the Ministerial Meeting of the Mediterranean ministers Group in Paris

The Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Sijilmassi took part Friday in Paris, at the ministerial meeting of the “Mediterranean group” alongside the heads of diplomacy of France, Spain, Portugal , Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Malta.

Ms. Frederica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Vice-President of the EU and Elisabeth Guigou, President of the Foreign Affairs Committee and President of the Anna Lindh Foundation also attended the meeting.

According to a statement of the UfM, this meeting was an opportunity to discuss the challenges in the region, particularly in light of the security instability prevailing situation in Libya and Syria, which has consequences for the entire regional security.

Ministers also stressed the importance of deepening the three priority themes for the region, namely the development of intercultural dialogue ever closer between the two shores of the Mediterranean, support for youth, and fight against the disorders climate, energy and environmental issues, particularly in the context of the COP 21 to be held in Paris in December 2015.

On this occasion, Sijilmassi presented the activities of the UfM Secretariat in these three areas. In this sense, it was agreed that the Secretariat General of the UfM organize before the end of a high-level meeting involving all key institutions and actors working for the promotion of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership the statement added.

Finally, the Anna Lindh Foundation and the General Secretariat of the UfM have agreed to increase efforts towards youth and cultural exchange in the region.