News

16-17 July 2023, Algiers – The UfM with the support of the German Development Cooperation organized two workshops for Government and Private Sector stakeholders respectively in Algiers, each consisting of a basic course on Rules of Origin, transitional rules as well as information on specific Harmonized System Codes for the respective industries under the most pertinent agreements, including through training exercises. The workshops encompassed a training module for responsible staff officers from the Government with a more extensive conceptual and legal focus on the concept of rules of origin, in order to facilitate the stakeholder consultation process when conducting trade negotiations…. read more

The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)’s 15th anniversary presents an ideal opportunity to take stock of what has been accomplished so far and reflect on the challenges facing the region in the years to come. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs from UfM Member States will convene on 27 November in Barcelona to engage in these discussions and explore the future prospects for the organization. Despite a turbulent regional and international context over the past 15 years, the UfM has endeavoured to foster exchange and connectivity, promote development and create a space for dialogue across the Mediterranean on issues that concern… read more

The UfM High-Level Meeting on Skills in the Mediterranean recognized that the region has one of the youngest populations in the world and that skills are critical to leveraging the youth’s potential for bringing innovation and digitalisation to the dynamics of recovery, economic growth, decent work and social inclusion. Skilling, upskilling and reskilling boost employability, inclusiveness, competitiveness and growth, allowing to better address the challenges of technological and non-technological transformations such as green transition, demographic change, and digitalisation of the economy in the region, as well as addressing persistent issues of skill gaps and mismatches. Madrid, 12 July 2023.  The… read more

The UfM convened the 4th Meeting of the UfM Community of Practice (CoP) on Youth Employment in the Southern Mediterranean in Madrid on 11-12 July 2023, with another CoP Meeting planned for December 2023 in Turin, Italy. Composed mostly of young experts and entrepreneurs as well as UfM government representatives, the CoP made use of presentations, exchange of best practices, breakout discussions and a practical workshop on skills. Madrid, 11-12 July 2023. The UfM held its 4th Meeting of the UfM Community of Practice on Youth Employment in the Southern Mediterranean on 11-12 July 2023 in Madrid with the support… read more

6-7 June 2023, Fez, Morocco – UfM Deputy Secretary General in charge of Water, Environment and Blue Economy Almotaz Abadi met the Moroccan Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka in the margins of 3rd International Conference on Water and Climate (ICCS). In their meeting, they discussed the important role water and blue economy sectors are playing to mitigate the climate change impacts. The minister have briefed on the effect that Morrocco is doing to cope with the impact of the climate change specially their Plan on the Water Desalination as well the wastewater treatment and reuse to respond to the… read more

The Workshop on Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Development, co-organized by UfM and Womenpreneur-Initiative, and supported by GIZ, was held online on July 11th from 9h30AM – 12h30PM CEST. The workshop was attended by 60 female entrepreneurs from the Euro-Mediterranean region working in diverse industries and start-ups. The Expert trainer, Mr Ismail Zohdy. covered the knowledge and skills necessary to develop, test, and validate product ideas using the Minimum Viable Product approach. By the end of the workshop, through working with a cross-functional team, participants gained practical tools and techniques which could be applied to their product development projects.  11 July… read more

EIB Global and Union for the Mediterranean host high-level MED conference to unlock future high-impact investment across the region More than 200 government, business, banking and civil society leaders attend first MED conference since COVID New business financing in Tunisia and Jordan confirmed The European Investment Bank has provided nearly EUR 3 billion to support of transformational public and private investment across the southern Mediterranean region since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Details of recent support for new investment to strengthen economic resilience and food security, improve health and education, increase clean energy use and sustainable transport and accelerate climate action… read more

7-8 July 2023, Dubrovnik – UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel, attended and spoke at the 16th edition of the Dubrovnik Forum 2023, entitled “Navigating the global reshuffle”, upon invitation by Mr. Gordon Grlic Radman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Croatia. The Secretary General participated in the panel “The Mediterranean and Beyond: Strengthening the Bonds,” presenting UfM’s position on regional and global contexts. The focus was on promoting regional cooperation through concrete projects to address geopolitical and economic changes. Key topics discussed included migration, climate change, and economic integration. The Secretary General also highlighted the progress of regional integration in the… read more

22 June 2023, Tangier. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and Plan Bleu/RAC (UNEP/Mediterranean Action Plan) co-organized Hub 3 on the Sustainable Management for Water Resources”, in the framework of the MEDCOP Climate in Tangier, Morocco. The HUB3 was inaugurated by the Vice president of Tangier-Tetouan-Alhoceima region, HE Rafik Belkorchi, Deputy Secretary General of the UFM Almotaz Abadi and Ahmed Bouari, Director at the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries.  The first session focused on the Water Energy Food Ecosystems Nexus and Integrated Coastal Zone Management and was contributed by speeches from many actors including the Coordinator of the GEF… read more

MedCOP Climate in Tangier hosted the 3rd UfM Energy and Climate Business Forum, gathering government representatives, experts, financial institutions, civil society, and private sector representatives, including young and women entrepreneurs, to explore strategies for accelerating the energy transition in the Mediterranean region..  22 June 2023, Tangier. The MedCOP Climate in Tangiers hosted the 3rd UfM Energy and Climate Business Forum, jointly organized by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) on the 22 June 2023. The annual forum serves as a regional platform for structuring energy and climate cooperation between countries on both… read more