“Middle East and North Africa: The Changes for a New Beginning” is an event organized by Bucharest-based think-tanks MEPEI (Middle East Political and Economic Institute) and EuroDefense Romania in partnership with IPIS (the Institute for Political and International Studies), Tehran, and with special support of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Romania.

MEPEI the seventh annual conference will assess with the assistance of relevant scholars and practitioners the dynamic shifts in power and alliances in this volatile environment. The speakers will address the new transformations at the global level, the reverberations of a large-scale crisis in Afghanistan, energy and geopolitical influence for global, regional, and emergent players, the economic setbacks in the Middle East, with an accent on the crisis in Lebanon, economic resilience under the sanctions’ regime, assessing the case of Iran, and the engagement of the European Union with the Middle East and North Africa region.

The Conference addresses elements of novelty in terms of the security environment, the political engagement of world and regional players, and economic challenges in the Middle East (in a broad understanding). The arena of great powers is facing new provocations as the United States is diminishing its presence in the region, amid a withdrawal from Afghanistan, whereas Russia is evoking a more prominent role and a rising China is gaining more influence through diplomatic, military, and economic means.

The webinar invited speakers are experts from Afghanistan, Austria, China, Hungary, Lebanon, Iran, Italy, Malaysia, Palestine, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Syria, Türkiye, UK, USA, and so on.

The webinar brings together diplomats, officials, academics, business leaders, politicians, as well as independent researchers, think-tank representatives, journalists, and other civil society representatives.

Working language: English (no translation).

Time zone: Bucharest, Romania.

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cm4uVv5oS-aYHoqmkf9NeA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.