News

7 July 2025, Barcelona. – An open call for universities across the Euro-Mediterranean region to step up their role in addressing the climate emergency has just been launched, coordinated by Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and UNIMED – Mediterranean Universities Union. The Euromed University Initiative for Climate Action, set to be officially unveiled at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, invites higher education institutions to endorse a shared Manifesto for climate action. The initiative underscores the urgency of academic leadership, as the Mediterranean region faces accelerating impacts from climate change, warming 20% faster than the global average. The call encourages universities to… read more

Brussels, 8 July 2025. Senior Officials from the Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) gathered today in Brussels for a Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) focused on advancing the organisation’s new strategic framework for the coming years. The new UfM strategy is expected to be formally adopted in November 2025 during the UfM Regional Forum in Barcelona, where Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Union for the Mediterranean will convene to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, a landmark initiative for structured Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. During the meeting, Member States also discussed the EU Pact for the Mediterranean. Senior Officials underlined the importance of… read more

2-3 July 2025, Athens, Greece. Tourism accounts for over 11% of employment in the Mediterranean region, making it a key economic driver. On 2–3 July 2025, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), in partnership with the German Development Cooperation and the European Commission, convened a regional conference under the title “The Tourism Sector: Employment-Related Opportunities and Challenges”. The event gathered 100 participants from 24 UfM Member States, including policymakers, business leaders, academics, and practitioners. The goal: promote successful initiatives and foster cooperation across sectors to shape a more resilient, inclusive tourism sector. Three thematic panels shaped the discussions during the… read more

27 June 2025, Girona, Spain – The UfM Higher Education Stakeholders’ Meeting, titled “Greening Education in the Mediterranean – A Cross-Cutting Challenge for Universities”, convened over 40 academic leaders and experts from across the region to advance preparations for a bold new initiative: the Euromed University Initiative for Climate Action. Held within the framework of the 2nd Mediterranean Green Week, the event was co-organized by the UfM, UNIMED, and the University of Girona. A key outcome of the meeting was the collaborative development of a draft Manifesto for a Euromed University Initiative for Climate Action. This document, soon to be… read more

26 June 2025, online. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) convened the Regional Platform on Transport Connectivity and its thematic Working Groups on Land, Air, and Maritime Transport and Logistics in an online session on 26 June 2025. The meeting brought together national transport coordinators and focal points from UfM Member States, along with representatives from key regional and international organisations, to assess and advance the implementation of the Regional Transport Action Plan for the Mediterranean (RTAP) 2021–2027. Co-chaired by the UfM Co-Presidency – comprising the European Commission’s DG MOVE and the Jordanian Ministry of Transport, the event follows up on… read more

 26 June 2025, Brussels — The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) successfully concluded the 2nd Mediterranean Green Week (24–26 June 2025, Brussels), where policymakers, experts, youth leaders, and stakeholders from across the Euro-Mediterranean region gathered to reaffirm their commitment to a just and inclusive green transition. Key highlights included the announcement of the first-ever UfM Energy & Climate Action Youth Delegates, empowering young leaders to help shape climate and energy policy, drive innovation, and co-create solutions for a just energy transition. High-level sessions and working groups covered critical topics such as clean energy transition, regional energy security, climate adaptation and… read more

26 June 2025, Barcelona – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and AllWomen have launched a new regional community to empower women researchers to take the lead in shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Mediterranean. The initiative is supported with funding from GIZ, the German development agency, in the framework of its partnership with the UfM. Unveiled this week, the community focuses on equipping women working in AI and data science with the skills, confidence, and networks to influence public policy and ensure that technological innovation serves inclusive, sustainable development across the region. Through hands-on training, mentorship,… read more

19–20 June 2025, Madrid. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), in collaboration with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the National Office for Science Advice of Spain (ONAC), organised a two-day training programme on “Science for Policy: Building Capacity in the Mediterranean.” Held at the Spanish Prime Minister’s Office – La Moncloa – the event brought together almost 30 early-career researchers and scientists from across the Euro-Mediterranean region to enhance their engagement in evidence-informed policymaking. The training is part of a wider UfM effort to foster regional integration through strengthened science-policy cooperation, in line with the UfM Ministerial… read more

18-20 June 2025, Tirana, Albania. –The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) reinforced its commitment to intercultural dialogue and regional cooperation by co-organising key sessions at the Anna Lindh Foundation’s ALForum 2025 in Tirana. Through its participation, the UfM highlighted the central role of cities, creative communities, and academic cooperation in fostering shared values across the Euro-Mediterranean region. Highlighting cities as drivers of dialogue and inclusion On 19 June, the UfM and ALF co-hosted the session “Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue: Cities Leading Intercultural Transformation.” The discussion that counted with the participation of UfM’s Coordinator for the initiative, Mr Ayman… read more

10 to 12 June 2025, Zaragoza – Women play a fundamental role in Mediterranean agro-food systems, being actively involved in agriculture, fisheries, and rural development, and generating essential economic activity in many areas of the region. Even though significant progress has been made in the last decade, there is still much work to be done to empower women and strengthen their engagement in these sectors. The International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies in Spain (CIHEAM Zaragoza) and Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), with the collaboration of CIHEAM General Secretariat and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), are organising the… read more