Taking place for the 7th time, the UfM Women Business Forum is a yearly regional platform that offers female entrepreneurs and women-led businesses a unique opportunity to take their businesses to the next level. In these last four editions, the UfM Women Business Forum has benefited from successful cooperation with UNIDO. The entrepreneurial gender disparity in the MENA region remains extreme as only 5% of businesses are led by women compared to the global average of between 23% and 26%. These numbers show the immense potential for growth as well as the evident need for change This year, the Women… read more
6-7 October, 2023, Tunis. The UfM Workshops on Rules of Origin were held in Tunis on October 6-7, 2023 to provide both government and private sector stakeholders in Tunisia with insights into rules of origin, including transitional rules, and information on specific Harmonized System Codes relevant to various industries operating within pertinent trade agreements. Organized by the Union for the Mediterranean with the support of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), more than 40 participants attended, with Ms. Alicia Figueroa from GIZ representing the UfM. The workshops were divided into two distinct sessions, one for government officials and another for private… read more
3 October 2023, Barcelona – The Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Science Diplomacy, co-organised by the Union for the Mediterranean in partnership with the European Commission, took place with the aim of highlighting state-of-art of science diplomacy in the Mediterranean, its obstacles and opportunities, and discussing future steps. More than 80 people from 22 countries attended, including scientists, diplomats, and research and innovation officials who had been welcomed the evening prior to Antoni Gaudí’s La Pedrera to learn about La Pedrera Foundation’s Science Academy. Participants exchanged ideas on highly relevant topics such as research infrastructures, mobility and training, and science advice for… read more
6 October 2023, Barcelona. The Mediterranean region is currently grappling with the challenge of over 80 million hectares of degraded land. Moreover, more than 400,000 hectares of forests are lost to wildfires each year, placing at least 16 animal and plant species in Mediterranean forests at the brink of extinction due to environmental threats, including climate change. Also, land abandonment rates in the Mediterranean have surged, reaching as high as 30%. This alarming trend not only jeopardizes our cultural landscapes but also threatens the invaluable services they provide. From 2nd- 6th October, the Young Leadership Programme Mediterranean 2023 (YLPMED 2023)… read more
3-4 October, 2023, Rabat. The UfM Workshops on Rules of Origin were held in Rabat on October 3 and 4, 2023 to impart knowledge of trade regulations to both government and private sector stakeholders in Morocco. Organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) with the support of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), they provided insight into rules of origin, including the new transitional rules, and information on specific Harmonized System Codes relevant to various industries operating within pertinent trade agreements. Deputy Secretary General Dr. Abdelkader El Khissassi from the Economic Development and Employment Division represented the UfM at the… read more
14-15 September 2023, Trieste – Organised by the European House/Ambrosetti Forum, the first edition of the forum Risorsa Mare was organised in collaboration with the Italian Ministry for Civil Protection and Sea Policies. The Secretary General was invited to exchange with Roberta Giani (Editor-in-chief, Il Piccolo), in a session on the economic, social and geopolitical challenges of the Euro-Afro-Asian Basin. During his intervention, SG Kamel underlined the main challenges faced in the Euro-Mediterranean area, namely the regional integration and the economic crisis, social inequalities, and the climate emergency. He further noted that these three challenges, which gravely impact the region,… read more
16-21 September 2023, New York – UfM Secretary-General Nasser Kamel attended the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he highlighted the Union for the Mediterranean’s initiatives and solidified its partnerships with key UN institutions and agencies, including the UNDP. He also held meetings with several Foreign Affairs Ministers from Member States. The theme of the general debate this year was “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all.” António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, inaugurated the General Assembly… read more
22 September 2023 Marseille. The UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel, concluded the 6th edition of the “Mediterranée du Futur” Conference, organized by the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region on Friday, September 22, 2023, in Marseille. The theme of this 6th edition was “Every Drop Counts: Water is Life.” It brought together around 50 private and public actors from Euro-Mediterranean and international backgrounds to discuss water-related issues. It also pushed for the creation of a new macro-regional strategy to address common issues in the Mediterranean basin and strengthen the Mediterranean’s influence and visibility within the EU. The Secretary General also participated… read more
Led by the Government of Italy, in collaboration with the UfM and PRIMA, a session on the Mediterranean Diet and its lessons for the world, was held on 24 July in Rome, in the framework of the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment. On its margins, UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel participated as well in the high-level 4th Annual Summit of the European Corporate Council on Africa and the Middle East (ECAM). 24 July 2023, Rome – The UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment took place in Rome, Italy from 24 to 26 July 2023, at the premises… read more
July 2023, Barcelona – Research and innovation are key for innovating the Mediterranean economies and for employing its students and researchers. Structured dialogue between academia, business sector and policymakers is a powerful way to connect this sector more closely with the regional sustainable economy agenda. While the region experiences high rates of graduate unemployment, 32% of enterprises in some Southern Mediterranean countries have identified labour skill levels as a major constraint to hiring. With the support of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) has launched since 2020 a series of activities facilitating exchanges between the… read more
