Held in the framework of the celebrations of the Day of the Mediterranean, unanimously endorsed by all UfM Member States in 2020, the 7th Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Regional Forum took place in Barcelona. During the meeting, the UfM Foreign Affairs Ministers agreed on the need to further intensify regional cooperation and integration to face the high unemployment rates, the climate emergency and the imbalanced growth in a disintegrated region – all which the war in Ukraine has ultimately deteriorated. UfM Foreign Affairs Ministers endorsed a ministerial declaration on the accession of North Macedonia to the Union for the Mediterranean and welcomed the new Member State to the organization.

The Forum also hosted a Euro-Mediterranean youth meeting organised by the UfM Secretariat and the Anna Lindh Foundation. The young people, coming from civil society organizations from across the Mediterranean, presented their aspirations and proposals to the foreign ministers in order to develop concrete solutions for enhanced sustainability, prosperity and integration in the region. More than 200 young civil society representatives from 20 countries had worked on these proposals throughout 2021 and 2022.

The meeting was also an opportunity to share an overview of the progress made since the adoption of the five priorities of action agreed on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Process in 2020, namely environmental and climate action, sustainable and inclusive economic and human development, social inclusiveness and equality, digital transformation, and civil protection.