Barcelona, 30 June, 2016. The Mediterranean is facing challenges on an unprecedented scale that are linked to terrorism, extremism and uncontrolled migration, but also to pressing environmental and socio-economic issues such as climate change and youth unemployment. There is also a largely untapped potential of opportunities ready to be seized in the region. Effective regional integration is more essential than ever in order to ensure a better socio-economic future for the Mediterranean, a necessary condition for stability in the region. Under the leadership of the UfM Co-Presidency, held by the EU and Jordan, and the active involvement of all Member… read more
Barcelona, 29 June 2016. The Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean strongly condemns the terrorist attacks perpetrated at the Airport of Istanbul yesterday. It presents its condolences to the families of the victims and expresses its profound solidarity with the people and the Government of Turkey and with all victims of terrorism. The Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean reiterates its firm condemnation of all acts of terrorism, extremism and violence. It reaffirms its unshakeable faith in the values of dialogue and peace and joins the international community in the fight against terrorism and the defense of universal… read more
• The Senior Officials of the Union for the Mediterranean met for the third time during this year in Amman, Jordan, back-to-back with the 1st UfM Ministerial Meeting on Regional Cooperation and Planning. • The UfM Senior Officials approved four new regional cooperation projects, bringing the total number of UfM-labelled projects to 45…. read more
The UfM Secretariat is partnering with France’s Agency for Environment and Energy Management (ADEME) in the launch of a competition to foster public initiatives promoting adaptation to climate change impacts…. read more
Twenty-two young women from around ten Southern Mediterranean countries, selected on the basis of their background and ambition to develop a culture of gender equality, took part in a two-week training course on equality and leadership, in Paris and Strasbourg from 9 to 20 May…. read more
Today, at the Dead Sea in Jordan, Ministers of International Cooperation and Planning from the 43 member countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) defined key steps to enhance the impact of regional cooperation…. read more
• UfM Secretary General, Fathallah Sijilmassi, participated in the 1st International Conference on Preventive Diplomacy, organised at the initiative of the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, José Manuel García-Margallo. • Sijilmassi discussed ways to reinforce preventive diplomacy in the Mediterranean with Ministers of Foreign Affairs and other dignitaries and experts from the region, including Spanish MFA J.M. García-Margallo, Morocco’s Minister Delegate Mbarka Bouaida, and Egypt’s Assistant MFA Hisham Badr…. read more
• The Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM) underlines “the pivotal role played by the UfM in promoting regional cooperation and regional integration in the Mediterranean”. • UfM Secretary General Sijilmassi welcomes the election of Italy as the new Presidency of the PA-UfM and reaffirms the Secretariat’s commitment to continue building operational synergies and complementarities between the two institutions. • The UfM Ministerial Meeting on Regional Cooperation and Planning is taking place this week in Jordan (2 June) to reinforce the regional dimension of the current and future cooperation initiatives…. read more
• Youth unemployment in those under 25 years of age is approximately 50% in Spain, where around 22% of young people abandon the school system. • The aim of Second Chance Schools of Spain (E2O) is to construct a recognised national model through an innovative pedagogical approach addressed at unemployed young people without any qualifications. It is already working successfully in other Mediterranean countries under the UfM-labelled project New Chance Mediterranean Network (MedNC). • The Spanish Association of Second Chance Schools (E2O), formed in March this year, met today, in its first national meeting, with more than 150 representatives in… read more
• UfM Secretary General Sijilmassi participates in the ‘I Medtink Forum – Dialogue 5+5’ at Palau de Pedralbes, Barcelona. • The Forum agrees on the creation of the ‘Med Think 5+5’, a network of think tanks promoted by IEMed…. read more