia:

 The right to work is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognised in international human rights law though its inclusion in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, where the right to work emphasises economic, social and cultural developments. We are in solidarity with Georgian workers and support their struggle for decent working rights!

During their stay in Georgia, the IUSY Presidium delegation, has visited the region around the occupation territories (Shida Kartli). Members of the organisation together with state officials and GDYouth observed the brutal violations of international Human Rights, i.e. the right to work, the freedom of movement, etc.

While speaking to locals, the delegation received alarming information about kidnapping and illegal detentions of ethnic Georgians.

IUSY BSAC together with GDYouth holds the view that these breaches of international and national law should be addressed by international community.

Ukraine:

Unfortunately, Ukraine has also gone through many sufferings. It has been in a struggle for decades, encountering ups and downs, victories and falls. It’s been fighting for the right to exist and to have a bright future.

Discrimination and social inequality can be observed in education, where the so-called “modernisation” is taking place based on a similar scenario. We stand in solidarity with Ukrainian people and especially youth and children in their struggle for a more equal educational system.

Bulgaria:

We stand in solidarity with Bulgarian young socialists and social-democrats in their struggle against the right-wing government, who took the freedom of speech away from the people and let Bulgaria be the most corrupted and the poorest country in the European Union;

Armenia:

IUSY BSAC member organisations stand in support of AYF Armenia in their mission to establish social justice in Armenia.

For the first time ever a pride event will take place in Tbilisi from 18th to 23rd of June 2019. In the traditionally conservative country, the LGBTI community faces various struggles, especially after a pro-LGBTI manifestation in 2013, which was stopped violently by counter demonstrators. Despite legislation that prohibits discrimination against LGBT people the social acceptance is very low and LGBTIs often face abuse and physical violence.

Rainbow Rose, the only Europe-wide party political LGBTI organisation, and IUSY, the International Union of Socialist Youth, render their full support to the Georgian LGBTI community.

“We express our solidarity with the LGBTI community in Georgia, in their fight for equal rights all over Europe and the world”, said Rainbow Rose president Camila Garfias and IUSY president Johanna Ortega added „Especially for young people it is important to know that their identity and sexual orientation is just fine. This is the only way to prevent suicides of LGBTI youth!“

We, the leaders of socialist and social democratic parties from the Balkan Region and the EU, remain fully committed to continue our strong, prosperous and mutually beneficial cooperation, focused on tackling each and every challenge set in front of our parties, countries and political family. In times when Europe is on the brink of division, populism and far-right tendencies are on the rise, it is up to us, the young, energetic and devoted supporters of the left to stand up and protect our common rights, ideals, beliefs and goals.

We need to continue the good relations between our countries. History has proven that the Balkan Region has not been short on conflicts and disagreements. Our focus should be on creating a Roadmap for cooperation and good neighbourhood policies in the region, so that future generations need never know the hardships of racism, segregation, war and xenophobia. We urge our governments to always use dialog in order find corresponding solutions to problems and challenges that are and may continue to occur with the end result always being to establish peace, stability and prosperity to the Balkans. Therefore we also reaffirm our continuous support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans. In the context of the upcoming European elections in May 2019 and the looming challenge of Brexit it is up to us to demonstrate that Europe’s future is only going to be better with all of us in it.

Reforms in the fields of the rule of law, combating corruption and backdoor decision-making processes, stamping out organized crime and respect for human rights must always be on the agenda of our governments. It is up to us to change how Europe perceives our Region and to show our willingness to turn the progressive tide towards our countries.

The main focus on each and every party in our countries should be the individual needs of the people, prioritising young generations. In recent times Europe has shown that the austerity only policies do not work. There is a huge gap in salaries in Western and in Eastern Europe, especially with young people. Youth unemployment and youth migration is a big regional issue and the way to tackle it and other discrepancies is with reforms in economic and demographic policies, education, healthcare, social security and sustainable development. A new economic model is needed the basis of which should be social state with sustainable growth and quality jobs. We reaffirm our support for the Youth Guarantee, the creation of a Child Guarantee and continuous support for programs such as “Erasmus +” as a way to show young people that there is hope for their future and prosperity. It is time to invest in people!

The model brought forward by the rightwing and populist parties has failed in all its aspects. They claim that they protect the national sovereignty, values and security but actually they do the exact opposite, which we can see in most of our regional countries.

Together we work for democracy. One of the most important issues in our Region is the freedom of speech. Free journalism, combating censorship and transparent and free media are a prerequisite for a modern democratic state. We condemn all attempts of limiting and censoring, especially by the abuse of power by the executive branch of the governments and states.

We represent the socialist and social democratic parties of our Region and we will embrace the above-mentioned values, ideals, goals and objectives. We agree to mutually support each other in times of crisis and in times of peace. Our goal must always be to have a strong, free and united family. We believe that the socialist and social democratic parties represent the only progressive group that aims at daily life issues of ordinary people and that we can be the alternative to a retroactive, failed and insufficient conservative reality. We stand together as one!