Barcelona, 5–7 October 2026 – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) brought together governments, universities, research institutions, international organisations, students and regional partners in Barcelona for the first UfM Higher Education and Research Week, three days of dialogue on the future of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in higher education, research and innovation. “Knowledge is a force for peace. It complements politics, and it can keep channels open during geopolitical tensions. Science gives us a common language,” said Fadi Hajali, Secretary General a.i. of the Union for the Mediterranean, opening the stakeholder consultation on 6 October. The Week brought together more than 160… read more
Toledo, Spain, 5–6 October 2026. The 6th UfM Social Dialogue Forum brought together over 60 representatives of governments, employers’ organisations, trade unions and regional partners to discuss the role of social dialogue in advancing inclusive labour markets and managing economic and digital transitions across the Mediterranean. The UfM was represented by Deputy Secretary General for Economic Development and Employment Meltem Büyükkarakaş, who delivered an opening address highlighting social dialogue as a strategic tool for building consensus and shaping economically sound and socially sustainable policies. Discussions also addressed labour mobility, equal opportunities, skills development and the importance of strengthening social partners’… read more
The training gathered national authorities, industry from the cement, steel and fertilizer sectors, verification bodies and technical experts from 14 Southern and Eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkan partner countries, the economies whose exports to the EU market are directly concerned by the mechanism. With the first EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) compliance cycle approaching, importers will purchase certificates from February 2027 for goods imported in 2026, and discussions focused on verified emissions data, the choice between actual and default values, and the forthcoming EU rules on deducting carbon prices paid in third countries. 29 September 2026, Barcelona. The Union for… read more
The Rome Initiative on Water will facilitate the implementation of sustainable water systems in the Mediterranean region by improving the mobilisation of investments and technical assistance. The 2nd UfM Ministerial Meeting on Water provided the organisation’s 43 Member States with strategic guidance to achieve the water-related UN Sustainable Development Goals. The 2nd UfM Ministerial Declaration on Water – endorsed today – calls for greater cross-border cooperation. The Mediterranean faces mounting water challenges driven by climate change, environmental degradation and demographic pressures. Water stress is already a reality in all Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries, while 70% of Southern Europe’s population… read more
UfM grant contributions will go to four projects supporting women entrepreneurs, SMEs, cooperatives and social economy actors across Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine and Tunisia. This announcement comes as development agencies and government representatives gathered in Barcelona for the 3rd Annual Meeting of UfM Development Actors to discuss how to work together more effectively and combine funding and expertise to turn shared regional priorities into practical initiatives with greater impact. 25 September 2026, Barcelona. The UfM has awarded four projects under its third Grant Scheme for the promotion of inclusive digital trade, mobilising over €1M in grant contributions to help businesses… read more
Cairo, Egypt, 23–24 September 2026 – How can governments and stakeholders better address the interconnected challenges of gender inequality, climate change and conflict? This question was at the centre of a regional workshop on “Women, Peace and Security and Climate Change in the Arab Region: Operationalizing Policy Coherence for the Gender–Climate–Conflict Nexus”, held in Cairo on 23–24 September. Convened by the Union for the Mediterranean, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in partnership with UN Women, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA), the… read more
Paphos, Cyprus, 16 September 2026. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) has officially launched the Preparedness and Response Working Groups of its Regional Platform on Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Management, marking a new step in the implementation of the UfM Regional Action Plan on Civil Protection. The Working Groups provide Member States with permanent structures to jointly identify priorities and translate them into concrete cooperation, technical activities and stronger coordination before and during emergencies. The launch took place in Paphos during the first fully fledged activity of the Cyprus Regional Aerial Firefighting Station (CRAFS), a regional initiative designed to… read more
Barcelona, 15 September 2026. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is pleased to launch a call for proposals for side events and invites organisations interested in contributing to the Pavilion programme to submit proposals for side events at the Mediterranean Pavilion during the UN Climate Change Conference COP31, taking place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026. The deadline for submissions is 1 October 2026. Coordinated by the UfM in partnership with regional institutions, the Mediterranean Pavilion is a shared space within the conference’s official Blue Zone, dedicated to bringing Mediterranean climate challenges and solutions to the global… read more
9-10 September 2026, Barcelona, Spain – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), in partnership with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), has launched the first cohort of the Research2Business (R2B) Programme with a two-day Bootcamp hosted at StartUB!, the University of Barcelona’s entrepreneurship hub. The regional programme aims to strengthen research commercialisation across the Mediterranean by supporting research teams in transforming applied knowledge and scientific discoveries into viable, market-ready innovations. Through structured commercialisation support, mentoring, expert guidance, regional ecosystem engagement, and links to collaboration and funding opportunities, R2B seeks to bridge the gap between research and entrepreneurship. The… read more
6 September 2026, Amman. The last of seven Antalya Mediterranean Climate Dialogue consultations took place today at the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Jordan. Co-organised by the Embassy and UfM alongside the host country, the initiative aims to promote a unified Mediterranean voice ahead of the conference, with conclusions from these talks consolidated into a Mediterranean Synthesis Note that will be presented in Antalya this November. As a hotspot warming 20% faster than the global average, the wider Mediterranean region, including Jordan, faces growing climate and environmental pressures that underscore the urgent need for enhanced regional cooperation on… read more
