The high-level dialogue that brought together the UfM, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and representatives from the European Union aimed at aligning development and investment agendas, identifying opportunities for partnership, and translating policy recommendations into action. The UfM region remains to be one of the most economically fragmented regions in the world with trade and investment flows profoundly skewed, interconnectivity potential yet to be unlocked, and mobility of people curtailed by several obstacles. Brussels, 11 February 2026 – Successive disruptions over the last few years have demonstrated the extent to which… read more
The 2nd UfM Progress Report on Regional Integration, published in collaboration with the OECD and supported by the German Development Cooperation, was presented today in Barcelona. The data-driven report provides insights on the state of Euro-Mediterranean economic interconnectedness as well as actionable policy recommendations. Although trade flows among UfM Member States accounted for 30% of all global exports in 2022, the Euro-Mediterranean market is still highly fragmented. While foreign direct investment has remained broadly resilient, in many countries it is surpassed by remittances. The region now hosts close to 80% more intra-UfM migrants than in 1990, the majority of which… read more
Rabat, 11 September 2025. The Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), Nasser Kamel, delivered the keynote address at the Retreat on the Future of Euro-Mediterranean Relations, hosted by Morocco. The high-level meeting brought together political leaders, senior officials and think tanks to reflect on regional cooperation ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process this November. Secretary General Kamel warned that the region is at a crossroads of global tensions and urged a coordinated response. He outlined five priorities for the years ahead: bridging economic gaps, addressing youth and migration challenges, accelerating the green and digital… read more
14 July 2025, Dubrovnik. The Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Nasser Kamel, took part in the Dubrovnik Forum held on 11 July 2025 in Croatia. He joined the panel discussion titled “Connecting Economies, Empowering People: The New Pact for the Mediterranean”, alongside Dubravka Šuica, European Commission Commissioner for the Mediterranean; Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council; Ante Šušnjar, Minister of Economy of Croatia; Marko Štucin, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia and Maja Markovčić Kostelac, Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency. The session focused on strengthening regional cooperation, advancing… read more
9 July 2025, Barcelona. Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Secretary General Nasser Kamel today welcomed European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, for a working visit to the UfM headquarters in Barcelona. The meeting served to deepen collaboration between the UfM and the European Commission and to further align efforts in promoting a shared Mediterranean agenda. Discussions centred on the forthcoming new UfM strategy and the EU Pact for the Mediterranean. Secretary General Kamel expressed appreciation for the European Commission’s continued support, highlighting the EU’s vital role in enabling the UfM to deliver concrete results in political dialogue, policy coordination,… read more
Brussels, 8 July 2025. Senior Officials from the Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) gathered today in Brussels for a Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) focused on advancing the organisation’s new strategic framework for the coming years. The new UfM strategy is expected to be formally adopted in November 2025 during the UfM Regional Forum in Barcelona, where Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Union for the Mediterranean will convene to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, a landmark initiative for structured Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. During the meeting, Member States also discussed the EU Pact for the Mediterranean. Senior Officials underlined the importance of… read more
9 June 2025, Nice. The Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), Nasser Kamel, took part in the Summit for a Connected Mediterranean held today in Nice. Organised under the auspices of the President of the French Republic, the summit gathered 21 heads of state and government from Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Gulf to strengthen cooperation on land, maritime, and digital connectivity. Key regional organisations such as the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council and major development banks including the EBRD, EIB, and World Bank were also in attendance alongside the UfM. Secretary General Kamel emphasised the UfM’s… read more
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
