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• 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

• Ministers, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Co-Presidency and UfM Secretariat gather in Brussels on the occasion of the first Ministerial Conference on Blue Economy.

• Ministers stressed the potential for sustainable growth through improved maritime governance and an environment conducive to promote jobs, innovation and knowledge-based business opportunities through the development of key maritime sectors.

• A regional and collaborative approach is crucial to capitalise fully on the blue economy’s potential, as the challenges affecting the Mediterranean Sea call for shared and integrated responses. A constructive path of cooperation to help the stability of the region, which is now even more important to follow after the tragic events in Paris.

8 October 2015 – EIB Brussels Office – Rond-Point Schuman 6, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium In line with the agreed roadmap of the Gaza Strip Desalination Facility project, the Secretariat of the UfM is organising a High-level Expert Meeting to discuss the project’s design, governance and financial arrangements. This meeting will take place next 8 October in Brussels, with the participation of theRead more

EBRD to finance rehabilitation of wastewater treatment with €20 million loan.