The UfM Conference on Digital Transformation took place on December 18, 2023 in Tangier, focusing on the development of digital ecosystems across the region and their potential to accelerate the green transition. The Union for the Mediterranean has been actively engaged in promoting digital connectivity, skills, and innovation in Member States, especially since the first UfM Conference on Digital Transformation in Tallinn in 2019. 18 December 2023, Tangier – The Union for the Mediterranean partnered with the German Development Cooperation and the AfricaMed Business Forum to hold the UfM Conference on Digital Transformation, which focused on the role of digital transformation in… read more
The 3-hour online workshop, co-organised by the UfM’s Social and Civil Affairs and Higher Education and Research divisions, saw more than 100 online participants discuss the challenges and opportunities surrounding Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) in universities and STEM. Key sessions focused on the importance of GEPs in universities, emphasising their pivotal role in securing funding and fostering inclusivity in academia. The workshop facilitated dialogue on developing effective GEPs and tailoring them to the Mediterranean context. 12 December 2023 – The Union for the Mediterranean’s Social and Civil Affairs and Higher Education and Research divisions co-organised a 3-hour online workshop on Gender… read more
The UfM Secretariat co-organised two activities in Turin, the Workshop on Platform Economy together with the German Development Cooperation and the European Training Foundation as well as the 6th Meeting of the UfM Community of Practice on Youth Employment in the Southern Mediterranean. The Euro-Mediterranean Region has enormous human capital, yet the proportion of young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) remains structurally high, especially in Southern Europe and the MENA region. Digitalisation and connectivity remain both skewed and insufficient in the Southern Mediterranean. 12-14 December 2023, Turin – The Union of the Mediterranean partnered with the German… read more
The 2023 UfM Trade and Investment Forum is the Forum’s 5th edition in five successive years, attesting to the emphasis the UfM places on facilitating trade and promoting investment to foster economic development and integration in the region. The Forum comes at a time when global economic, political and humanitarian disruptions are posing serious challenges that call for a regionally coordinated response that is innovative, sustainable and inclusive. 4 December 2023, Brussels – This year’s edition of the UfM Trade and Investment Forum, co-organised with the German Development Cooperation and made possible by the UfM Regional Platform on Trade and… read more
5 December 2023 – The Union for the Mediterranean held the First Online Conference on Digital Transformation of the Water Sector in the Mediterranean, a valuable platform for stakeholders to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and explore innovative solutions for water institutions and utility service providers in the region. This conference also served as a first step for a Roadmap Towards Digitalisation of the Water Sector in the Euro-Mediterranean Region as UfM Member States deem it essential to formulate effective strategies to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and address pressing water-related issues in the region. Participants discussed the Mediterranean region’s unique water management challenges, which… read more
EBRD, EIB, UfM, EC, AFD, CDP, KfW, donors and beneficiary countries sign cooperation agreement at COP28 Blue Mediterranean Partnership to support transition to a sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean region Partnership to start operating in early 2024 Partners aim to mobilise at least €1 billion in investments At COP28, partners and donors involved in the Blue Mediterranean Partnership reinforced their support for developing the sustainable blue economy in the southern Mediterranean region. The parties involved signed a letter of intent to make their participation in the Partnership official and to make the Partnership operational in early 2024. The Blue… read more
The Women in Fintech: Bridging the Gender Gap webinar, organised by UfM with the support of GIZ, was held on November 30, 2023, allowing 40 online participants to discuss the challenges and opportunities for women in this field. The event served as a platform for comprehensive exchange on key aspects of the fintech landscape. The facilitator and participants discussed the evolution of fintech, the management of fintech start-ups, risks, regulations, ethics, governance, and an action plan on gender-lens in fintech for the Mediterranean Region. November 30, 2023 – The Women in Fintech: Bridging the Gender Gap webinar brought together 40… read more
The second meeting of the UfM Regional Platform on Employment and Labour for 2023 was held over two days in Berlin with the participation of multiple stakeholders and interlocutors from the region. Perspectives from UfM Member States, regional organisations and projects and Social Partners were shared with the participants towards identifying best practices and building meaningful complementarities. Berlin, 30 November – 1 December 2023. As part of the Roadmap 2022-2025 for the Implementation of the 5th UfM Ministerial Declaration on Employment and Labour of 18 May 2022, the UfM focal points convened at the German capital over two days for… read more
Barcelona, November 28, 2023. The Spanish National Organisation of the Blind (ONCE) unveiled its Day of the Mediterranean-themed charity lottery ticket at the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) headquarters in Barcelona. Five million tickets, known as ‘cupones’ in Spanish, will be printed with the phrase ‘Find the Mediterranean in your city’ to mark the day. The ticket was presented to UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel by Patricia Sanz, third Vice-president of the General Council of ONCE. The Day of the Mediterranean, November 28, is an annual opportunity to promote intercultural exchanges, celebrate cooperation, embrace diversity and strengthen ties between both… read more
Foreign Affairs Ministers of the 43 Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) gathered today in Barcelona for the 8th UfM Regional Forum. The critical situation in Israel and Gaza-Palestine as well as the consequences this is having across the region were discussed. The event was chaired by Josep Borrell, the High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, and Ayman Safadi, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan. It was hosted by José Manuel Albares, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation… read more
