News

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

21-22 November 2023, Marseille – The European Commission (Directorate-General Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion of the European Commission, DG EMPL) organised the 5th Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Social Dialogue Forum on 21-22 November 2023 in Marseille on behalf of the Union for the Mediterranean Co-Presidency. The Forum, held every three years, gathered representatives from employers’ and workers’ organisations from UfM partner countries, Euro-Mediterranean Social Partner organisations, as well as representatives from the UfM Co-Presidency, the UfM Secretariat, the European Commission and other experts. Since 2010, the UfM Social Dialogue Forum actively contributes to the development of a strong, independent… read more

15-16 November 2023, Cairo. The Union for the Mediterranean held the National Workshop on Digital Transformation in Cairo on 15 and 16 November 2023 with the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation and in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Estonian ICT Cluster. With over 60 experts and participants from various backgrounds in attendance, this two-day event allowed for discussions on how to enhance the digital transformation and for the exchange of best practices and ideas based on the experiences of Estonia and Egypt. This event, like the e-Governance National Workshops conducted… read more

Brussels, November 15-16, 2023 – The 7th UfM Task Force on Environment convened in Brussels and online, bringing together national representatives and regional stakeholders to deliberate on crucial environmental issues pertaining to the Euro-Mediterranean region. Chaired by the EU and Jordanian Co-Presidency alongside the UfM Secretariat, the meeting highlighted significant developments across various fronts as described in the 2030 GreenerMed Agenda. Delegates engaged in joint discussions focused on the upcoming COP28 for Climate Change and COP16 for Biodiversity, as well as the implementation of the approved Global Biodiversity Framework. The exchange allowed Member States to outline the priorities and needs… read more