ENPI to. Dear. Secretary of. y for the. Ambassador. Dear Ambassador. Abdel. Latif, and Egypt) Parliament, Eccellenze,

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1 Dear Mr. Soru (Renato Soru, Memberr of e European Parliament, President of e Committee forr securityy policy human reights. Delegation too PA UfM) Intervention at first session (New challenges for Mediterranean cooperation) of Conference NextMed: From ENPI to ENI: a New Phase of Cross Border Cooperation: Achievements New Challenges By Fathallah Sijilmassi i, Secretary General of UfM Rome, 122 December 2014 Egregio Presidente Pigliaru, (President Region of Sardinia) of Autonomous Dear Mr. Della Vedova (Benedetto Della Vedova, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy) Dear Mr. Borg, (Ian Borg, Parliamentary SecretaryS y for EU Presidency 2017 EU Funds, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malta) Dear Ambassador Busquets (Gabriel Busquets, Ambassador at large for Mediterranean, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cooperation, Spain) Dear Ambassador Abdel Latif (Nehad Abdel Latif, Ambassador, Former Assistant to Minister of Foreign Affairs Formerr Chairman of National Steering Bureau for Implementation of Egypt EU Partnership Agreement, Egypt) Eccellenze,

2 Onorevoli colleghi, Signore e Signori, E per me un onore essere presente oggi qui a Roma e partecipare alla Conferenz za NextMed sponsorizzata dalla Presidenza Italiana del Consiglio dell Unione Europea, dalla Commissione Europea e organizzata dalla Regionee Autonoma della Sardegna. I would like at outset to thank Italian Presidency of Council of European Union for sponsoring thiss event. The Italian Presidency has been a very active d successful presidency. We have been fortunate to hold manyy important Mediterranean related events during this semester. I would also like to seize this opportunity to thank President of Sardinia Mr. Pigliaru, for inviting us today, giving full account of Sardinia s active involvemi ment on Mediterr ranean issues its growing interest in working with us. I would also like to thank e Joint Managing g Authority of EU Cross Border Cooperation Programme for Mediterranean Basin, its Director General, Anna Catte. FollowingF g fruitful contacts between our teamss during se last months, I think we have managed to establish a well structured working relationship that should yield very positive results forr region. Ladies Gentlemen,

3 1. Challenges for Mediterranean cooperation Let me begin by saying thatt today s Conference does provide a very illustrative lesson on how relevant actors stakeholders in region can work toger. I will explain you why. The region does certainlyy face a complex context in economic, political social spheres. I think that we can all share view thatt Mediterranean region has seen unprecedented evolutions in i recentt years both at political socio economic spheres. This pushh for change across region has been partly for people s hope for a better future. I would even say mainly driven by socio economic factors, That s why I think that we will hardly find our way through if we do not strive to bring about major socio economic advances with real impact in citizen s lives. The challenges are numerou us. And we are passing from abstract discourse to concrete action to tackle, for f instance, youth unemployment Mediterranean region has one off highest level of unemployment rates in world, especially among young people women, 30% of youthh are jobless, to concrete action to reach as well a more inclusive growth in terms of environment Climate Change Mediterranean Sea, rich in biodiversity natural resources, is one of most

4 threatened seas in world through both b population or economic growth, in termss of water consumption 180 million people in Mediterraneann region are considered water poor or in terms of women empowerment, for instance. Be aware that I am not only referring to challenges faced by Sourn Mediterranean countries: I am actually pointing out to a number of challenges that are also shared by Norrn Mediterranean countries. Now more than ever ree is a need for challenges that are shared byy all. a joint responsee to I see a danger of avoiding or at least postponingg to easier times dialogue, exchange of ideas d experiences, joint endeavors common projects in favour off supposedly simpler national or bilateral solutions. The regularr holding of UfM ministerial conferencess in last two years has strongly contributed towardss buildingg a common Mediterranean agenda on a wide range of fields, notably women empowerment, transport, industrial cooperation, environment climate change, digital economy. This showcases shared commitment of o all countries stakeholders in region to work on shared keyy topics challenges; it also points to existence of a broad field opportunities in Euro Mediterranean cooperation paving d of

5 way for concrete effective cooperation in a growing number of sectors. Effective cooperation that allows to turn high level decisions into concrete projects initiatives, too do it byy drawing to greatest extentt on e synergies d complementarities among all relevant actors stakeholders in region, be it Member States, international organisations institutions, financial institutions, civil society, private sector, etc. There is certainly a shared conviction on t needd to ensure more coordination greater synergies in t region. 2. Cooperation Cross Borderr Cooperation UfM The Programme on Cross Border Cooperation on Mediterranean Basin UfM share, from irr very name, this ambition this responsibility of a Mediterranean Sea that promotes cooperation, prosperity hope. We have a shared conviction responsibility off responding through regional sub regional action too challenges we are facing. We also share same approach principles: a focus on initiatives responding to real needs having a concrete impact for citizens in region; value of ownership lasting partnerships between actors engaged in a topic orr sector;

6 commitment to seek flexible, tailor made responses thatt can serve as examples pioneers on whichh to build large initiatives. As we enter this new phase of cooperation between bringing toger Norrn Sourn n shores of Mediterranean, we are all called upon to focus our action on priorities which face women men in region. r But it is not only about approach e principles; it is also about priorities: common focus is striking, priorities of CBC Med mate of UFM: Responding to unemployment, namely by b fostering private sector growth, investing in human resources, promoting inclusive societies encouraging a sustainable use of natural resources priorities in region represent huge challenges requiree us to work toger. Synergy, partnerships coordinationn are essential to deliver results. Let me briefly refer in this regard to one of key players in region: private sector, called to play a prominent role in fostering economic development in region, that should draw our attention. All data in region showw that SMEs account for 80 to 90 % of companie es in e countries. Surveys show also that challenge if unemployment mainly youth unemployment can only be addressedd by growing employment capacities of private sector. At e same time we know that re is an unanimous political will in all countries to give SMEs development a priority, as well as readiness for IFIs

7 international development. organizations to deal with private sector It is thus crucial to underst addresss developmental needs of private sector as part of broader effortss to promote an inclusive development in region. I would like too share with you that Secretariat of Union for Mediterranean is developing, as of 2014, a strategy to furr strengn relations with private sector, based on 5 pillars: : a) informal dialogue exchange of experiences with groups of private sector representatives (wee already had a first meeting in October) b) organizing broader matic platforms involving private sector dealing with specific issues (food security, energy, energy efficiency, smart cities, etc); c) specific activities within framework of our initiative Med4Jobs, inn which private sector plays an importantt role mainly inn pillar one employability three businesss coaching of initiative; d) encouraging participation of private sector in UFM initiatives projects; e) engagement of t private sector in or processes developed within framework of UFM or or institutions so as to increase synergies complementarities: UFM Ministerial meetings (trade, digital economy), 5+55 Business Forum, Agadir agreement, OECD, ETF, World Bank, etc.

8 Let me finish by recalling that Secretariat of Union for Mediterranean already works in a structural, continuous partnership with European Commission, as UfM Co President along with Jordan,, as well as strategic supporter, also on reflecting on how to promote coordination of o all actors working in region. This is why under new cycle that is being launched I call for a close collaboration between CBC Med ( its Joint Managing Authority) e Secretariat of t UfM,, each in line with its mate safeguardingg its processes, to be more effective in our action, work toger on o jointt initiatives, promote new ideas responses, capitalize on e good work already achieved in our region. Thank you very much.