The Jordanian and European co-presidencies on the sixth regional forum of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) on Monday 29 November highlighted their determination to work together in a spirit of partnership.
The 6th Forum took stock of the progress made in recent years, particularly in the five priority areas agreed at the 5th Regional Forum in 2020: environmental and climate action, sustainable and inclusive economic and human development, social inclusion and equality, digital transformation and civil protection (see EUROPE 12611/3).
After a year 2021 focused on climate action, UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel hoped that 2022 would be the year of employment and regional integration, noting that the Mediterranean was one of the least economically integrated regions in the world. Ministerial meetings covering employment and labour, research and innovation, sustainable urban development and transport are planned in 2022.
The co-chairs also considered, in their joint declaration, that the UfM was well placed to play “a constructive role in assessing and addressing the needs related to the economic and social aspects of post-Covid reconstruction that require cross-border solidarity”.
At the Forum, Ministers also discussed the main findings of the first comprehensive report on the state of play of Euro-Mediterranean integration, which covers five areas: trade, finance, infrastructure, movement of people and research and higher education.
In addition, alongside the meeting, a new three-year agreement was signed between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Arab States and the Union for the Mediterranean to work together on climate action, economic integration and support for women and youth.
See the Co-Presidents’ statement: https://bit.ly/3xDkkge
See the report on integration: https://bit.ly/3oZJjpm (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)