Representatives of the European Commission intend to strengthen the capacity of civil society in Iraq, Lebanon, Libya and Tunisia to support and expand youth participation in issues of conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
“Youth civil society organizations within countries are better prepared to seize the opportunities and respond to the challenges associated with the inclusive participation of youth women and men, taking into account the risk of conflict in conflict prevention initiatives and conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes at the local, national level or international levels,” the document notes.
One of the program's priorities is to empower young women "as drivers of change for the better at the societal level."
The total funding for the initiative will be €3 million.
An expert at the Middle East Institute, Sergei Balmasov, in a conversation with RT, suggested that this project is aimed at introducing “Western values” into Arab families through youth and women.
“The task is to introduce so-called Western values.
This is an agenda to control and harm third world countries.
Feminism and elements that are harmful from the point of view of family values will definitely be introduced into women’s programs,” the analyst emphasized.
American political scientist Dmitry Drobnitsky also expressed doubt that the funding is aimed at preventing conflicts.
“The point is to save money.
They will not acquire any agents of influence in this matter, because agents of influence require the mass involvement of young people.
European officials do not know how to reconcile anyone.
They once knew how to quarrel, but making peace is not their skill at all, they were not taught this,” concluded RT’s interlocutor.
In 2022, the United States allocated $25 million to “support civil society” in Iraq.