News

In the framework of Euromed Police, CEPOL organised the Heads of Law Enforcement Training Institutes Conference on 3-4 June in Lisbon. The conference aimed to draw attention to the importance of enhancing the skills and resources of law enforcement officials in order to address evolving security threats. The conference focused on the innovative solutions that greater public-private partnerships can offer and on the opportunities and challenges of Artificial Intelligence in law enforcement.

In spite of the dire security situation and the many difficulties faced by Palestinian municipalities, their commitment to climate action remains as they gathered for a Clima-Med workshop in Amman.

Municipalities are essential in implementing climate action in the Southern Neighbourhood. To build their capacities in addressing climate risks, they gathered for a three-day workshop in Jordan in the framework of the Clima-Med regional programme.

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DG NEAR and the EU delegation to Jordan participated on 14-15 May in Amman to the launch of GTEX/MENATEX phase II. The programme is financed by Sweden (SIDA) and Switzerland (SECO) and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC). It supports Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia as well as Sri Lanka to stay on top of emerging market requirements for the textiles and clothing (T&C) sector by moving towards greener practices and being able to adhere to strict forthcoming EU regulations for T&C products sold in Europe.

The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF) Spring meetings took place jointly on 21 May, at a very critical moment for the relations of the EU with the Southern Neighbourhood region.

In the framework of the new regional programme on Green and Circular Economy (Green Forward), DG NEAR took part, on 13 May, in the strategic kick off meeting in Jordan with representatives from the Government and the private sector in the region. This fruitful exchange was organised by Expertise France, the implementer of the Green Forward policy component.

On 16-17 May, the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) organised the Annual Conference of EuroMeSCo, a regional network of more than 110 think tanks and research institutes across Europe and the Southern Neighbourhood. Prospects for maritime security, migration, and economic interdependence in the Mediterranean were the main themes of this two-day event gathering officials from EU institutions (mainly the European Commission and the European External Action Service), researchers, civil society representatives and think tankers.

On 14-16 May, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) held the Mediterranean Green Week event, co-hosted by the OECD regional centre in Istanbul, Türkiye. This three-day event was organised in a cross-sectoral manner, and in line with the proposals of the EU and Jordan as UfM co-chairs, combined the annual meetings of the UfM regional platforms on Energy, and Environment & Climate Action.

In the framework of the regional South Programme V, a regional workshop on “The role of anti-corruption agencies to enhance business integrity and compliance in the private sector” was organised in Amman, Jordan, in April.

On 15 May, the meeting took place in Barcelona and gathered relevant stakeholders to discuss the topics most relevant to advancing mutually beneficial partnerships promoting sustainable trade and investment.

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In the framework of the regional project "Trade and Investment Facilitation Mechanism" (TIFM II), the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Morocco, the Delegation of the European Union to the Kingdom of Morocco and the International Trade Centre met in Rabat to discuss the issue of non-tariff measures as part of the general modernisation of EU-Morocco trade policy.

On 4 May, as the Berlaymont building opened its doors to citizens and visitors from across the world to celebrate Europe Day, the green transition in the Southern Neighbourhood sparked the interest of visitors.

Clima-Med held a workshop focused on Lebanese cities, a way to boost their capacities to prepare and implement climate projects.

Within the activities of the meetMED II project (Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean Region), funded by the EU, the third edition of the meetMED Weeks took place in Hammamet, Tunisia between 22 – 24 April. The three-day event brought together more than 250 energy experts representing officials, policymakers, stakeholders, municipalities, and private sector from the Mediterranean region with the aim of promoting the energy and climate transition.

In the framework of the European Youth Week, the Anna Lindh Foundation convened an engaging multistakeholder policy debate on youth engagement in Euro-Mediterranean dialogues.

Representatives of 22 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) met at the 16th Regional Platform on Employment and Labour. DG NEAR presented the recently launched EU-funded regional projects in support to Youth NEETs (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) and women’s economic empowerment in the Southern Neighbourhood.

Building on a successful first phase, the EU cooperation with the Council of Europe on the fight against cybercrime continues with CyberSouth+. The programme held its launching event in Lisbon.

In February, Tunisian representatives from different public and private institutions successfully completed their second "Training of Trainers" workshop.