In the aftermath of the Arab Spring, the United States and Europe must answer key questions about how and what their relationships with countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will operate and look like. This was the topic of a panel discussion on the Road to Reform in the Middle East and North Africa. Hosted by IFES and the Transatlantic Policy Network as part of “Transatlantic Week,” a project that aims to foster long-term U.S.-EU cooperation, the discussion gave panelists a chance to tackle these big questions.

IFES’ Deputy Director for the MENA Region Ambar Zobairi offered an overview of the current political climate in countries that have had uprisings. While the social, economic and political concerns that led to the Arab Spring reaffirm the importance of democracy, it is apparent that there are many long-term concerns as countries begin to rebuild. Zobairi deftly said, “Removing a dictator doesn’t mean democracy.”

Elmar Brok, a member of the European Parliament, stressed that good government means good local government. The U.S. and the EU should offer support by starting small and starting local, which would help reach long term goals. Brok also posited one of the biggest questions of the panel discussion: how can the international community help political parties help themselves?

Director of the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, Michele Dunne had a number of insights about where and when the U.S. plays a role. Noting a number of policies maintained by the U.S. in both spoken and unspoken capacities, Dunne reinforced the need to engage these countries with their new ambitions so they can become hubs for trade. Further, she suggested that it is key for the U.S. to make their policies on involvement with these nations clear.

Moderated by IFES President and CEO Bill Sweeney, the panel fielded several thoughtful questions from the audience. One audience member raised the issue of donor support in MENA countries from a corporate standpoint. Dunne addressed this issue, suggesting that the U.S. push for trade within the region is really a way to avoid tough questions about trade with the region.

Sweeney applied the privilege of the moderator to ask a question himself. He asked how long the people in the MENA region will be willing to wait for their governments to implement reforms. Zobairi said it is hard to tell, but it would be in the governments’ best interest to maintain a dialogue with civil society and the public at large. Delays can be understood, especially when they might help improve the process, but the people must be kept informed of all developments in order to be able to remain patient.

For more information on IFES’ programs in the Middle East and North Africa, please click here.

The event can be watched online here » .