UfM Employment Forum
Economic Development and Employment
14–17 December 2026, Palermo, Italy – The UfM will organise the first edition of the UfM Employment Forum in Palermo, Italy, from 14 to 17 December 2026, with a focus on entrepreneurship as a driver of employment, employability and inclusive economic growth. Co-organised with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), with the support of the European Commission (DG EMPL), the UfM Employment Forum is established under the UfM Action Plan on Employment and Labour 2026–2028 and anchored in the UfM Vision Statement and the EU Pact for the Mediterranean.
Entrepreneurship is increasingly recognised as an important pathway for job creation and economic transformation. The Forum will therefore explore how stronger entrepreneurial ecosystems, supportive business environments and access to finance can contribute to creating decent and sustainable employment opportunities, particularly by strengthening employability and supporting the development of new ventures.
The programme will feature a dedicated multi-stakeholder regional dialogue on 17 December, complemented by a series of activities taking place from 14 to 16 December, aimed at strengthening cooperation and exchange among entrepreneurs, academic stakeholder and capacity building for young people. These will include the UfM Entrepreneurship Workshop, the UfM Community of Practice on Youth Employment, the “Entrepreneurship & Employability: From Degree to Ventures” workshop, and the UfM Med Youth Lab.
The Forum will bring together government officials, private sector actors, business support organisations, incubators and accelerators, entrepreneurs, civil society representatives, think tanks, mentors and trainers, creating opportunities for networking, exchange and partnership-building. The discussion will towards concrete outcomes, strengthened partnerships and scalable initiatives that can contribute to advancing employability across the Euro-Mediterranean region.
Registration for the UfM Employment Forum is now open. Please register here.
Side events:
- UfM Entrepreneurship Workshop
- UfM Community of Practice on Youth Employment
- Entrepreneurship & Employability: From Degree to Ventures workshop
- UfM Med Youth Lab
