UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel presents 2019 priorities and work programme to the European Commission

Michael Kohler (Director for the Southern Neighbourhood at DG NEAR), Colin Scicluna (Deputy Managing Director of Middle East & North Africa at the European External Action Service), Christian Danielsson (Director-General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations), Nasser Kamel (UfM Secretary General) and Diego Escalona (Executive Director for Operations and Partnerships at the UfM);
UfM SG with Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn

31 January 2019, Brussels. UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel met yesterday with the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, and conveyed his gratitude for the continuous support of the European Commission to the UfM. Commissioner Hahn underlined that the UfM remains the most relevant framework for cooperation on issues of common interest and on operational projects across the Euro-Mediterranean region. The European Commission and the UfM have gone a long way, and look forward to continue achieving greater impact together and build better futures for all citizens, especially youth.

This meeting took place on the occasion of the Secretary General’s visit to Brussels, on invitation of the Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) of the European Commission to present the UfM priorities and work programme for 2019 to the Directorate-Generals in charge of the thematic areas of action of the UfM.

The meeting was hosted by Christian Danielsson (Director-General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations) and Michael Kohler (Director for the Southern Neighbourhood at DG NEAR), in the presence of Colin Scicluna (Deputy Managing Director of Middle East & North Africa at the European External Action Service) as well as several Directors and Heads of Units working on sectors ranging from environment and climate change, to employment or mobility.

Meeting of the UfM Secretary General with European Commission line DGs

On the occasion of this first meeting with the European Commission’s line DGs since he took-up duty, Secretary General Kamel took the opportunity to share his vision and priorities for the UfM, as well as the main initiatives and projects that will be carried out in the year to come. The European Commission reiterated its engagement in the UfM action and highlighted the significant added value a regional organisation such as the UfM brings to the work of the Commission in the Euro-Mediterranean region.

The European Union ensures the Co-Presidency on the northern side for the Union for the Mediterranean since 2012, and co-finances the UfM Secretariat.