News

120 people have gathered for a two-day Union for the Mediterranean and Office of the Commissioner for Gender Equality of Cyprus event to assess the economic empowerment of women, gender-just responses to the climate crisis, violence against women and girls, and gender inequality in the media across the Euro-Mediterranean region. The conference facilitated debates surrounding the central themes of the 2022 UfM Ministerial Declaration on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society and help operationalise its 2024-2025 Roadmap for Implementation. Despite great strides towards gender equality, another 150 years are needed to attain full parity in the Middle East and… read more

30-31 May 2024, Ben Guerir, Morocco. The 4th Meeting “UfM Advisory Group Meeting – Network of Schools of Architecture of the Euro-Mediterranean Region”, hosted by the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic in Ben Guerir, Morocco on 30-31 May 2024, built on the concrete outcomes of this cooperation, and served to further consolidate the group with a view to create consortiums of schools from the region to participate in EU calls among other joint activities. The Advisory Group aims to set in motion the process of review and update of curriculums of schools across the region, improving teaching methodologies to better respond to… read more

22 May 2024, online – In alignment with the priorities set by the UfM Youth Agenda, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is organising a series of three online meetings in 2024 of the UfM Youth Focal Points Network. These virtual gatherings aim to explore how young people from the Mediterranean region can be actively and impactfully involved in policy-making processes related to the three thematic priorities of the UfM Youth Agenda: (i) Climate Action and Environment; (ii) Education and Employment; and (iii) Social Inclusion and Participation. The inaugural meeting took place online on 22 May, focusing on Youth Engagement… read more

The International Road Federation (IRF) and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) mark a milestone in their collaboration by signing an agreement aimed at reinforcing their partnership in advancing road transport and mobility. 23 May 2024, Leipzig. With a rich history of collaboration spanning over the years, the IRF and UfM have come together at the sidelines of the annual Summit of the International Transport Forum to formalise their commitment to mutual cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This strategic alliance will allow them to pool their expertise and resources, address pressing challenges and seize opportunities in the… read more

The first gathering of the Blue Med Partnership’s donors, implementing partners, and beneficiary countries took place in Barcelona, with parties identifying a remarkable portfolio of sustainable blue economy investments in Morocco, Egypt and Jordan. The Mediterranean Sea generates more than $450bn annually and is a vital resource for 480 million people in 22 countries. It is also warming at a rate 20% faster than the global average and is threatened by pollution and overexploitation. 23 May 2024, Barcelona. The steering committee of the Blue Mediterranean Partnership (BMP), a partnership that aims to tackle the Mediterranean Sea’s severe environmental threats by… read more

As a region warming at a rate 20% faster than the global average, the Mediterranean is particularly vulnerable to issues relating to environmental degradation, extreme weather phenomena, and energy crises. The Mediterranean Green Week, which took place in Istanbul from May 14 to 16, provided 150 people with a platform to explore how to best address pressing sustainability-related challenges in an effective and holistic manner. 14-16 May 2024, Istanbul. The first-ever edition of Mediterranean Green Week: Towards a Greener and More Resilient Mediterranean, co-organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the OECD, kicked off in Türkiye. Attracting some… read more

Comprising over 70 per cent of land use in most cities, housing is evidently central to future cities and urban development. Housing is central to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 11: ‘Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Access to dignified housing is recognized in various fundamental human rights texts, and by several national constitutions. Dublin, 15-16 May 2024. The Third Meeting of the UfM Thematic Working Group on Affordable and Sustainable Housing held in Dublin, Ireland on 15-16 May 2024, shared successful policy measures to boost housing affordability and ensured a comprehensive overview of national… read more

16 May 2024, Lisbon, Portugal. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and NOVA University of Lisbon, in collaboration with the Portuguese National Erasmus+ Agency, organised the UfM Higher Education Stakeholders’ Meeting, which took place on 16 May 2024 in Lisbon. The event was attended by approximately 40 participants, including university rectors and directors of regional higher education networks. The opening of the event featured remarks from Fernando Alexandre, Portuguese Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, João Sàágua, Rector of NOVA University, and Itaf Ben Abdallah, UfM Senior Advisor on Higher Education and Research. Additionally, there were online contributions from representatives… read more

15 May 2024, Barcelona, Spain. – The 7th meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean’s Regional Platform on Trade and Investment was held at its headquarters in Barcelona. The event gathered senior trade officials from across the region along with various international organisations involved in European Union-funded cooperation projects. The meeting was inaugurated with speeches from Ms. Mercedes Bonet, Deputy Head of Unit at the European Commission, and Ms. Wafa Jiris, Director at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply of Jordan, who co-chaired the session. Mr. Abdelkader El Khissassi, Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, also… read more

15 May 2024, Berlin, Germany – As the partnership between the UfM Secretariat and the German Development Cooperation enters its 6th year, the UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel embarked on a working visit to Berlin, Germany, where he held meetings with Mr. Carsten Schmitz-Hoffmann, Director General for Europe, Mediterranean and Central Asia at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). UfM Secretary General Kamel praised the modality of GIZ’s engagement as a team fully integrated into the UfM Secretariat, setting an example that has been attracting other donors and development cooperation agencies. In reply, Mr. Schmitz-Hoffman highlighted the important role… read more