Since 2011, Tunisia has been heading for a macroeconomic crisis—large deficits, shrinking fiscal space, and difficult negotiations with the IMF. In this election year, policymakers face high stakes: A hard economic adjustment risks sociopolitical crisis, but without correction, the country faces a future economic meltdown.

Financial crises are threatening the stability of Egypt, Tunisia, and Lebanon. Despite a rare alignment of elements conducive to change, reforming the economy will still be politically challenging.

To address Egypt’s economic problems, The MHKCMEC and the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy cordially invite you to a public panel that will unpack these issues and more on Wednesday, May 18 from 5:00 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. EEST, and will feature contributions from Ishac Diwan, Robert Springborg, Hafsa Halawa, and Yezid Sayigh and Timothy Kaldas.

In the past year, Egypt has announced several ambitious economic initiatives. The Egyptian government will have to overcome major challenges to actually implement those changes.

To better understand the financial challenges and the rise of debt ratios after Arab uprisings and how this was further precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, and the rise in global interest rates, the MHKCKEC are organizing a joint event on Friday, April 14 from 05:00 p.m. till 06:30 p.m. (EEST)

Join us on Tuesday, November 30 from 4:00 till 5:30 p.m Beirut time for a public panel with Amr Adly, Rym Ayadi, Ishac Diwan, Hamza Meddeb and Jérôme Vacher to discuss Tunisia's worsening economic crisis.

While Lebanon's ruling elite continues to delay the formation of a new cabinet under Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, French President Emmanuel Macron is growing impatient as he watches his initiative and timeline for reforms crumble.

Armed forces in power and in business will be hard-pressed to implement the complex and painful economic reforms needed to stimulate growth.

Egypt’s recent security and macro-economic stabilization has been built on weak foundations and Covid-19 has further exposed this fragility.

A massive explosion in Beirut killed more than one hundred, wounded thousands, and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Now Lebanon finds itself in a severe political, economic, and humanitarian crisis. How can the people of Beirut rebuild their lives while still sheltering from a global pandemic?