Florence Gaub, Senior Analyst, European Union Institute for Security Studies
Omar Youssef, Director, Security and Strategic Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egypt
The International Border Security Forum series founded by the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) in 2011, has since worked to address security issues through a variety of workshops, study tours, briefings and research projects allowing participants to build a strong network, through which best practice standards can be developed. The forum has established itself as an event that provides a neutral, open platform for dialogue between regional and transatlantic border security officials and experts. By focusing on the most vital border security dangers, the forum creates a common non-partisan space for a debate, which is especially important due to the political complexity of some of the regions. It brings people with different perspectives and backgrounds together in order to work jointly on solutions that can improve the situation of border security. Using a network of talented individuals to strengthen the concept of border security as a whole is the primary goal of the GMF’s International Border Security Forum.
As the International Border Security Forum further develops, it is important to expand the understanding of border security by addressing timely topics and arising threats. One region where a number of ongoing and potential threats to border security currently exist is the Mediterranean Basin. In an area where the Middle East, North Africa, and Southern Europe collide, the mixture of cultures, religions, political systems, and ideals pose possible opportunities for disagreement and violence. The Mediterranean region is especially difficult to administer due to very real maritime security threats, in addition to land borders and air space protection. Events such as the Arab Spring and recent perturbations in Mali as well as Syria have created new border dangers, many of which have yet to be addressed.
