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Union for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfM
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    • The Union for the Mediterranean is an intergovernmental institution bringing together the European Union Member States and 16 countries from the Southern and Eastern shores of the Mediterranean to promote dialogue and cooperation.

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    • The UfM seeks to enhance regional cooperation, dialogue and the implementation of concrete projects and initiatives with tangible impact on our citizens to address three strategic objectives: human development, stability and integration.

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    • The UfM Secretariat is the operational platform of the Union for the Mediterranean. The staff of the UfM is made of more than 17 nationalities working in a multicultural environment that fosters cooperation and intercultural communication and exchange.

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      9 May 2026 – Agence Europe (EN) – The fire season that never ends – by Joan Borrell Mayeur
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      9 May 2026 – Agence Europe (FR) – Une saison des feux qui n’en finit pas – par Joan Borrell Mayeur
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      7 May 2026 – Al-Dustour – حرائق غابات المتوسط على وشك أن تبدأ مجدداً… بلا حدود
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Voices of the Mediterranean

This year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, a historic milestone that marked the beginning of the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and which later led to the creation of the Union for the Mediterranean. 

 Twenty-five years later, to make visible the importance of cooperation and development in our region, as well as highlight a common Mediterranean identity, personalities from all walks of life – politics, institutions, sportsmen and women, musicians, writers, scientists, explorers – 

share here their personal journey in the Mediterranean and their hopes for this region. A region where they have grown up, lived and witnessed a unique history, culture and way of being.

As you go through the different stories and opinion articles, you will see how our similarities are bigger than our differences and how “together” is the only way forward.

Josep Borrell: High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union and Vice-President of the European Commission / Ayman Safadi: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan / Nasser Kamel: Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean

“25 years later: What’s next for the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation?”

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero

Former Spanish President

“United in the face of new challenges”

María Teresa Fdez. de la Vega

President of WomenxAfrica, Former Spanish Vicepresident

“Blazing a new trail”

Elisabeth Guigou

President of the Anna Lindh Foundation, Former French Minister

“Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Process”

Blanca Moreno-Dodson

CMI Manager

“Enhancing mediterranean integration”

Oded Rose

Founder & CEO Eastern Mediterranean International School Foundation

“EMIS: The School for Change”

Ara Malikian

Lebanese musician and violinist

“The Mediterranean light leads you to have a different kind of life”

Apostolos Tzitzikostas

Co-president of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly
and President of the European Committee of the Regions.

“Better future for the Euro-Mediterranean region continues to inspire”

Lina Khalifeh

Taekwondo champion and founder & owner of the self-defence studio “SheFighter”

“When you empower a woman, you empower a nation”

Bertrand Piccard

Psychiatrist, aviator and balloonist

“Exploration is fundamental if we want to progress”

Romano Prodi

Former Italian Prime Minister, and President of the European Commission (1999-2004)

“25 years of common objectives to gather both shores of the Mediterranean”

Maria Snoussi

Professor at the Department of Earth Sciences of Mohammed V University in Rabat and also President of the French IRD Scientific Council

“Solidarity between peoples is the only way forward”

Fathallah Sijilmassi

Former Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (2012-2018)

“Why regional cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean-African region matters more than ever before”

Mohamed Boudra

Mayor of Al Hoceima, President of the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Communal Councils, President of United Cities and Local Governments

“25 years on from the Barcelona Process, an opportunity to alter the paradigm of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation”

Gaetano Leone

Coordinator, Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme, Barcelona Convention Secretariat

“A beacon of hope”

David Sassoli

President of the European Parliament since 2019

“Europe and the challenges of the Mediterranean region”

Ángel Gurría

OECD Secretary General

“A multilateral region”

Alan Geaam

Franco-Lebanese Michelin-starred chef

“Sharing and blending flavours, the Mediterranean way”

Mazen Ghunaim

Head of Palestinian Water Authority. Member of the Arab Council of water ministers

“The EUROMED Partnership: cooperation and solidarity shaping a shared future”

Miguel Ángel Moratinos

High Representative for Alliance of Civilizations, UN

“The Mediterranean 25 years later”

Marina Sereni

Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

“The Mediterranean Must Come Back in Our Political Radar if We Want a Stronger Europe”

Habib El Malki

Moroccan politician of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces party

“EUROMED: What does the future hold?”

Mohamed Lessir

Ancien Ambassadeur de Tunisie, Expert en Géopolitique à l’Institut Tunisien des Etudes Stratégiques, Président du “Cercle Diplomatique” de Tunise

“The 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Process”

Olivér Várhelyi

European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

“EU-Southern Mediterranean: Working towards prosperity and stability for all”

Karim Amellal

French Ambassador to the Mediterranean

“The Mediterranean Must Come Back in Our Political Radar if We Want a Stronger Europe”

Najat Vallaud-Belkacem

Director of ONE France, Former French Education Minister

“Post-pandemic lessons and a compass for
the future”

Felipe VI

His Majesty the King of Spain

“25th Anniversary of the Barcelona Process”

Hussein Fahmy

Actor, director and humanitarian ambassador

“A serene Mediterranean way of life”

Pedro Sánchez

President of the Spanish Government

“Let us establish the foundations for the Union of the Mediterranean’s future”

Ouided Bouchamaoui

President of UTICA, 2015 Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate

“Two Mediterranean shores, united”

Noora Abdeen-Khalifeh

Designer, businesswoman

“The Mediterranean is a great portal of stories”

Maïssa Bey

Writer

“A melting pot of the world’s civilisations”

On air on Medi1TV

 Watch the news channels of the world live – medi1tv.com

Go to the main 25-year Barcelona Process Anniversary Page

Who we are

  • Member States
  • Meet the team
  • Partners
  • History
  • Transparency and accountability
  • Transparency and access to information
  • Investigating fraud, corruption and misconduct

What we do

  • Economic Development & Employment
  • Higher Education & Research
  • Social & Civil Affairs
  • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
  • Transport & Urban Development
  • Energy & Climate Action
  • Day of the Mediterranean
  • Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue

How we work

  • Policy Framework
  • Regional Platforms
  • Projects and Initiatives

Work with us

  • Vacancies
  • Secondments
  • Internships
  • Procurement

Info centre

  • Media corner
  • News
  • Agenda
  • Publications and key documents
  • Stories of Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation
  • Photo gallery
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Co-financed by the European Union
  • Who we are
    • Member States
    • Meet the team
    • Partners
    • History
    • Transparency and accountability
      • Transparency and access to information
      • Investigating fraud, corruption and misconduct
  • What we do
    • Economic Development and Employment
    • Higher Education & Research
    • Social & Civil Affairs
    • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
    • Transport & Urban Development
    • Energy & Climate Action
  • Initiatives that build bridges
    • Day of the Mediterranean
    • Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue
  • How we work
    • Policy Framework
    • UfM Regional Platforms
    • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • Vacancies
    • Secondments
    • Internships
    • Procurement
    • Roster of experts
  • Info centre
    • Media center
    • News
    • Agenda
    • Publications and key documents
    • Human Stories of the Mediterranean
  • Contact
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Union for the Mediterranean – UfM

 

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