News

23-25 April 2018, Barcelona. The Mediterranean region is one of the world’s climate change hotspots where the rise of temperature by 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels, the lower limit not to be surpassed as agreed through the Paris Agreement, is at risk of being exceeded in the coming years. The UfM Climate Week taking place these days in Barcelona is gathering a wide range of actors (UfM members, UNFCCC -United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change- and European Union representatives, youth networks, international financial institutions, scientific experts…) around different topics, all related to climate action in the Mediterranean region. It’s the opportunity… read more

18 April 2018, Bilbao. The Spanish Association of Second Chance Schools (Asociación Española de Escuelas de Segunda Oportunidad) organised on the 18th of April in Bilbao, the 3rd National Meeting of Second Chance Schools which, on this occasion, took a European dimension by gathering as well Second Chance Schools of France and Portugal with which cooperation has been initiated…. read more

17 April 2018. The Mediterranean Sea is one of the areas most affected by marine litter in the world. The impact of this pollution on marine biota within marine protected areas, including on endangered species, remains poorly addressed. However, it is clear that prevention and mitigation measures are urgently needed…. read more

Ljubljana, 11th April, 2018. Ljubljana has hosted the Creative Forum Ljubljana, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in collaboration with the Union for the Mediterranean. The conference was focused on the role of the creative sector in modern society, with particular emphasis on opportunities in the Western Balkans and the southern Mediterranean. The event brought together creative people from EU member states, the southern Mediterranean and the Western Balkans. The conference focused on youth and employment opportunities for young people in culture and the creative sectors, which provide jobs for almost 30 million people around the world, and… read more

5-7 April 2018, Marrakech. Improving access to prevention, early detection and treatment of women’s cancers is essential to contribute to women’s empowerment in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region, where too many women unnecessarily die from breast, cervical and ovarian cancer. The Women’s Cancer Days were hosted by the Moroccan Government and organized by the Pan-Arabian Research Society for Gynaecologic Oncology (PARSGO) in partnership with the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the World Health Organisation (WHO) collaborating Center for Cancer Early Diagnosis and Screening/CPO Piemonte Turin /Italy, the University Hospital Berlin Charité and the University Hospital of Hassan II Casablanca…. read more

22  March 2018. World Water Day, on 22 March every year, is about taking action to tackle water-related issues. This year’s theme explores the need to preserve nature to overcome water challenges such as environmental damage, water pollution and water scarcity. The Mediterranean region is one of the most water-scarce areas in the world and freshwater, together with the pollution of the existing resources, has reached alarming levels, with more than more than 180 million people being considered water poor and an additional 60 million facing water stress. Promoting regional partnerships and creating sustainable cooperation mechanisms on water use is needed to reverse this… read more

The desalination plant will supply drinking water to 2 million Palestinian inhabitants, thereby ensuring a sustainable solution for the chronic and longstanding water shortage and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, where over 95% of the water is not drinkable due to the over-pumping of a polluting Coastal Aquifer International donors pledged €456 million to the project (more than 80% of the total cost), which will make possible to start the biggest ever infrastructure project in the Gaza Strip. Brussels, 20 March 2018. Today, the European Commission and the Government of Palestine, in partnership with the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), hosted… read more

Brussels, 19 March 2018. – The 43 member countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) convened today in Brussels at the 10th Trade Ministerial Conference, where they gave a new impulse to economic integration in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The Ministerial Conference was held under the UfM Co-Presidency of Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Trade, and Yarub Qudah, Jordanian Minister of Trade, Industry and Supply, in the presence of Jorge Borrego, UfM Acting Secretary General. The level of regional economic integration in the Euro-Mediterranean region remains amongst the lowest in the world. Eight years have passed since the last Trade Ministerial… read more

                9 March 2018, Paris.- The Secretary-General Ad. Interim of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), M. Plácido Plaza, received at the CIHEAM’s Headquarters in Paris, Mr. Saïd Bhira the Special Counsellor to the Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean on Higher Education and Research. This meeting was the opportunity to discuss cooperation activities on Higher Education and Research, and to identify avenues of collaborations related to climate change, women empowerment, and migrations issues. Working on an increased exchange of expertise, information and publications on these issues is also… read more

Representing more than half the total population, women and young people constitute one of the greatest assets for stability and development in the Euro-Mediterranean region. According to recent studies, if the participation of women in the labour market equalled that of men, the regional GDP could rise by as much as 47% over the next decade. That means the region could realize an economic impact of around €490 billion annually. Following up on the recent UfM Ministerial Meeting on “Strengthening the role of women in society”, 2018 will witness the launch of new regional projects as well as the 4th Regional… read more