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TunisiaEU reaffirms its commitments in the Mediterranean region at first UfM Ministerial on Regional Cooperation
June 3, 2016
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Ministers of International Cooperation and Planning from the 43 member countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) gathered at the Dead Sea in Jordan on Thursday 2 June to define key steps to enhance the impact of regional cooperation.
EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn underlined the opportunities held by regional cooperation and integration to increase economic growth and job creation in the Mediterranean region, and outlined the support that the recently revised European Neighbourhood Policy offers to this. “The EU is fully committed to the development partnership with this region, and will help implement the vision of a region that collaborates, is integrated and inter-connected, while delivering on national specific priorities.”
Following the ministerial meeting, several emblematic initiatives were launched: the EU initiatives for financial inclusion, with a worth of €150 million access to finance for new entrepreneurs in the region; the Civil Society Fellowship Programme with the first 20 young civil society leaders meeting with Commissioner Hahn at the Dead Sea; and a €90 million renewable energy programme with Jordan, demonstrating how bilateral and regional efforts and policy agendas can meet and be mutually supportive.
Ministers recognised the need to boost economic integration among the countries in the region as one of the means to create opportunities for the necessary inclusive growth and job creation.
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