The ministers for research and innovation from the member countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) met in Malta on Thursday 4 May together with European Commissioners Carlos Moedas (Research, Science and Innovation) and Karmenu Vella (Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries), Jordan's Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan and UfM Secretary General Fathallah Sijilmassi.
This high-level meeting, which focused on "strengthening Euro-Mediterranean cooperation by research and innovation", was the opportunity, according to an official press release, to set out a framework for dialogue for "identifying innovative solutions" and "creating more opportunities for young people". The common objective is "to contribute to meeting the most urgent challenges currently facing the Mediterranean region".
The participants thus spoke about the issue of mobility and underlined "the deep-rooted causes of migration". They "encouraged a coordinated approach at regional level in order to increase the mobility of researchers and students, and to set up common platforms for the collection and analysis of data, while exploiting existing tools to best advantage". They hailed several emblematic regional initiatives ("PRIMA – the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area" and "BLUEMED" – the initiative for blue jobs and growth in the Mediterranean) referring to all sea-related activities.
A declaration, known as the Valletta Declaration, was adopted by the ministers. This includes "many commitments on research and innovation approved at recent UfM ministerial conferences, including those on employment and labour, on the environment and climate change, and on water and the blue economy".
This Valletta Declaration "also addresses several challenges addressed in the Tunis Declaration (31 March 2017) by the 5+5 Dialogue (Western Mediterranean) ministers for research, innovation and higher education" setting out a "work programme" and cooperation for the 2017-2018 period. (Original version in French by Fathi B’Chir)