UFM

The Union for the MediterraneanThe Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is a

multilateral partnership that encompasses 43 countries:

the 27 member states of the European Union and 16 Mediterranean partner countries from North Africa the Middle East and

the Balkans and the Arab League .It was created in July 2008 as a re launched Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (the Barcelona Process) in 2008, when a plan to create an autonomous Mediterranean Union was

dropped .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EU27-2008-Union_for_the_Mediterranean.svg

Aim and 6 ProjectsThe Union for the Mediterranean is the southern regional cooperation branch of the ENP.

Its Eastern counterpart is the Eastern Partnership.

The Agenda:Politics and Security AffairsEconomics and Trade AffairsSocio-cultural AffairsJustice and Interior Affairs.

6 projectsIn addition to these four chapters of cooperation, the 43 Ministers of Foreign Affairs gathered in Marseilles on November 2008 identified six concrete projects that

target specific needs of the Euro-Mediterranean regions:

Number 1De-pollution of the Mediterranean: This broad project encompasses many initiatives that target good environmental governance, access to drinkable water, water management, pollution reduction and protection of the Mediterranean biodiversity.

Number 2Alternative energies: Mediterranean solar plan. The goal of this project is to promote the production and use of renewable energies.

More specifically, it aims at turning the Mediterranean partner countries into producers of solar energy and then circulating the resulting electricity through the Euro-Mediterranean region.

Number 3Higher education and research: Euro-

Mediterranean University .

Number 4Civil protection. The civil protection project aims at improving the prevention, preparedness and response to both

natural and man-made disasters .The ultimate goal is to "bring the Mediterranean Partner Countries progressively closer to the European Civil Protection Mechanism.

Maritime and land highways. The purpose of this project is to increase and improve the circulation of commodities and people throughout the Euro-Mediterranean region by improving its ports, and building

highways and railways .

Specifically, the Paris and Marseilles Declarations refer to the construction of both a Trans-Maghrebi railway and highway systems, connecting Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

7-Social and civil affairs

ChallengesThe ongoing Political Transition and Revolutions in the Arab States.The Middle East Conflict ,

Cyprus-Turkish Conflict Western Sahara Problem and absence of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Algeria.

A need for another Arab Coordination Mechanisms more efficient than current

structures .

Opportunities

FundingThe European Commission contributes to the Union for the Mediterranean through the European Neighborhood Policy Instrument (ENPI). In July 2009 the ENPI allocated €72 million for the following Union for the Mediterranean projects during 2009–2010

De-pollution of the Mediterranean €22 million.Maritime and land highways €7.5 million.Alternative energies:

Mediterranean Solar Plan €5 millionEuro-Mediterranean University of Slovenia €1 million

The European Investment Bank 

The InfraMed Infrastructure Fund. 

The World Bank has allocated $750 million for the renewable energy project through the Clean Technology Fund.

THANKS