Closing gender gaps in the MENA financial sector: towards women-led business development took place on March 6 and 7 in Cairo. 100 public and private sector participants engaged in strategic discussions and activities aimed at fostering inclusion in the predominantly male world of business. The conference featured six panel discussions and interactive roundtable talks on strengthening the role of women in the sector as well as an award ceremony for innovative women-led startups and a matchmaking session for founders and investors. Under 5% of businesses in the MENA region are led by women, around 20 percentage points below the global… read more
The resilience and adaptability of ports and shipping are vital for transport connectivity, enhanced regional integration, and for addressing longer-term sustainability goals. “MARLOG 13” addresses the latest trends and innovations in sustainable and resilient green blue infrastructure in ports and logistics. The UfM-supported Blue Mediterranean Partnership will support transition to a sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean region. 3-5 March 2024, Alexandria, Egypt. The 13th edition of the International Maritime Transport and Logistics Conference “MARLOG 13” held in Alexandria, Egypt on 2-5 March 2024, addressed the latest trends and innovations in sustainable and resilient green blue infrastructure in ports and… read more
22 February 2024, Barcelona – Representatives of UfM Ministries of Foreign Affairs gathered last week for their first Senior Officials meeting of 2024, to review the situation in the region, and discuss next steps for the UfM reform. In 2023, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the organisation, a reform process was launched to enhance the role, functioning and impact of the UfM in the region. Following the first package of measures adopted last year, new elements regarding the mandate and resources of the organisation will be discussed. Further to that, UfM Senior Officials received an update on… read more
13-14 February 2024, Split, Croatia. – The UfM co-organised with the Croatian National Bank, the Banco de España, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), the 8th Annual Conference of Mediterranean Central Banks, which took place in Split, Croatia, on 13 and 14 February. This conference served as a pivotal platform for the exchange of invaluable insights, the sharing of expertise, and the cultivation of cooperation among Central Bank Governors and other experts from the Mediterranean region. Nasser Kamel, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) delivered introductory remarks alongside Boris… read more
The discussion centred around the Mediterranean region’s current affairs and UfM initiatives such as the Day of the Mediterranean and the Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue. Both parties emphasised the importance of culture and intercultural dialogue in promoting a positive and cohesive agenda across the region, and the strengthening of organisations such as the Anna Lindh Foundation. Barcelona, 15 February 2024. UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel, and the Spanish Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, discussed the pivotal role of culture and intercultural dialogue in bridging the Mediterranean’s diverse divides. They highlighted key UfM initiatives designed to enhance intercultural dialogue… read more
30 January 2024, Barcelona – The Union for the Mediterranean and the Union of Arab Banks, a non-profit affiliated with the League of Arab States that fosters collaboration between members and the international business community, signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing bilateral cooperation in areas of common interest including climate change, women’s empowerment, and financial literacy. The signing ceremony, which took place at the UfM’s Palau de Pedralbes headquarters in Barcelona, saw representatives of both institutions agree to promote the visits of officials or experts, cooperative projects, consultations, seminars and workshops as well as the exchange of best practices. The… read more
The award ceremony of the UfM Student Competition on Urban Design 2023: Urban Solutions to Climate Change in the Mediterranean took place in Barcelona on January 17, with Istanbul’s Özyeğin University students scooping the €5,000 first-place prize for their exploration of the coexistence of water and life in Türkiye’s Lake Amik basin. An ENSA Marseille student was the runner-up for her proposal transforming a post-industrial area in southern France into a sustainable development park, while Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya students came in third for their project transforming a degraded coastal territory in northeastern Spain into a water retention landscape to… read more
Foreign Affairs Ministers of the 43 Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) gathered today in Barcelona for the 8th UfM Regional Forum. The critical situation in Israel and Gaza-Palestine as well as the consequences this is having across the region were discussed. The event was chaired by Josep Borrell, the High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, and Ayman Safadi, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan. It was hosted by José Manuel Albares, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation… read more
14-15 September 2023, Trieste – Organised by the European House/Ambrosetti Forum, the first edition of the forum Risorsa Mare was organised in collaboration with the Italian Ministry for Civil Protection and Sea Policies. The Secretary General was invited to exchange with Roberta Giani (Editor-in-chief, Il Piccolo), in a session on the economic, social and geopolitical challenges of the Euro-Afro-Asian Basin. During his intervention, SG Kamel underlined the main challenges faced in the Euro-Mediterranean area, namely the regional integration and the economic crisis, social inequalities, and the climate emergency. He further noted that these three challenges, which gravely impact the region,… read more
16-21 September 2023, New York – UfM Secretary-General Nasser Kamel attended the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he highlighted the Union for the Mediterranean’s initiatives and solidified its partnerships with key UN institutions and agencies, including the UNDP. He also held meetings with several Foreign Affairs Ministers from Member States. The theme of the general debate this year was “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all.” António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, inaugurated the General Assembly… read more