The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation receives the Secretary General of the UfM
- The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Arancha González Laya, and the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), Nasser Kamel met today in Madrid to discuss ways to strengthen regional cooperation under the framework of the UfM.
- They signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the Union for the Mediterranean to promote joint cooperation initiatives in priority sectors for the region linked to the sustainable development agenda.
March 11, 2020. Spanish Foreign Minister González Laya and UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel took stock and analysed the future prospects for cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean region, twenty-five years after the launch of the Barcelona Process.
The Minister expressed Spain’s firm commitment to support the work of the Union for the Mediterranean in view of the challenges facing the Euro-Mediterranean region, and its willingness to contribute to strengthening regional cooperation under the framework of the UfM. The Memorandum of Understanding that both parties signed embodies this commitment and represents an important step in a year that marks the 25th anniversary of one of the most important milestones in cooperation between the countries on both sides of the Mediterranean.
The agreement provides a solid basis for strengthening collaboration and coordination of mutual efforts in the implementation of initiatives, projects and activities aimed at supporting development initiatives and strategies in the countries on the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean. The two parties will cooperate and coordinate actions in areas closely linked to the objectives of sustainable development in the region, particularly in the areas of gender equality and women’s empowerment, youth employability and education, water resources, urban development, and environment and climate action.
The UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel, stressed that: “This agreement between AECID and the UfM will allow for greater dialogue and synergies to strengthen cooperation between both sides of the Mediterranean in a year in which we celebrate the anniversary of the Barcelona Process. The strong leadership and pivotal role that Spain is playing as host country of the Union for the Mediterranean is essential to advance UfM’s action on gender equality, sustainable growth and climate action “.
Through this agreement, the UfM and AECID agree to regularly exchange relevant information, jointly promote projects, support events, as well as organize study visits and exchange of experiences between officials and experts in the different fields of action.
More Information
About the 25th Anniversary of the Barcelona Process: https://ufmsecretariat.org/25bcnprocess/
