UfM Secretary General holds series of meetings in Brussels with European Institutions and Member States

7-8 February 2023, Brussels – UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel undertook a series of engagements with key partners of the UfM Secretariat. These interactions included meetings with the EEAS, DG NEAR, the European Council, as well as informal discussions with the Arab Group and the MaMa Group.

The Secretary General commenced his visit by participating in a brainstorming session aimed at enhancing the UfM’s actions and the Secretariat’s operations. This session brought together the co-presidency of the UfM.

Upon the invitation of the Egyptian Ambassador, who chairs the Arab Group in Brussels, the Secretary General engaged in an informal discussion with ambassadors and representatives from the Embassies of Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Mauritania, Palestine, and Tunisia. During this meeting, the Secretary General emphasised the UfM Secretariat’s priorities for the year, underlining its reliance on the support of Member States. He expressed gratitude to the represented countries for their participation in Secretariat activities.

Subsequently, the Secretary General participated in another informal exchange hosted by the Swedish Permanent Representation. This discussion involved members of the Maghreb-Mashreq (MaMa) Group, along with representatives from EEAS and DG NEAR. During this session, he delved into various Secretariat initiatives such as higher education, economic development, transport, and women’s empowerment. The Secretary General highlighted specific achievements in these sectors, citing examples, and also acknowledged bilateral assistance from certain EU Member States through their respective development agencies (SIDA, GIZ, AECID).

During his meeting with Mr. Simon Mordue, Senior Chief Adviser for Foreign Policy at the Cabinet of the President of the European Council, the UfM Secretary General outlined the UfM’s activities and engaged in discussions regarding the forthcoming Spanish Presidency of the EU Council in the second semester of the year.