Foreign Ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean discuss the critical situation in Gaza-Palestine and Israel at the 8th Regional Forum in Barcelona
- 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 of Spain in the presence of Nasser Kamel, the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean. Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee.
- The UfM was founded fifteen years ago to promote regional dialogue and cooperation in view of creating a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Euro-Mediterranean area. It was launched as a continuation of the Barcelona Process, building on the hope of the Oslo Accords.
Barcelona, 27 November 2023. The 8th Union for the Mediterranean Regional Forum took place today at Barcelona’s Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site. This year’s event centred around the critical situation in Gaza-Palestine and Israel, and its consequences across the region. The 43 UfM Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the dramatic situation on the ground and the way forward.
The 8th UfM Regional Forum took place in the framework of the 15th anniversary of the organisation, built on the acquis of the Barcelona Process and its goals of shared peace, stability and prosperity in the Euro-Mediterranean area.
“[These goals] can only be attained through a well-rooted peace in the Middle East, built only and exclusively on the two-state solution,” UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel underlined.
The UfM has established itself in the last decade as the leading multilateral institutional framework for dialogue and cooperation in the Mediterranean, with projects and initiatives ranging from fostering women’s empowerment, job creation, trade facilitation to urban development, climate action and environmental protection.
UfM SG further added: “There is definitely a before and an after the 7th October for Mediterranean cooperation and for the Union for the Mediterranean: Israel and Palestine are founding members of our organisation, and this leads us to actively reflect on the role of the UfM in building a long-lasting peace for these two independent states, based on the promotion of concrete projects and initiatives that would help consolidate this peace. The UfM, as a regional framework, can and should be, the keystone in shaping the future of the region.”
Audiovisual materials
- Opening session and press conference:
- Family photo, photos, videos, and list of Heads of Delegations: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16vqT6P-ACxeL8lK5ovSRWGziTf5Y4Fbs
