In his speech at the ministerial meeting, Minister Logar drew attention to common challenges. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are facing the increasingly severe consequences of climate change, migration and cyber threats, to which the Minister added the importance of joint response and strengthening resilience, which is also among the commitments of the current Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. 

Slovenia appreciates the functioning of the Union for the Mediterranean, which remains the central forum for dialogue and cooperation in the Mediterranean region. Slovenia is an active member in creative industries, where it organises the annual Creative Forum event together with the UfM, and in the Positive Agenda for Youth, which the Union for the Mediterranean added to its 2017 Action Plan on Slovenia’s initiative. “Support for education and research, cooperation in digital transformation, climate change, security are some of the areas for intensified joint efforts. As a new member of EUMED, Slovenia has always been active in promoting cooperation in this region,” stressed Minister Logar at the meeting.

Slovenia also hosts the seat of the EMUNI University, one of the two Euro-Mediterranean Universities launched by the Union for the Mediterranean, which was established during Slovenia’s first Council Presidency. It is also actively involved in the empowerment of women and young people, in intercultural dialogue by cooperating with the Anna Lindh Foundation, and in a project for disposal of plastic waste from the Mediterranean Sea.

Minister Logar also attended meetings of the European Union ministers and of the Southern Neighbourhood countries, respectively. In both instances, the debate was mainly devoted to the climate crisis and joint action against climate change. Minister Logar expressed his concern about climate change, pointing out that data show the Mediterranean is warming 20 per cent faster than the global average. He stressed that we have to tackle the consequences of climate change together and went on to present some of Slovenia’s measures, especially in combating floods and preserving biodiversity. “We’re strongly connected and we should strive to address common challenges through dialogue, cooperation and partnership. The climate crisis is urging us to accelerate green economic transition & integrated management,” said the Minister in his speech.

On the margins of the event that was held in Barcelona, Minister Logar met with Foreign Minister of Egypt Sameh Shoukry, with whom he discussed possibilities to enhance the current excellent bilateral cooperation with a focus on economic opportunities and the current situation in the region. He also met with Foreign Minister of Jordan Ayman Safadi to discuss the continuation of activities to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, cooperation between the EU and the Southern Neighbourhood countries, and the situation in the Middle East.