News

5 December 2023 – The Union for the Mediterranean held the First Online Conference on Digital Transformation of the Water Sector in the Mediterranean, as a valuable platform for stakeholders to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and explore innovative solutions for water institutions and utilities in the region. This conference also served as a first step towards a Roadmap Towards Digitalization of the Water Sector in the Euro-Mediterranean Region, as the UfM member countries deem the development of a roadmap essential to formulate effective strategies to achieve the SDG 5 and address the pressing water-related issues in the region. The Mediterranean… 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 financial support of GIZ, was held on November 30, 2023, allowing 40 online participants to engage with and delve into the challenges and opportunities for Women in Fintech. The event served as a platform for comprehensive exchange on key aspects of the fintech landscape. The facilitator and the participants discussed the evolution of fintech, 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… 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

Naples, 15 November 2023. Innovation, employability, and the green transition are interrelated challenges that require cooperation across societal pillars, such as universities and research centers, industry and governments, as highlighted in the UfM Ministerial Declaration on Research and Innovation (2022). In order to explore policies and initiatives that contribute to this dialogue, a conference was organized by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), also as part of the activities part of the Mediterranean Day (28 November). The primary aim was to explore the requirements and possibilities for strengthening collaborative endeavors among Academia,… read more

The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), within the framework of the 3rd edition of the Mediterranean Youth Academy, hosted an Event on Youth Engagement for a Sustainable Mediterranean for leaders, international and civil society organisations, and youths, which took place in Barcelona between the 6 to 9 November 2023. A hundred young people from some 20 Euro-Mediterranean countries discussed how to increase youth involvement in the green and digital transitions, the workforce and decision-making bodies. Participants endorsed the 2030 UfM Youth Agenda: Call for Action, a set of 12 proposals and recommendations for public and private institutions aimed at strengthening… read more

30-31 October 2023, Cairo. The fourth edition of the EU-UfM-African Development Bank Conference on Water Finance and Investments took place on 30 and 31 October as part of the Cairo Water Week. Water security is of utmost importance to the Euro-Mediterranean region and Africa: access to clean water, sustainable management, and the ability to combat droughts, floods, and water pollution are essential to their overall wellbeing and socioeconomic prosperity. These challenges were highlighted from a financial perspective at this event within the broader context of the interdependencies binding water to energy, food, and environmental sustainability — the WEFE nexus. This… read more