- The third edition of the UfM Regional Forum brought together the Foreign Affairs Ministers from UfM Member States to reaffirm their political commitment to increasing cooperation and integration in the region.
- Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the organisation, UfM countries took stock of the progress achieved to date, and discussed the way forward to build inclusive human and sustainable development. They confirmed the strategic link between Europe and the Mediterranean as a firm basis for progress in achieving the goals and objectives of the UfM.
Barcelona, 8 October 2018– The third Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Regional Forum was held in Barcelona under the title ‘10 years: Building together the future of regional cooperation’.Consolidated as the annual gathering of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of UfM Member States, the Forum provided the occasion to draw up a state-of-play of regional cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean area and its prospects, as well as to spotlight where the UfM needs to redouble its efforts to meet current and future challenges. Ministers took stock of the implementation of the UfM Roadmap endorsed a year ago and committed to amplifying the impetus given to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.This third edition of the Regional Forum was chaired by the UfM Co-Presidency, assumed by Federica Mogherini,
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, and Ayman Safadi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, and hosted by Josep Borrell, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain and Nasser Kamel, the UfM Secretary General.
As stated in the official conclusions issued by the UfM Co-Presidency, Ministers reaffirmed “their strong political commitment to promote regional cooperation and recognized the UfM as a unique, action-driven platform to intensify joint efforts to address common challenges and create opportunities in the Euro-Mediterranean region, placing the people and their legitimate demands at the center of the cooperation and working together to address the serious challenges that undermine prosperity and stability in the region ”.
Over the last decade, the UfM has 
convened more than 25 ministerial meetings, established 12 regional expert platforms in key priority areas and organized more than 300 dialogue forums, bringing together over 25 000 stakeholders from across the region.
Furthermore, UfM Member states have endorsed 54 cooperation projects of regional scope worth €5.6 billion, ranging from sustainable development initiatives and urban infrastructure projects to programmes fostering multi-sectorial capacity building, gender equality, entrepreneurship or job creation.
Nasser Kamel, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, stated:“This Forum is a true reflection of 
the shared political commitment of all 43 Member States to support regional dialogue, convergence and integration.National policies alone cannot deal timely and effectively with the current serious challenges facing the region. Thiscollective sense of purpose and responsibility to promote regional cooperation is key to link the global and national policy frameworks and will serve in our endeavour to create inclusive human and sustainable development throughout the Euro-Mediterranean region.”
More information:
Official conclusions by the UfM Co-Presidency
Opening remarks of HR/VP Mogherini
Opening remarks by UfM SG Nasser Kamel