Brussels, 09/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Medinas 2030 initiative launched by the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Venice in October 2008 with the aim of restoring the historic cities on the southern rim of the Mediterranean has received a double boost, with support being offered by UNESCO and the Organisation of Arab Cities (OAC). A memorandum of understanding with the OAC was signed in Marseilles at the headquarters of the Centre for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) on Thursday 9 December. This was followed by an academic session which took stock of how the initiative was being implemented. The World Bank presented a report, entitled “The Urban Rehabilitation of Medinas: The World Bank Experience in the Middle East and North Africa”.
The EIB used the opportunity to call for a fresh look at the longer-term rehabilitation of districts. It suggested making it part of the economic, social and spatial planning changes that Mediterranean countries will experience in the next few years. (F.B./transl.rt)