Participation of ICBSS Director General at the Conference “The Gulf New Geopolitical Balances - Italian and EU Strategies in the Wider Mediterranean”
4 July 2025
On 30 June 2025, the ICBSS Director General, Mr. Georgios MITRAKOS, participated as speaker at the Conference “The Gulf New Geopolitical Balances - Italian and EU Strategies in the Wider Mediterranean”, held at the Office of the European Parliament in Italy.
The event was co-organised by the Italian Network for the Euro-Mediterranean Dialogue-Dialogue (RIDE) (Head of the Anna Lindh Foundation in Italy), and the European Gulf Information Center" (EGIC) in cooperation with the Office of the European Parliament in Italy. The conference addressed crucial issues of European foreign policy, Mediterranean dialogue, and the role of community institutions in defining an autonomous strategy for the Gulf, the Black Sea, and the Near East. Emphasis was also placed on the role of women in diplomacy and decision-making related to the post-conflict Euro-Mediterranean security and development, and the impact of the enhancement and multidisciplinary knowledge of collective identities on Euro-Med collaboration.
The ICBSS Director General participated as keynote speaker in Panel II. “The internal transformations in Western diplomacy, Gulf finance and investments in the new BRICS-GCC: dynamics of transparency, responsibility and redefinition of strategic priorities, growing influence of public opinions at a time of open conflicts and repositioning of alliances, with their implications for the Euro-Med economic system, including the Black Sea”. In his speech, Mr. Mitrakos analysed the characteristics of the tectonic changes in foreign policy, diplomacy and international relations in the current context of aggressive geopolitical competition, and presented four different strategies for the future of the EU.
The event provided a platform for academics, researchers and analysts to engage in debate, discuss conclusions, and explore future prospects with regards to the ever-changing geopolitical landscape.
This working visit aligns with ICBSS’ commitment to fostering dialogue, sharing knowledge and building partnerships to promote sustainability and development in the wider Black Sea region and beyond.
