16 December 2024, online – The UfM Webinar and Workshop on Violence against Women and Girls with a focus on Safety in Public Transports was held online on 16 December 2024, following the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism against Violence against Women and Girls. Transport safety and security are inherently gender-sensitive issues. Women’s transport behaviour across all modes is significantly shaped by safety concerns, which are more pronounced than those of men. Studies reveal that the majority of women worldwide feel unsafe on public transport, with many reporting incidents of verbal or physical harassment when using it or moving… read more
19 December 2024, Online – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), co-organized with the German Cooperation Agency (GIZ), successfully held a webinar titled Driving Gender-Lens Investment: Unlocking the Potential of Women-Led Social Enterprises in the MENA Region, on 19 December 2024. The Webinar, which had registered 60 participants, was structured into two main segments: the Presentation of Key Findings from an ongoing study on gender-lens investment, and a Panel Discussion featuring a diverse range of stakeholders. The session was designed to offer both insights and actionable recommendations aimed at fostering the growth of women-led enterprises in the region, while also… read more
11 December 2024, Athens. The UfM capacity building on gender equality and climate change event, held on December 11, 2024, in Athens, aimed to address the intersection of gender equality and climate change, focusing on empowering women entrepreneurs in the MENA region to overcome challenges in finance and market access, particularly in green and blue sectors. The event saw participation from around 30 women entrepreneurs in green and blue economy from the MENA region, alongside the trainer, experts, and representatives from Civil Society. It provided a platform for women to engage in practical exercises and discussions, focusing on topics such… read more
11-12 December 2024, Cairo, Egypt – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Secretariat, supported by German Development Cooperation, successfully concluded the UfM Seminar on Refugee Entrepreneurship: Addressing Economic Recovery Amidst Conflict on 11-12 December 2024 in Cairo. The seminar convened a diverse group of regional stakeholders to explore the pivotal role of refugee entrepreneurship in stimulating economic growth in both host nations and countries of origin. Discussions centred on effective strategies to empower and support refugee entrepreneurs. In his opening remarks, Said Charna, Senior Economic Advisor at the UfM Secretariat, emphasised the significance of the seminar’s theme and the necessity… read more
The 10th meeting of the UfM Community of Practice on Youth Employment saw the last brushstrokes on a charter that presents a comprehensive framework meant to guide youth employment initiatives in the Southern Mediterranean. Since its first edition in 2018, the UfM Stakeholders Dialogue has become a regular gathering of multiple stakeholders from both shores of the UfM region to discuss best practices and success stories in the fields of job creation, skill development, matching and startup support. Aswan, 15-17 December 2024. The UfM, together with the German Development Cooperation, organized the fourth edition of the UfM Med4Jobs Stakeholders Dialogue… read more
28 November 2024, Brussels, Belgium – The 8th meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean’s (UfM) Regional Platform on Trade and Investment took place on 28 November 2024 at the European Commission’s premises. The event brought together senior trade officials from across the region, along with various experts from the European Commission. The meeting opened with speeches by Ms. Mercedes Bonet, Deputy Head of Unit for Southern Neighbours, Middle East, Turkey, Russia, and Central Asia in the Directorate-General for Trade at the European Commission, and Ms. Wafa Jiris, Director at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply of Jordan, who… read more
25-29 November 2024, Fes, Morocco. From November 25–29, 2024, the city of Fes, Morocco, became a hub of creativity and collaboration as 61 young leaders from 21 UfM Member States gathered for the UfM Med Youth Lab 2024. The initiative was organized by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), with the support of the German Development Cooperation, in collaboration with the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fes (UEMF) and in partnership with Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF) and the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed). Hosted at the modern UEMF Campus, this five-day initiative empowered participants aged 18–30 to create innovative solutions addressing some of the region’s most pressing… read more
4-5 December 2024, Larnaca. Cyprus. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the European University Cyprus (EUC) signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas of common interest, notably in the field of civil protection and disaster risk management. The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the Nicosia Risk Forum 2025, held in Larnaca, Cyprus, with UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel, and EUC Rector, Professor Andreas Efstathiou, representing their respective institutions. This agreement aims to foster collaboration through initiatives including official visits and expert exchanges, joint projects and consultations, seminars and workshops, the exchange… read more
Matera (Italy) and Tetouan (Morocco) have been named the 2026 Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue, a yearlong distinction that celebrates the cities’ rich cultural heritage and shared Mediterranean vision, by the Union for the Mediterranean and the Anna Lindh Foundation. A first edition of the initiative will kick off in the northern capital of Tirana (Albania) and the southern capital of Alexandria (Egypt) next year with collaborative exchanges, including conferences, sporting events, and cultural performances, that engage both local and Euro-Mediterranean artists and civil society. The online call for applications for the 2027 edition will open in January. The… read more
Barcelona, 25 November 2024 – Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Secretary General Nasser Kamel took part in the “Diálogos para la Seguridad” event organised by El País in Madrid. The event featured discussions and talks by a number of distinguished speakers on the complex geopolitical and security challenges facing Europe and the Mediterranean region; from the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Palestine conflict, to irregular migration, radicalization and disinformation. In a dedicated session on the situation in the Mediterranean entitled “Una mirada sobre el Mediterráneo”, the UfM Secretary General shared his assessment of the impact of the ongoing geopolitical crises… read more
