News

It is estimated that 40% of the Mediterranean’s forests are currently being degraded to some extent, due to increasing forest fires, overgrazing and destruction for agriculture and urban development 21st March marks International Forest Day, with this year’s focus on forest restoration as a path to recovery and well-being The Union for the Mediterranean is supporting a project for scaling up forest and landscape restoration in the area, particularly in Lebanon and Morocco 19st of March 2021. With International Forest Day approaching, we need to remind ourselves of the importance of forest ecosystems as a sanctuary for biodiversity, a way… read more

As a critical climate change hotspot, the Mediterranean region already has over 180 million people who are considered water poor. With the COVID-19 pandemic, water is more precious than ever before, being a vital element in the sustainable rebuilding of our region. The Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI), the World Bank, the Mediterranean Youth for Water Network (MedYWat) and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) are hosting a e-conference for World Water Day, focusing on “Valuing Water”. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) has prioritised leading the development of a regional Water Agenda and supported the ENI CBC MED programme… read more

8 march 2021 – It is with immense sadness that we learned of the passing away of Dr. Nabil Elsherif, executive director of the Anna Lindh Foundation and a great friend of the Union for the Mediterranean. The Secretary General, Nasser Kamel, and the staff of the UfM present their sincerest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Dr. Elsherif. He was a true champion of intercultural dialogue who worked relentlessly and with great dedication to achieve peace and harmony in the region…. read more

An initiative from the three partners, Monaco, the UfM and UNIDO aims to facilitate access to finance, markets, technology and business networks for women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Hajer Derouiche, the founder of an innovative startup that produces plant extracts based on natural raw materials from the Mediterranean, shares her story. 8 March 2021 – “Promoting the empowerment of women for inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Tunisia” is the objective of the joint declaration recently signed by Monaco’s Department of External Relations and Cooperation, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)…. read more

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to reflect and take stock of the progress made on gender equality, but above all, today should serve as a date to acclaim and recognize women’s societal role. Women’s leadership is essential to ensure that women’s needs are prioritized in the pandemic response and recovery, and we do not fall back in the progress made towards achieving gender equality. COVID-19 has shown that without women, we cannot fight the pandemic and build back better. 8 March 2020. On this date over 100 years ago, women across the world began to protest and march to… read more

2nd March 2021, Virtual Format – The Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), Nasser Kamel, participated as a key note speaker in a Forum organized by the Delphi Economic Forum and the Institute for Sustainable Development of EPLO – the European Public Law Organization. The forum on “Blue Economy: The Way to Green Recovery” convened leaders, policy-makers, investors, and the Blue Economy industry for deliberations over the pressing issues related to the maritime and coastal zone as a par excellence opportunity for sustainable development. The session was moderated by Spyros Kouvelis, Director of the EPLO and among the panelist… read more

The UfM hosted a virtual conference on the 5th of March to analyse gendered barriers to leadership, present the EU’s Gender Action Plan in External Action 2021-2025 and showcase UfM-supported projects and initiatives in the region. Data gathering on gender equality in leadership in the Euro-Mediterranean region remains a challenge. This year, the first exercise of the UfM’s Intergovernmental Monitoring Mechanism on Gender Equality will be launched to bridge this gap. Achieving gender equality for the current generation of working-age women in MENA could add as much as USD 3.1 trillion to regional wealth, according to the World Bank. Barcelona,… read more

Erilda Krasi of 1001 Albanian Adventures, a tour operator based in the city of Berat, has won the third edition of ARLEM Young Entrepreneurs Award, reflecting as well the efforts of the city of Berat to support the development of the local tourism industry. The award, which has been presented annually since 2019 by the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) celebrates both the work of entrepreneurs younger than 35 and efforts by local authorities to foster business-friendly policies. The award was presented to Ms Krasi by the presidents of the European Committee of the Regions and of United Cities… read more

25 february 2021 – UfM member states met on 25 February 2021 to review and discuss the follow-up of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Process/5th UfM Regional Forum, held on 27 November 2020. During the meeting, UfM Senior Officials welcomed the New Agenda for the Mediterranean adopted by the European Commission, and underlined the EU’s renewed confidence in the UfM’s indispensable role to enhance regional cooperation, and as a privileged dialogue forum for its 42 Member States. “I am convinced that this renewed partnership with the Southern Mediterranean countries and its accompanying Economic and Investment Plan… read more

23-24 February 2020 – Deputy Secretary General for Transport and Urban Development Ayşe Asya represented the UfM in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) regional workshop organized by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of Slovenia, in cooperation with UNECE, and with the support of the UfM, Housing Europe and UN-Habitat. Deputy Secretary General Asya showcased, in her address, the draft “UfM Housing Action Plan for affordable and sustainable housing, as a vector for inclusive, integrated and sustainable urban development and regeneration”, which was developed under the draft “UfM Strategic Urban Development Action Plan 2040 for sustainable, resilient… read more