MCAF, 25.01.2017
The MCA Foundation attended the Third Panel of experts of the UfM Regional Forum “Mediterranean in Action: Youth for Stability and Development” which focused on the role of international institutions, civil society and cooperation agencies as central actors in socio-economic development and in the promotion of regional integration policies.
Young participants of the 2nd UfM Regional Forum.
Photography by UfM.
Ministers from the 28 EU states and 15 southern Mediterranean countries that compose the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), as well as representatives from civil society and the private sector met in Barcelona on the 23rd and 24th of January at the Second UfM Regional Forum to define a road map on youth as the backbone of stability and development in the southern area of Mediterranean.
The MCA Foundation attended the Third Panel of experts of this forum which dealt with the role of international institutions, civil society and cooperation agencies as central actors in socio-economic development and the promotion of regional integration policies.
The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, Federica Mogherini, opened the meeting of ministers and stressed that “it is necessary to focus on real life and give expectations of progress to the youth population. Three hundred million young people in the Middle East and Africa have no voice or opportunities”.
The MCA Foundation considers youth as the backbone of present and future in the Mediterranean. At its meeting in Tirana (Albania), which took place in 2015, the Mediterranean Citizens´ Assembly noted that “the main challenges we face can not be resolved without an awareness, without the commitment and representation of youth in all the issues that affect the Mediterranean “.
From this strong commitment, and within the framework of actions already undertaken by the MCAF during these 9 years, the MCA circles agreed to strengthen local actions and collaborate with other circles to encourage, facilitate and strengthen youth participation in the existing circles, a line of action that still remains a priority for the MCA Foundation.