Rt Hon Catherine Ashton and Secretary General Sijilmassi discuss steps forward for the UfM

Brussels.- The Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Fathallah Sijilmassi, met Rt Hon. Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice President of the European Commission. Other meetings were held with high level officials from the European Commission and the European External Action Service.

Mrs. Ashton and EU officials expressed their full support to the UfM. The European Institutions assume the northern co-presidency of the Union for the Mediterranean after the decision of the Council of EU ministers of Foreign Affairs on 27 February 2012.

Secretary General Sijilmassi elaborated on the strategy adopted on focusing on concrete projects which meet the needs of the populations and could contribute to creating jobs and attracting new investments. In addition, he highlighted that the UfM needs the support of all the stakeholders to move forward and build on the added value of the UfM as a bridge for interaction between the EU and Mediterranean countries, as well as an important instrument for the promotion of regional cooperation.