The Minister advocated a stronger political dialogue and closer cooperation between member states of the Union for the Mediterranean in social, cultural and people-to-people ties. According to Minister Logar, “the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the weaknesses of our economies and health systems. We need to strengthen our economic and financial partnership and increase our global resilience to crises with investment in health, research, sustainable trade and agriculture, green technologies and infrastructure.” The Minister underscored that the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Process presented an excellent opportunity for the UfM to assume a more prominent role in uniting the Mediterranean countries to rise up to common challenges. He also drew attention to the need for enhancing the ties between the Mediterranean EU Member States.

During the meeting, which took place against the backdrop of the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, the ministers focused their discussions on the functioning and future of the UfM, an intergovernmental organisation unites 27 EU Member States and 15 partner countries from the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans.

The ministers decided to declare 28 November as Mediterranean Day. In 1995, on 27 and 28 November, a Euro-Mediterranean conference of foreign ministers was held culminating in the adoption of the Barcelona Declaration. The document set out to establish a Euro-Mediterranean partnership aimed at creating a common area of security and stability, progress and prosperity, development of human resources, fostering intercultural understating and exchanges in civil society. Building on the Barcelona Process, the decision to establish the UfM was confirmed at the European Council during the first Slovenian presidency of the Council of the EU in March 2008, along with the decision to set up a Euro-Mediterranean university (EMUNI) headquartered in Slovenia.

Slovenia is an active member of the UfM, particularly in the area of the Positive Agenda for Youth. On the initiative of Slovenia, the UfM included the Positive Agenda for Youth in its 2017 Action Plan. Slovenia is home to one of the two Euro-Mediterranean Universities of the UfM, and the country is a committed participant in meetings and activities undertaken by the UfM. It has a prominent role in activities aimed at empowering women and youth, as well as in fostering intercultural dialogue, particularly in cooperation with the Anna Lindh Foundation. Slovenia also participates in a project concerned with the removal of plastic waste from the Mediterranean Sea.

More on the 5^th Regional forum of the Union for the Mediterranean

More on the Union for the Mediterranean

Co-Presidency Concluding Statement, 5^th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean