News

Ahead of the 2025 UfM Ministerial on Employment and Labour, representatives of the UfM Member States convened in Porto to take stock of milestone in the implementation of the 2022 Marrakech Declaration, to discuss the key findings of the UfM Community of Practice on Monitoring, and to exchange best practices on Youth Employment ahead of the coming Ministerial. The UfM Region faces several employment-related challenges in the aftermath of major socio-economic and geopolitical disruptions, but several initiatives and best practices from the region can inform our collective efforts going forward. The Declaration of the upcoming Ministerial envisages for October 2025… read more

6 May 2025. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is launching a call for exemplary university-led initiatives in the fields of Architecture and Urban Planning that contribute to sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban development in the Mediterranean region. Selected case studies will be featured in an upcoming UfM publication focused on greening the curricula in architecture and planning schools across the Euro-Mediterranean region. This initiative is part of the UfM Strategic Urban Development Action Plan 2040, aiming to highlight innovative academic practices that address today’s most pressing urban challenges—while bridging the gap between academia and society. This call seeks to… read more

 The UfM Forum “Green Entrepreneurship: A Pathway to Sustainable and Inclusive Employment” Forum explored the intersection of green entrepreneurship and just transition. It highlighted EU-funded regional initiatives supporting the green economy, social entrepreneurship, and economic inclusion of women and youth. The Forum was jointly organised by the European Commission and the Business Development Centre (BDC) on behalf of the UfM Co-Presidency. It is part of the UfM Roadmap on Employment and Labour (2022–2025), reflecting the UfM’s ongoing commitment to fostering a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient Mediterranean region. Amman, 30 April 2025. The Mediterranean region is advancing green entrepreneurship and digital… read more

9 to 12 June 2025, Sicily. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) has announced its support for the upcoming 1st Mediterranean Agroecology Congress (AEMED), scheduled to take place from 9 to 12 June 2025, in Agrigento, Sicily, Italy’s 2025 Capital of Culture. The event will gather scientists, policymakers, practitioners, farmers, and civil society representatives from across the Mediterranean and beyond to discuss agroecology as a holistic response to contemporary environmental and societal challenges. “Agroecology is a solution: it simultaneously faces the causes and challenges of the mitigation and adaptation to the climate crisis and all the related effects on human… read more

22 April 2025, Barcelona. The Union for the Mediterranean has been awarded one of the Catalan government’s highest distinctions, the Creu de Sant Jordi (‘Sant George’s Cross’), for its “outstanding work in promoting cooperation and dialogue among Mediterranean countries.” The UfM joins the ranks of 21 individuals and 10 organisations who have been recognised this year for their exceptional contributions to Catalonia due to their civic and cultural impact. Headquartered in Barcelona’s Palau de Pedralbes, the UfM strengthens ties between 43 Northern, Southern and Eastern Euro-Mediterranean Member States, bringing them to the same table to address pressing regional challenges ranging… read more

Barcelona, 11 April 2025 — Over 80 project promoters, partners, beneficiaries, entrepreneurs, and donors from 11 UfM countries gathered today in Barcelona to review the state-of-play and the progress of the UfM Grant Schemes, which have provided over €3 million in funding to support employment, green jobs, and entrepreneurship among youth and women in the region. Organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in partnership with the German Development Cooperation, and supported by the European Commission (DG EMP), the UfM Grant Schemes’ Stakeholders Dialogue showcased success stories, best practices and explored future opportunities for scaling up regional cooperation through… read more

10 April 2025, Barcelona – For the second consecutive year, development actors from across the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) gathered in Barcelona for the Annual Meeting of UfM Development Actors to strengthen their collective response to regional challenges through enhanced cooperation. Opening the meeting, UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel highlighted the urgency of delivering tangible benefits for the region’s people, reaffirming that “cooperation and coordination remain as the only path” to achieving shared ambitions. Hosted at the UfM Secretariat, UfM development actors  agreed on mapping the expertise and capacities available across the region that can be leveraged for more… read more

Barcelona, 9 April 2025 — The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) today convened its National Focal Points Meeting on Higher Education at its headquarters in Barcelona, bringing together representatives from over 20 UfM Member States and all major regional higher-education stakeholders. The meeting marked a decisive moment in the path toward building a stronger and more coordinated Euro-Mediterranean higher education space. The meeting was opened by UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel, who highlighted the transformative power of education and the need to match political rhetoric with concrete action. “Higher education is one of the most strategic investments we can make… read more

8 April 2025, Online – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) held an online session of the UfM Regional Platform on Research and Innovation to officially launch Working Groups (WGs) led and participated by UfM Member States. These WGs aim to develop concrete initiatives and action plans to support the implementation of the UfM R&I Roadmaps, in preparation for the next Ministerial Conference in 2026. The launch reflects the commitment of UfM Member States to develop a more inclusive R&I agenda able to generate impact on Mediterranean societies and economies. The session featured interventions from representatives of over 16 countries,… read more

7 April 2025. The Women in AI Awards is an initiative aimed at celebrating and empowering women-led AI projects. Organized by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in partnership with allWomen and supported by the German Agency for International Development Cooperation (GIZ), the awards seek to elevate the visibility and impact of women innovators shaping the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI). By recognizing groundbreaking projects that tackle pressing challenges and drive innovation, the initiative contributes to a more inclusive and diverse AI ecosystem—one where ideas thrive, collaboration strengthens, and opportunities multiply. Despite the growing contributions of women in AI, they… read more