The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), institution that labels the actions of our Foundation, is organizing a Regional Dialogue on "Shared views on key issues in the Mediterranean", which will take place on the 22nd and 23rd of May 2019 at the Pedralbes Palace in Barcelona, Spain.

This meeting will gather more than 100 representatives of civil society, youth organisations and non-state actors to discuss their views for an inclusive and sustainable future in the Mediterranean region. Through various workshops, the participants will debate the role that the different stakeholders play in promoting opportunities and youth participation to develop new projects and initiatives, and will jointly propose recommendations to strengthen cooperation and create synergies in the Euro-Mediterranean.

The dialogue will focus on essential themes such as women and girls’ empowerment (transversal theme), economy, environment and sustainable development, and employment and education.

This event will thus contribute to the Summit of the Two Shores’ debates by putting forward the views of youth and civil society in UfM countries on selected themes for the Summit of the Heads of State (of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya), that will be held in Marseille in June 2019.

Specifically, the dialogue’s working group sessions will revolve around the following key issues:

• Roundtable on Environment, Water, Energy and Sustainable development
• Roundtable on Regional Economic and Social Challenges for Women and Youth, with a special focus on social economy and inclusion of youth and women
• Rethinking education: An opportunity for strengthening youth and women’s empowerment

Our Foundation will participate in this last roundtable, to discuss the challenges of inclusive and equitable education and opportunities, and the specific role of women and youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM sector).

The event counts on the collaboration of the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF), the United Nations Fund for the population (UNFPA) and the Spanish Youth Institute (INJUVE).

For more information, check out the programme attached.