UfM Secretariat and European Commission collaborate towards inclusive labour markets and decent jobs in the Mediterranean region

Barcelona, 1 February 2015. Chaired by the UfM Co-Presidents, the meeting gathered more than 50 participants from the Ministries of Employment and Labour in the Euro-Mediterranean region, as well as representatives from the European Investment Bank, the International Labour Organization, the European Training Foundation, the business sector and trade unions.

Discussions focused on inclusive labour markets and transition from the informal to the formal economy. Particular attention was devoted to sustainable development, competitiveness, vocational and educational training, labour rights and social dialogue as key elements to develop an integrated comprehensive strategy addressing the current challenges being faced by the region in this regard.

The meeting is a follow-up of the UfM mandate for action on employment, employability and decent work in the region. In this framework, the UfM Secretariat has developed the Mediterranean Initiative for Jobs (Med4Jobs) to help increase the employability of youth and women, close the gap between labour demand and supply, and foster a culture of entrepreneurship and private sector development in the region. Med4Jobs is a cross-sector initiative driven by the need for an integrated regional initiative in the area of job creation, providing a projects programme and employment platform.