Strasbourg, 7 July 2016. Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of European Commission met today with the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Fathallah Sijilmassi, to exchange views on activities of the UfM. HRVP Mogherini and Secretary General Sijilmassi discussed the preparations for the second UfM Regional Forum – an annual conference of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs from all 43 UfM Member states (due in November). Secretary General Sijilmassi informed the High Representative/Vice President about the progress in preparation of the UfM Road Map, a strategic document which will provide the framework for… read more
EU and Mediterranean partner countries face common challenges when it comes to climate change, economic growth, foster the social inclusion and strengthen local development. To discuss on opportunities and ways of cooperation within the forestry sector Mr. Almotaz Abadi (Water & Envionment Division) and Dr. Enrique Doblas (CREAF research coordinator and manager of the MENFRI project) met on the 23rd of May 2016 at the UfM headquarters in Barcelona. The Mediterranean Network of Forestry Research and Innovation is well placed to contribute to forestry issues. At the same time the discussion touched also upon the opportunity to create an expert… read more
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
