The Principality attends the 8th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean in Barcelona

Forum Régional de l’Union pour la Méditerranée © DR

As every year, Barcelona hosted the Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) on 27 November. The event brought together ministers from the Mediterranean countries who make up the organisation’s membership. The Monegasque delegation included Ms Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and H.E. Ms Catherine Fautrier Rousseau, Ambassador of Monaco to Spain.

The 2023 Regional Forum was an opportunity to look back at the work done to promote cooperation across the Mediterranean region. In view of current events, discussions focused on the critical situation in the Middle East and its repercussions for the whole region. All Mediterranean countries were represented at the Forum, with the exception of Israel, and numerous foreign ministers from countries on the northern and southern coasts of the Mediterranean, the European Union, the Palestinian Authority, and representatives from the Arab League also travelled to attend.

The event was co-chaired by Mr Josep Borell Fontelles, Vice-President of the EU Commission and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and H.E. Mr Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Both stressed the crucial importance of support from Europe and the Arab League for efforts to end the war, and the key role of certain States in negotiations for the release of hostages. They also warned of increasing polarisation as a result of the conflict with potential global consequences, and called for the two-state solution to be implemented.

In her address, Ms Rosabrunetto emphasised the urgent need to work together, to ensure international humanitarian law is followed on the ground. She made clear that the Principality of Monaco will continue, as it always has done, to support international organisations working in the region and to aid economic and social reconstruction efforts, through cooperation programmes in which Monaco is an active participant, including the UfM.

2- Mme Isabelle Rosabrunetto et S.E. Mme Catherine Fautrier Rousseau © DR

In this difficult climate, the UfM Regional Forum showed that this Euro-Mediterranean organisation is an essential platform for north-south dialogue in the Mediterranean, for building a sustainable and inclusive peace.