Better water, better jobs. Better water through enhanced cooperation and integration brings more human development and stability to the Mediterranean. The southern shores of the Mediterranean are among the world’s most water-scarce, with over 150 million people affected. The UfM is implementing 15 projects specifically on Sustainable Development, representing close to €4 billion in investments for the region…. read more
• The BlueGreen Med-CS project seeks to promote water and environment cooperation in civil society • The project is based on a capacity building programme that will enable more than 120 civil society organisations (CSOs) to acquire skills in various environmental areas. • With a starting budget of €3.3 million, it will be initially implemented in Albania, Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia during 2015-2017 in partnership with the Horizon 2020 Initiative and the United Nations Development Program…. read more
• On 15 February, the UfM Secretariat organised a meeting in Brussels with the participation of the Government representatives of Palestine, Israel and representatives of both the European Commission and the Office of the Quartet to advance on the implementation of the Desalination Facility project for the Gaza Strip, endorsed by the 43 Member States of the UfM. • The Israeli Delegation confirmed the Government’s political support to the project and its commitment to facilitate the construction of the facility. • The Palestinian Delegation emphasised its readiness to take all necessary measures for the project’s implementation. • The large-scale desalination… read more
• The UfM Secretariat organised a coordination meeting with the Government of Palestine, the European Commission and International Banks mainly in order to conclude the financial mechanism of the UfM-labeled project and to adopt a roadmap for 2016. • A High-level Donor Conference is foreseen to take place in June 2016…. read more
Relaunching a regular regional dialogue on water issues of common interest in the region and recalling the 2008 Ministerial Declaration, the UfM Secretariat convened the 5th UfM Water Expert Group (WEG) meeting…. read more
• Minister Al-Malki’s visit was an opportunity to exchange views with SG Sijilmassi on the active involvement of Palestine in UfM activities • Among the topics discussed, both parties analysed the next steps concerning the Desalination Facility for the Gaza Strip project. A meeting aimed at approving the financial mechanism of the project will be held in February 2016 in Barcelona, involving key International Financial Institutions…. read more
UfM welcomes the adoption of the Paris Agreement by all the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as a major breakthrough in tackling climate change. The UfM Secretariat will continue working on a regional dimension, by ensuring operational support to all UfM Members in the implementation of their climate policies and the achievement of the common objectives. The next COP22 will be held in Marrakech in November 2016, taking stock of the progress achieved in the regional process…. read more
• Ministers, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Co-Presidency and UfM Secretariat gather in Brussels on the occasion of the first Ministerial Conference on Blue Economy. • Ministers stressed the potential for sustainable growth through improved maritime governance and an environment conducive to promote jobs, innovation and knowledge-based business opportunities through the development of key maritime sectors. • A regional and collaborative approach is crucial to capitalise fully on the blue economy’s potential, as the challenges affecting the Mediterranean Sea call for shared and integrated responses. A constructive path of cooperation to help the stability of the region, which is… read more
The UfM, in partnership with the EU and other regional actors, is supporting “SwitchMed Connect”, an event of the SwitchMed Programme, to be held on 29-30 October in Barcelona, gathering, for the first time, more than 350 stake holders from Mediterranean countries to build synergies, exchange knowledge, and scale up eco and social innovative solutions…. read more
EBRD to finance rehabilitation of wastewater treatment with €20 million loan…. read more
