Katarzyna Sidło

Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department

education:

PhD, Islamic Banking and Finance, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw and the University of Jordan (Erasmus-Mundus Research Scholarship)

MA, Arabic and Islamic Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw and the School of Oriental and African Studies in London (Erasmus-Socrates Student Exchange Program)

BSc, Finance and Banking, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw

languages:

Polish (native), English (fluent), Arabic (intermediate), Spanish (intermediate), French (beginner), Georgia (beginner)

Dr Katarzyna W. Sidło specializes in the political economy, geo-economics and socioeconomic development of the European Union’s Southern Neighbourhood as well as EU-Mediterranean relations. She has a proven track record working on studies, evaluations and impact assessments commissioned by various international donors such as the European Parliament, the European Commission and its various departments and agencies, the European Space Agency and the European Investment Bank.

Educated at the University of Warsaw, School of Oriental and African Studies and the University of Jordan, Dr Sidło holds a PhD (summa cum laude) from the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw, a MA in Arabic and Islamic Studies, and a BSc in Economics. Within the Erasmus programme she also studied in the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and at the University of Jordan.

She gained her professional and research experience in a number of countries including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the United Kingdom, Georgia and Poland. In the past, she was a Visiting Professor at the Graduate School (ASERI) of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan (2022), a Visiting Scholar at G. Tsereteli Institute of Oriental Studies of Ilia State University, Tbilisi (2019/2020) and at the Centre of Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge (2015) as well as a SHARIASource Editor for Islamic Finance at Islamic Legal Studies Program at Harvard Law School. An avid language learner, she speaks Polish and English, has a working knowledge of Arabic and Spanish, as well as basic knowledge of French and Georgian.

Related Works:

All author's works

Preparing for the enlargement from a territorial perspective: governance, policies and investments to ensure the role and means of LRAs in an enlarged EU

The report examines the potential impacts of EU enlargement, focusing on Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans. It highlights the benefits of a larger internal market, increased geopolitical influence, and improved food and energy security, while also addressing the financial and policy challenges, especially in agriculture and regional development. Enlargement would require major adjustments to the Common Agricultural Policy and Cohesion Policy, with Ukraine’s vast agricultural sector putting particular pressure on EU funds. Financial estimates suggest significant budget needs, leading the report to outline three scenarios: no new members until 2041, a single large expansion, or a phased approach over multiple budget cycles. The report underscores the critical role of local and regional authorities (LRAs) in managing these changes, recommending support and shared strategies to ensure a balanced, sustainable approach to EU growth.

Trade & Macro

Tourism and rural development

The study delves into the multifaceted impact and potential of tourism in fostering rural development across the European Union (EU). Its aim is to equip local governments with practical insights, empowering them to effectively leverage the benefits of tourism in rural EU regions. Employing a diverse array of research methodologies, including interviews, case studies, and … Continued

Labour, Migration and Social Policies

External Publications

Prospects of reinvigorating the Middle East Peace Process: a possible joint EU-US undertaking?

The resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute has been an issue of strategic and common interest for the European Union (EU) and the United States (USA). The Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) was initiated through the 1991 Madrid Conference co-sponsored by the Soviet Union and the USA. … Continued