Better water, better jobs. Better water through enhanced cooperation and integration brings more human development and stability to the Mediterranean.
The southern shores of the Mediterranean are among the world’s most water-scarce, with over 150 million people affected.
The UfM is implementing 15 projects specifically on Sustainable Development, representing close to €4 billion in investments for the region.
Blog
• The BlueGreen Med-CS project seeks to promote water and environment cooperation in civil society
• The project is based on a capacity building programme that will enable more than 120 civil society organisations (CSOs) to acquire skills in various environmental areas.
• With a starting budget of €3.3 million, it will be initially implemented in Albania, Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia during 2015-2017 in partnership with the Horizon 2020 Initiative and the United Nations Development Program.
23 February 2016 , Brussels The overall goal of the BlueGreen Med-CS project is to strengthen existing and promote new cooperation and financial opportunities among Euro-Mediterranean Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) dedicated to water and environment, thereby maximising their contribution to sustainable development in the region. For further information please contact the Water and Environment divison: water@ufmsecretariat.orgRead more
• On 15 February, the UfM Secretariat organised a meeting in Brussels with the participation of the Government representatives of Palestine, Israel and representatives of both the European Commission and the Office of the Quartet to advance on the implementation of the Desalination Facility project for the Gaza Strip, endorsed by the 43 Member States of the UfM.
• The Israeli Delegation confirmed the Government’s political support to the project and its commitment to facilitate the construction of the facility.
• The Palestinian Delegation emphasised its readiness to take all necessary measures for the project’s implementation.
• The large-scale desalination facility is aimed at addressing the water crisis in the Gaza Strip, where 95% of the water is not drinkable due to the over-pumping of the Coastal Aquifer, the only available water source in the strip.
9-12 February 2016 , Athens, Greece. At the invitation of the UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention Secretariat, the UfM Secretariat will participate on 9-10 January at the 19th Meeting of Contracting Parties Meeting to the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean, in Athens. Alessandra Sensi will represent the UfM SecretariatRead more
• The UfM Secretariat organised a coordination meeting with the Government of Palestine, the European Commission and International Banks mainly in order to conclude the financial mechanism of the UfM-labeled project and to adopt a roadmap for 2016.
• A High-level Donor Conference is foreseen to take place in June 2016.
9-12 February, UfM headquarters, Barcelona. The UfM Secretariat together with the Palestinian Water Authority are organising on 10 February in Barcelona a technical coordination meeting with the European Commission and key international financial institutions involved in the promotion of the Desalination Facility for the Gaza Strip project, namely the European Investment Bank, the Islamic DevelopmentRead more
Relaunching a regular regional dialogue on water issues of common interest in the region and recalling the 2008 Ministerial Declaration, the UfM Secretariat convened the 5th UfM Water Expert Group (WEG) meeting.
• Minister Al-Malki’s visit was an opportunity to exchange views with SG Sijilmassi on the active involvement of Palestine in UfM activities
• Among the topics discussed, both parties analysed the next steps concerning the Desalination Facility for the Gaza Strip project. A meeting aimed at approving the financial mechanism of the project will be held in February 2016 in Barcelona, involving key International Financial Institutions.
Luxembourg, 23-24 November 2015 Water fosters human security, supports economic growth and provides for environmental needs. The southern shores of the Mediterranean are among the world’s most water-scarce areas, with more than 150 million people facing water stress. According to the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), this figure is set to rise by a further 80-100Read more
