Context:
High unemployment is undermining economic and social development in North Africa and the Middle East. Young people and women in particular are underemployed or remain without jobs. Integrating the region more closely in international trade and investment can increase economic growth, job creation and people’s economic participation.
The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) plays an essential role in regional cooperation. It provides a unique platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange between policy makers, the private sector and civil society. Nevertheless, significant potential remains untapped regarding cooperation on jobs, trade, investment and digitalisation in the region.
Objective:
The Union for the Mediterranean has increased the effectiveness of regional cooperation for employment, trade, investment and digital transformation.
Approach:
The project is developing the capacities of the UfM Secretariat to develop and introduce policy recommendations. The member states of UfM are encouraged to implement the recommendations in existing regional partnerships. The project connects these recommendations with the approaches of the Team Europe initiative ‘Jobs through Trade and Investment in the Southern Neighbourhood’, through which Germany and its European partners are promoting jobs in the southern Mediterranean region.
In addition, the project advises UfM on reforms and the organisation of its Secretariat so that it can establish itself more strategically and effectively. It particularly emphasises the capacity of UfM to define digital regulations and encourage digital skills in the Mediterranean region.