On 26 July 2012, the “CASA DEL MAGHREB ARABO” was inaugurated in the historic building of the former “Grand Hotel de Londres”, currently the headquarters of the Fondazione Mediterraneo

This was a historic day for Italy and Euro-Maghreb dialogue.”. 
The President of the Fondazione Mediterraneo Michele Capasso and its members Pia Molinari, Caterina Arcidiacono, Claudio Azzolini and Vittorio di Pace welcomed participants to the event. Speeches were given by the Mayor of Naples, Luigi de Magistris, the Secretary-General of the Arab Maghreb Uninon Habib Ben Yahia, the Director general of Alesco Mohamed-El Aziz Ben Achour, the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Algerian Embassy Mohamed Mellah, The Tunisian Ambassador Naceur Mestiri, the Moroccan Ambassador Hassan Habouyoub, the Mauritanian Ambassador Moctar Ould Dahi, representatives from Libya, representatives of the Consular Body of Naples, the Mayor of Andrea Reale, as well as dignitaries civil, military and religious institutions and the world of science and culture in Italy and Maghreb countries.

The Mayor of Naples spoke of the event as a “historic day for Naples” and the UAM General Secretary Ben Yahia stated that “the Casa del Maghreb Arabo would play a major role in relations between Italy, Europe and the Arab Maghreb”.

At the Headquarters of the CASA DEL MAGHREB ARABO -  130 Via Depretis, Naples – the Secretary General of the Arab Maghreb Union Habib Ben Yahia received the “Mediterranean Award for Institutions”. 
Those attending included the Mayor of Naples Luigi de Magistris,  the Director General of Alesco Mohamed-El Aziz Ben Achour, the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Algerian Embassy Mohamed Mellah, The Tunisian Ambassador Naceur Mestiri, the Moroccan Ambassador Hassan Habouyoub, the Mauritanian Ambassador Moctar Ould Dahi, representatives from Libya, representatives of the Consular Body of Naples, the Mayor of Andrea Reale, as well as dignitaries civil, military and religious institutions and the world of science and culture in Italy and Maghreb countries.

President Michele Capasso, the Director of Institutional Relations Claudio Azzolini as well as board members Pia Molinari and Vittorio di Pace attended on behalf of the Fondazione Mediterraneo.
The Award, considered to be among the most prestigious at world level together with the Nobel Prize was presented to Ben Yahia with the following reason.

“Formerly the Minister  of Foreign Affairs in Tunisia, he was one of the protagonists of the Barcelona Process in 1995. Under his guidance, the Arab Maghreb Union has dedicated itself to resolving tensions in the Maghreb so that a climate of cooperation and understanding thrive, which is necessary  for co-development

At the Headquarters of the CASA DEL MAGHREB ARABO -  130 Via Depretis, Naples – the Director General of ALESCO Mohamed-El Aziz Ben Achour received the “Mediterranean Award for Culture”. 
Those attending included the Mayor of Naples Luigi de Magistris, the Secretary-General of the Arab Maghreb Union Habib Ben Yahia, the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Algerian Embassy Mohamed Mellah, The Tunisian Ambassador Naceur Mestiri, the Moroccan Ambassador Hassan Habouyoub, the Mauritanian Ambassador Moctar Ould Dahi, representatives from Libya, representatives of the Consular Body of Naples, the Mayor of Andrea Reale, as well as dignitaries civil, military and religious institutions and the world of science and culture in Italy and Maghreb countries.

President Michele Capasso, the Director of Institutional Relations Claudio Azzolini as well as board members Pia Molinari and Vittorio di Pace attended on behalf of the Fondazione Mediterraneo.
The Award, considered to be among the most prestigious at world level together with the Nobel Prize was presented to Ben Achour with the following reason.

“ALESCO is an intergovernmental organization that unites 22 countries from the League of Arab States. It was founded in 1970 and has its seat in Tunis.

Under the guidance of its current Director General Prof. Mohamed-El Aziz Ben Achour, it has resolutely defended the values of culture, human dignity (freedom of the press, denouncing obscurantism, attacks against the dignity of man and the cultural heritage of humankind).