The UfM Secretariat and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development discussed with EU mayors and other local and regional authorities the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. 17 April 2020. The UfM Secretariat participated in an online discussion organised by PLATFORMA, the pan-European coalition of towns and regions, along with their national, EU and global associations that are also active in city-to-city and region-to-region development cooperation. This online meeting was held to discuss the actions of the EU and the local governments, municipalities and regions to address the challenges presented by COVID-19, as they represent some of the main authorities acting on the… read more
More than 100 experts and representatives from international organisations participated in the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) online consultation on the future of the Blue Economy in the Mediterranean region. Taking into account the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, they provided more than 350 recommendations in key sectors such as governance, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, renewable energies, marine litter, blue jobs and safety and surveillance. Their inputs will help to prepare the upcoming meeting of the UfM ministers in charge of Blue Economy, foreseen in 2020. 20 April 2020. The Mediterranean is in an alarming situation, warming 20% faster than the world… read more
10 April 2020. The UfM Secretariat participated in the virtual meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI) Management Board to discuss potential responses to the educational challenges and opportunities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific proposals on issues such as new relevant study programmes or the digital transformation of teaching and training were developed in preparation of the EMUNI Senate meeting, set to take place on 20 April also by videoconference. The members of the board congratulated the EMUNI network for the two projects recently selected for EU funding. The VISION project will address the future of teaching and training for creativity,… read more
8 April 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic is prompting questions for the water supply and sanitation sector globally and with a special focus on the Mediterranean, already under stress due to the water scarcity caused by the climate crisis. The UfM and the Institut Méditerranéen de l’Eau (IME) met online for the first brainstorming session on the water, sanitation and COVID19, along with 25 partners and experts from Lebanon, Spain, France, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. This is the first of a series of meetings to exchange views on the water emergency response to the pandemic as well as to give policy recommendations on how to move forward. … read more
UfM Member States met this week to discuss actions to tackle the COVID-19 crisis through research and innovation as well as a strategic regional cooperation approach to accelerate evidence-based healthcare decision-making. 8 April 2020. Conscious of the pressure that COVID-19 puts on health systems, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is exploring ways to speed and scale-up actions in the field of research and innovation. This was the objective of the virtual meeting of the UfM Regional Platform on Research and Innovation, held earlier this week. The wide spectrum of initiatives announced by the European Commission and UfM Member States showed the potential for regional cooperation in terms of establishing collaborative platforms, clinical data collection and access, creation of common databases on technologies and joint development of industrial research solutions and medical treatments/vaccines. The need for a strategic regional cooperation approach regarding the socio-economic implications was also underlined. UfM Secretary General,… read more
7 April 2020. This year, on World Health Day, we celebrate the work of nurses and midwives, and recall the critical role they play in keeping the world healthy. From China to Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa and beyond, unprecedented and firm policy measures have been taken to limit the rapid spread of the COVID-19. In the meantime, scientific, medical and pharmaceutical communities across the globe have stepped-up their efforts to deliver treatments and care for the sick. Restlessly, they have been providing high quality treatment and care, leading community dialogue to address fears and interrogations and, in some instances, collecting data for clinical studies. Put… read more
1 April 2020. The economic impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the world economy could be even worse than that of the 2008 recession according to leading think tanks and experts, with expectations of a deceleration of global growth, which will be hit by a projected loss of over 1 trillion dollars in the year 2020. The OECD estimates that for each month of containment, there will be a loss of 2 percentage points in annual GDP growth. The tourism sector alone faces an output decrease as high as 70%. This global recession will not be spread evenly across the globe, and the UfM region in particular is… read more
27 March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic challenges our health and our economy and calls for the closest international cooperation to manage its impact. One of the most pronounced effects of this pandemic is the intensification of economic inequalities within the UfM region and beyond. In addition to the higher unemployment rates among groups with higher economic vulnerability, such as women and young people, the pandemic ushers the region – and the world- into a recession in 2020. Conscious of the scale and scope of this challenge, the UfM is pursuing its existing actions for a healthier development and preparing to call upon its vast community of partners and stakeholders – government representatives, regional organisations, civil society, businesses and… read more
23 March 2020. The unprecedented situation created by the rapid spread of COVID-19 disease around the world, reminds us that global threats know no borders. Some of the fastest and most concerning outbreaks of cases recorded are now found in some Euro-Mediterranean countries. COVID-19 is caused by a virus that is unique in many ways, and understanding more about it is fundamental to be able to reduce fear and increase proactivity. Despite this, the collective response of our citizens has shown we possess tools of great power, more important than ever: resilience and solidarity. Through this statement, the Union for the… read more
Freshwater availability is likely to decrease by 15% in the coming decades, causing important constraints for agriculture and human use in an area already suffering from water scarcity. The Mediterranean population classified as ‘water-poor’ is expected to increase to over 250 million, within 20 years. The UfM Water Agenda aims to ensure that each and every Euro-Mediterranean country receives the necessary technical, administrative, and financial recommendations to help achieve water security for its population and their economic activities. Barcelona, 17 March 2020. On World Water Day, held under the thematic “Water and Climate change”, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) emphasises the… read more
