Brief description and main aims:
FIEC is informing Member Federations about key aspects of the EU institutions’ activity with regard to Southern Mediterranean partner countries, in particular in the context of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).
Why FIEC is dealing with this topic:
The policy of the European Union towards the Southern Mediterranean countries aims at encouraging political and economic reforms in each individual country and at enhancing cooperation among the countries of the region and with the European Union.
Relations with Southern Mediterranean countries are crucially important. The ENP guides these relationships, trying to support individual countries in aspects where the European Union can provide a specific and positive contribution. In February 2021, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security published a joint Communication entitled “Renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood - A new Agenda for the Mediterranean”, aimed at relauching and strengthening this strategic partnership.
Another field of attention for the MEDA Vice-Presidency is the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), an intergovernmental organisation bringing together EU Member States and 15 countries from the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. It is a permanent structure, headquarters located in Barcelona, dedicated to strengthening dialogue, cooperation and exchange of projects ideas. 6 strategic priority areas have been identified: business development and employment, social and civil affairs, higher education and research, transport and urban development, water and environment, and energy and climate action.
It is also remarkable to note that the EU and the UfM have been paying attention to the impact of Covid-19 crisis in these neighbouring countries and are proposing actions, contributing to the global efforts, to combat the pandemic and limit the economic fallout.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) activity as well as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Depelopment (EBRD) activity in the third Mediterranean countries, are aspects of attention.
Action:
MEDA Newsletters are available periodically on the FIEC intranet for the Member Federations, containing relevant and updated information mainly from the EU Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).