The Forum for Middle Eastern Studies (FEMO) (Foundation for Middle Eastern Studies before July 2026) is an independent forum dedicated to the analysis of the strategic, political and geopolitical issues of the Middle East, with particular attention to Iran.
Through the symposiums, conferences and publications it organizes, FEMO strives to provide rigorous expertise and an informed perspective on the complex realities of the region. Its purpose is to enrich public debate and contribute to a better understanding of the strategic developments shaping the Middle East.
FEMO aims to be both a demanding forum for reflection and a source of informed proposals on the future of policies concerning this essential region of the world.
Iran and the Middle East continue to occupy a central place in international affairs. The political transformations, security dynamics and internal developments of this region have major repercussions on regional stability, but also on Europe and the international community.
FEMO is committed to examining these issues with intellectual rigor, analytical independence and a concern for clarity. Particular attention is given to major contemporary developments, notably issues of political transition, regional security, information warfare, as well as the consequences of ongoing transformations and their regional and international implications, with particular attention to Iran.
FEMO’s activities are structured around several complementary areas:
Through the symposiums, publications and reports it organizes, FEMO intends to provide, through experts, insight into the complex issues of the Middle East and thereby enrich the debate on the geopolitical and geostrategic situation of the region. FEMO aims to serve as a reference base for national and European public authorities.
Since its creation, FEMO has been led by individuals committed to promoting a serious, independent and in-depth understanding of the Middle East.
FEMO was for many years chaired by François Colcombet, an eminent magistrate and former parliamentarian, whose commitment and intellectual contribution played a decisive role in its development.
Read about François Colcombet: François Colcombet, Founder of FEMO
Today, FEMO is chaired by Jean-François Legaret, former mayor of the 1st arrondissement of Paris, who continues this commitment to rigorous analysis and open debate on the region’s strategic issues.
At a time marked by profound upheavals, FEMO aims to provide a space where the most complex issues can be examined with clarity, intellectual honesty and a sense of responsibility in the face of the long-term consequences of political and strategic choices.
FEMO does not seek to defend a particular political line, but to promote values based on knowledge, dialogue and rigorous analysis. Its mission is to contribute to an informed public debate on the Middle East, a region whose developments profoundly influence the balance of the contemporary world.
