The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the Mediterranean Water Institute (IME) met with experts from Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Palestine, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey to share their response to the water emergency and provide policy recommendations on how to move forward. Participants agreed that providing sustainable water access is essential for many jobs and discussed their emergency and recovery plans to help water utility operators cope with the crisis. Over 250 million people are expected to be “water poor” within the next 20 years in the Euro-Mediterranean region, with numbers potentially exacerbated by the COVID-19… read more
29 April 2020. UfM took stock of Covid-19 challenges and best practices in housing at a virtual meeting hosted by the Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Nasser Kamel, on Wednesday, 29 April 2020. “Exchange of best practices and policy transfers in inclusive, adequate and sustainable housing during this pandemic will also help build resilience, in particular to climate change, in the Mediterranean.” Nasser Kamel, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing, Leilani Farha, explained that under international human rights law the right to adequate housing covers measures that are needed to prevent homelessness, prohibit forced evictions, address discrimination, focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, ensure security of… read more
The ANIMA Investment Network, in collaboration with the UfM and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), is holding this month a series of workshops to help develop investments that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Mediterranean region. 28 April 2020. Increasing investments that contribute to the SDGs can be a development enabler: it can create jobs, build skills, spur innovation, provide essential infrastructure and services and boost economies. The ANIMA Investment Network, in collaboration with the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) as well as other partners, organised the first session of the online workshop called “Developing Investments that Contribute to… read more
The UfM Member States gave their unanimous support to the ENI CBC Med Programme in December 2019, to fund initiatives on climate change, business and SMEs, innovation, social inclusion , waste management and the fight against poverty 23 April 2020. The UfM-supported ENI CBC Med Programme will fund 22 new projects with a view to producing long-lasting effects and fostering significant change in key thematic areas such as start-ups development, reinforcement of Euro-Mediterranean economic clusters, technology transfer, employability of young people and women, waste management and energy efficiency. With an investment of €69 million in funding and a total budget worth €78.8 million,… read more
The UfM participated in the EU International Ocean Governance Forum, launched by the European Commission in association with the European External Action Service to provide a platform for dialogue on ocean challenges and governance solutions 23-24 April 2020. The International Ocean Governance (IOG) Forum took place online on 23-24 of April to further strengthen international ocean governance for the sustainable use of oceans and seas and the shift to the blue economy. With the participation of the UfM Deputy Secretary General, Isidro González Afonso and UfM Head of Sector, Alessandra Sensi, the core of the debate was the degradation of marine ecosystems and the related economic and social… read more
Maharat Med, a project to train students to be ready for future work and help them to start their own businesses has launched a package of activities since the beginning of the current year, including Maharat Universities and Maharat Awareness Sessions. Developed in line with the UfM flagship Mediterranean Initiative for Jobs (Med4Jobs), Maharat Med is an innovative program advancing youth employment in the Mediterranean countries of Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, and Morocco and is promoted by the non-profit organisation Business Development Center (BDC) Jordan. In partnership with universities around Jordan, “Maharat Universities” is implemented as a three-hour accredited undergraduate elective course and… read more
The UfM, the Mediterranean Water Institute (IME) and the Energy and Water Agency of Malta held a meeting to prepare for the 2020 Mediterranean Water Forum. The meeting aimed to further advance a regional strategy for action on water in line with the 2021 World Water Forum’s objectives. 21 April 2020. The 1st steering committee, organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the Mediterranean Water Institute (IME) and the Energy and Water Agency of Malta, gathered online 27 water stakeholders to prepare key points of discussion for the 4th Mediterranean Water Forum, which is foreseen on the 11-13 of November 2020 in Malta. Participants agreed the Forum will provide a… read more
The UfM Secretariat and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development discussed with EU mayors and other local and regional authorities the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. 17 April 2020. The UfM Secretariat participated in an online discussion organised by PLATFORMA, the pan-European coalition of towns and regions, along with their national, EU and global associations that are also active in city-to-city and region-to-region development cooperation. This online meeting was held to discuss the actions of the EU and the local governments, municipalities and regions to address the challenges presented by COVID-19, as they represent some of the main authorities acting on the… read more
More than 100 experts and representatives from international organisations participated in the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) online consultation on the future of the Blue Economy in the Mediterranean region. Taking into account the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, they provided more than 350 recommendations in key sectors such as governance, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, renewable energies, marine litter, blue jobs and safety and surveillance. Their inputs will help to prepare the upcoming meeting of the UfM ministers in charge of Blue Economy, foreseen in 2020. 20 April 2020. The Mediterranean is in an alarming situation, warming 20% faster than the world… read more
10 April 2020. The UfM Secretariat participated in the virtual meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI) Management Board to discuss potential responses to the educational challenges and opportunities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific proposals on issues such as new relevant study programmes or the digital transformation of teaching and training were developed in preparation of the EMUNI Senate meeting, set to take place on 20 April also by videoconference. The members of the board congratulated the EMUNI network for the two projects recently selected for EU funding. The VISION project will address the future of teaching and training for creativity,… read more
