News

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

5 to 7 December 2023, Sweden – The Union for the Mediterranean organised a study visit for public and private sector professionals from the Southern Mediterranean region to Swedish companies. This was carried out with the support of German Development Cooperation and in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. Participants from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia were able to immerse themselves in the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, learn best practices and network. Meetings were held with a wide range of Swedish stakeholders who highlighted their experience with trade and… read more

The UfM Conference on Digital Transformation took place on December 18, 2023 in Tangier, focusing on the development of digital ecosystems across the region and their potential to accelerate the green transition.   The Union for the Mediterranean has been actively engaged in promoting digital connectivity, skills, and innovation in Member States, especially since the first UfM Conference on Digital Transformation in Tallinn in 2019. 18 December 2023, Tangier – The Union for the Mediterranean partnered with the German Development Cooperation and the AfricaMed Business Forum to hold the UfM Conference on Digital Transformation, which focused on the role of digital transformation in… read more

The UfM Secretariat co-organised two activities in Turin, the Workshop on Platform Economy together with the German Development Cooperation and the European Training Foundation as well as the 6th Meeting of the UfM Community of Practice on Youth Employment in the Southern Mediterranean. The Euro-Mediterranean Region has enormous human capital, yet the proportion of young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) remains structurally high, especially in Southern Europe and the MENA region. Digitalisation and connectivity remain both skewed and insufficient in the Southern Mediterranean. 12-14 December 2023, Turin – The Union of the Mediterranean partnered with the German… read more

The 2023 UfM Trade and Investment Forum is the Forum’s 5th edition in five successive years, attesting to the emphasis the UfM places on facilitating trade and promoting investment to foster economic development and integration in the region. The Forum comes at a time when global economic, political and humanitarian disruptions are posing serious challenges that call for a regionally coordinated response that is innovative, sustainable and inclusive. 4 December 2023, Brussels – This year’s edition of the UfM Trade and Investment Forum, co-organised with the German Development Cooperation and made possible by the UfM Regional Platform on Trade and… read more

The second meeting of the UfM Regional Platform on Employment and Labour for 2023 was held over two days in Berlin with the participation of multiple stakeholders and interlocutors from the region. Perspectives from UfM Member States, regional organisations and projects and Social Partners were shared with the participants towards identifying best practices and building meaningful complementarities. Berlin, 30 November – 1 December 2023. As part of the Roadmap 2022-2025 for the Implementation of the 5th UfM Ministerial Declaration on Employment and Labour of 18 May 2022, the UfM focal points convened at the German capital over two days for… read more

21-22 November 2023, Marseille – The European Commission (Directorate-General Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion of the European Commission, DG EMPL) organised the 5th Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Social Dialogue Forum on 21-22 November 2023 in Marseille on behalf of the Union for the Mediterranean Co-Presidency. The Forum, held every three years, gathered representatives from employers’ and workers’ organisations from UfM partner countries, Euro-Mediterranean Social Partner organisations, as well as representatives from the UfM Co-Presidency, the UfM Secretariat, the European Commission and other experts. Since 2010, the UfM Social Dialogue Forum actively contributes to the development of a strong, independent… read more

15-16 November 2023, Cairo. The Union for the Mediterranean held the National Workshop on Digital Transformation in Cairo on 15 and 16 November 2023 with the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation and in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Estonian ICT Cluster. With over 60 experts and participants from various backgrounds in attendance, this two-day event allowed for discussions on how to enhance the digital transformation and for the exchange of best practices and ideas based on the experiences of Estonia and Egypt. This event, like the e-Governance National Workshops conducted… read more

23 October 2023, Cairo – The Union for the Mediterranean, with the support of the German Development Cooperation, partnered with the League of Arab States to organise the High-Level Conference on Food Industry for Food Security. Titled “Towards More Resilient Regional Supply Chains and a More Sustainable Food Industry,” the event took place at the League of Arab States headquarters in Cairo. The conference, which kicked off a day after visits to Egyptian food sector companies, brought together participants from across the Euro-Mediterranean region to discuss the current state of the food industry, strategies to enhance its resilience, and pathways… read more

17 October 2023, Barcelona – Over 80 social economy actors and entrepreneurs gathered in Barcelona to participate in the fourth edition of the UfM Social Economy Conference. Co-organised by the UfM Secretariat, the Spanish Confederation of Social Economy Entrepreneurs (CEPES) and the German Development Cooperation, and co-sponsored by the European Union, this year’s event focused to two interrelated themes: promoting social entrepreneurship and the participation of women in the Social Economy. The Social Economy, driven by solidarity and the belief in people over capital, is currently experiencing heightened global recognition as a vehicle of social cohesion, job creation, inclusive growth,… read more