News

16 May 2025, Barcelona. The Union for the Mediterranean was honoured with a Creu de Sant Jordi (‘Sant George’s Cross’), one of the Catalan government’s highest distinctions, in an award ceremony last night at Catalonia’s National Art Museum (MNAC) in Barcelona. This recognition was granted for the UfM’s “outstanding work in promoting cooperation and dialogue among Mediterranean countries.” The UfM was among the 21 individuals and 10 organisations who were recognised this year for their exceptional civic and cultural impact in Catalonia. Headquartered in Barcelona, the UfM strengthens ties between Euro-Mediterranean countries to address common challenges including climate change, gender… read more

4 April 2025, Granada. Union for the Mediterranean Secretary General Nasser Kamel reiterated the need for strengthened Euro-Mediterranean cooperation at the Forum on the Future of the Mediterranean in the Andalusian city of Granada. Organised by the Spanish Presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the UfM, the two-day event brought together speakers, deputy speakers and representatives of the parliaments of the organisation’s 43 Member States as well as the European Parliament and organisations such as NATO, OSCE, IPU or the Council of Europe. With opening speeches by Spain’s HM King Felipe VI and Speaker of the Congress of Deputies Francina… read more

Barcelona, 14 February 2025. In anticipation of the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, a landmark Euro-Mediterranean initiative to bring the region’s countries together to address common challenges, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) gathered more than 120 institutional and civil society actors as well as senior officials from the organisation’s 43 Member States over three days to provide inputs on how to strengthen regional cooperation with a view to redefining it for the years to come. Against the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East and other critical issues such as alarming climate trends and widening socioeconomic disparities,… read more

The Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Nasser Kamel gave a keynote address at the conference entitled “30 years of the Barcelona Process: Towards a New Euro-Mediterranean Policy,” held on 27 January and hosted by the President of the Parliament of Catalonia. The event, co-organized by the Catalan European Movement and the European Institute of the Mediterranean, brought together Members of the European Parliament, as well as experts and speakers from various institutions. In his speech, the UfM Secretary General Kamel recalled that the Barcelona Process was a bold and visionary initiative to transform the Mediterranean region… read more

23 January 2025, Brussels – The Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Nasser Kamel visited Brussels on January 22 and 23, where he held meetings with the newly appointed EU HR/VP and UfM Co-President Kaja Kallas, and the Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica. He also addressed the Plenary Session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood. In their meeting, HR/VP Kallas and SG Kamel discussed the future of the Euro-Mediterranean region ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process. SG Kamel underlined the UfM’s role as the leading multilateral… read more

4-5 December 2024, Larnaca. Cyprus. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the European University Cyprus (EUC) signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas of common interest, notably in the field of civil protection and disaster risk management. The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the Nicosia Risk Forum 2025, held in Larnaca, Cyprus, with UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel, and EUC Rector, Professor Andreas Efstathiou, representing their respective institutions. This agreement aims to foster collaboration through initiatives including official visits and expert exchanges, joint projects and consultations, seminars and workshops, the exchange… read more

Barcelona, 25 November 2024 – Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Secretary General Nasser Kamel took part in the “Diálogos para la Seguridad” event organised by El País in Madrid. The event featured discussions and talks by a number of distinguished speakers on the complex geopolitical and security challenges facing Europe and the Mediterranean region; from the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Palestine conflict, to irregular migration, radicalization and disinformation. In a dedicated session on the situation in the Mediterranean entitled “Una mirada sobre el Mediterráneo”, the UfM Secretary General shared his assessment of the impact of the ongoing geopolitical crises… read more

Barcelona, November 19, 2024 – The Spanish National Organisation for Cooperation and the Social Inclusion of the Disabled (ONCE) unveiled its special Med Day Coupon charity lottery ticket at the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) headquarters in Barcelona, commemorating the collaborative spirit of the Euro-Mediterranean community. This special “Med Day Coupon” edition, launched on November 19, reinforces a shared commitment to inclusion and solidarity for persons with disabilities across the region. The ticket was presented to UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel by Enric Botí, delegate of ONCE in Catalonia. This Med Day Coupon initiative aims to draw attention to the… read more

18 September 2024, Helsinki, Finland.  The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), in collaboration with the European Commission and key regional partners, successfully concluded the Mediterranean Youth Forum: Building Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystems. Held from September 16-18, 2024, in Helsinki, the forum brought together over 140 participants, including young entrepreneurs, policymakers, and private sector representatives from across the Mediterranean region. This three-day event emphasized the importance of engaging youth in driving social innovation, digitalization, and sustainable economic recovery. The forum builds upon the UfM’s commitment, as outlined in the Marrakech Ministerial Declaration, to leverage youth potential for inclusive growth, innovation, and green recovery…. read more

11 June 2024, Dead Sea, Jordan. Union for the Mediterranean Secretary General Nasser Kamel took part in the “Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza” conference today in Jordan, where he stressed the Euro-Mediterranean intergovernmental organisation’s readiness to play an active role as soon as early recovery can start in Gaza/Palestine. Organised by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United Nations, the UfM Secretary General was among the heads of states and governments and representatives of international organisations, financial institutions and nongovernmental organisations at the event to identify Gaza’s humanitarian assistance needs, how… read more