3 October 2024, Cairo, Egypt – Officials from the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), European Commission, and the League of Arab States (LAS) met yesterday in Cairo to advance the role of science in foreign affairs under the High-level Meeting on Science Diplomacy. In a region facing increasing cross-border challenges such as climate change, food and water security, and energy resources, science and innovation could play a significant role in bringing regional actors together. Participants discussed approaches to strengthen research infrastructures, mobility and training, and science advice for foreign policy. Held at the LAS Secretariat, the meeting was attended by… read more
2 October 2024, Cairo, Egypt – The 4th UfM Energy and Climate Business Forum took place in Cairo, bringing together senior national and inter-governmental officials, international financial institutions leaders, and private sector actors in the field of sustainable energy from across the Mediterranean. Held in the heart of Cairo, the Forum showcased the participant’s strong will for collaboration on innovative financing solutions and highlighted potential opportunities for sustainable energy transition and climate actions. The Forum, organized in collaboration with the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), was held on the sidelines of the Cairo Sustainable Energy Week… read more
26 September 2024, Barcelona – Senior officials from the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) gathered today in Barcelona, to address several key topics, including the reform of UfM and its next steps. Launched in 2023, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the organisation, the reform process aims at reshaping a renewed vision and priorities for the UfM, in view of enhancing its role, impact and efficiency across the Euro-Mediterranean region. The meeting addressed the most pressing challenges across the region, notably the alarming situation in the Middle East. The 9th UfM Regional Forum, gathering the Foreign Ministers of the UfM… read more
26 September 2024, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), in partnership with the German Development Cooperation and the European Commission, hosted the second edition of the Future of Work Workshop in Sarajevo. The event brought together over 70 participants, including youth, policymakers, and private sector representatives from 22 UfM Member States. Edin Forto, Bosnia’s Minister of Communications, opened the event, expressing hopes for deeper collaboration with the UfM. Discussions focused on future workforce opportunities and challenges, particularly in green and digital transitions. The European Training Foundation shared insights on global labour market trends and future… read more
25 September 2024, Rome – The University of Palermo hosted the Third Mediterranean Student Summit from September 26 to 28, bringing together nearly 30 students from across the Mediterranean region and Ghana. This three-day event, organized by UNIMED – Mediterranean Universities Union and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), provided a space for peer-to-peer exchanges and discussions on student engagement, a core priority for UNIMED. The Summit aimed to enhance mutual understanding among students and empower them as advocates for the Mediterranean by fostering discussions on key topics relevant to academic cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean region. With students from the Mediterranean… read more
18 September 2024, Helsinki, Finland. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), in collaboration with the European Commission and key regional partners, successfully concluded the Mediterranean Youth Forum: Building Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystems. Held from September 16-18, 2024, in Helsinki, the forum brought together over 140 participants, including young entrepreneurs, policymakers, and private sector representatives from across the Mediterranean region. This three-day event emphasized the importance of engaging youth in driving social innovation, digitalization, and sustainable economic recovery. The forum builds upon the UfM’s commitment, as outlined in the Marrakech Ministerial Declaration, to leverage youth potential for inclusive growth, innovation, and green recovery…. read more
9-10 July 2024, Cairo, Egypt – The Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), with the support of the German Development Cooperation and Climate & Company, organised the UfM Workshop on Sustainable Supply Chains on 9-10 July 2024. The event, also supported by the Egyptian Commercial Service (ECS), aimed to present and discuss the latest initiatives highlighting the importance of supply chain considerations in defining sustainable economic activities and underscoring the need for enhanced value chain reporting. The workshop emphasised the necessity of collaboration between Mediterranean partner countries and the European Union (EU) to meet its environmental targets and… read more
16 July 2024, Online – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) successfully held its third and final Youth Focal Points Network meeting, focusing on “Youth Engagement in Policies on Social Inclusion and Participation”. The session began with opening remarks from the UfM Co-Presidency, represented by Mr. Fakhri Altwal from Jordan’s Ministry of Youth and Ms. Maria Teresa Castillo Campo from the EU Commission’s DG NEAR. Following this, UfM Deputy Secretary General for Social and Civil Affairs, John Paul Grech, delivered introductory remarks. Ms. Giulia Maria Ferraresi, Project Analyst in the same division, presented UfM’s efforts towards a Regional Agenda on… read more
Within the framework of the 2024 Summer School for Young Diplomats held in Montenegro, the UfM Secretariat hosted a Workshop on Economic Diplomacy bringing together high-profile keynote speakers. The Summer School saw a record participation with young diplomats from 46 countries from the UfM Region and beyond. 23-28 June 2024, Kolaši and Podgorica (Montenegro). Building on the first edition of the UfM Seminar: Economic Diplomacy as a lever for regional integration in the Euro-Mediterranean which was co-organised with the Policy Centre for the New South (PCNS) (Rabat, 20-21 July 2023), the UfM Secretariat is organizing a workshop titled “Advancing Common… read more
25 June 2024, Online – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Regional Platform on Industrial Cooperation convened online on 25 June 2024. The meeting was co-chaired by the European Union (EU) and Jordanian UfM Co-presidencies and hosted by the UfM Secretariat. It brought together senior officials from the UfM Member States responsible for industrial cooperation, Small Business Act (SBA) coordinators, and representatives from embassies and international organisations. The session was officially opened by Ms Outi Slotboom, Director for Strategy and Economic Analysis at the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (DG GROW); Ms Wafa Jiries,… read more
