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ETF and Union for the Mediterranean formalise longstanding partnership for skills development

UfM Ministerial Policy Conference on Employment and Labour, 17-18 May, Marrakesh, Morocco

During the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Ministerial Policy Conference on Employment and Labour today, the ETF formalised a long standing partnership with the signing of a Declaration of Intent by the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), Nasser Kamel, and Director a.i. of the European Training Foundation, Xavier Matheu.

The two day event hosted in Marrakesh, Morocco, taking place from 17-18 May 2022, is co-chaired by the EU and Jordan. It brings together dignitaries from the European Union and the Mediterranean region including the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, and the Jordanian Minister of Labour, Nayef Stetieh, as well as Ministers of the Member States from the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). The aim of the meeting is to discuss the labour market challenges of the Euro-Mediterranean region and particularly the way forward to ensure an inclusive, green, digital and sustainable recovery for the most vulnerable groups, especially youth and women.  

During the session "Green and digital Recovery - Skills and Innovation" during the first day of the event, the Italian Minister of Labour and Social Policies, Andrea Orlando, highlighted the importance of lifelong learning, and the need to better understand, promote and harmonize the quality and conditions of employment throughout the Mediterranean. Minister Orlando specifically referred to the special role of the city of Turin in Italy, which hosts the European Training Foundation and International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization “which could become the perfect networking base” for the promotion of investment in young people, knowledge exchange and social dialogue in the region.

Upon signing the Declaration, Nasser Kamel noted that “ETF is a logical and a much-esteemed partner to the UfM Secretariat in its efforts to promote inclusive human development in the Euro-Mediterranean Region.” Meanwhile, Xavier Matheu, stated that “the UfM Secretariat is a long-standing partner of the ETF. Our cooperation is mutually enriching in achieving our common strategic objectives in the field of human capital development, in line with the renewed Agenda for the Mediterranean.”

The Declaration paves the way for increased sharing of knowledge, expertise, and networks between both organisations on regional dialogue on employment and labour; contribution to the UfM Community of Practice on Youth Employment; contribution to the UfM regional dialogue on Women empowerment; input in the follow-up of the VET and Higher Education strategy in the Mediterranean; and contribution and sharing of experience/products/practice in mutual events.

Background

The ETF is the European Union agency that supports the EU as a global actor in the field of human capital development, supporting the reform of education and labour market for skills development, lifelong learning, democratic process, and prosperity. The ETF, under its new strategy 2027, is reinforcing its role as a global Knowledge Hub on human capital development in developing and transition countries with a primary focus on the EU neighbourhood, especially including Southern Neighbourhood partners in light of the new Agenda for the Mediterranean.  

The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is an intergovernmental institution bringing together all countries of the European Union and 15 countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean to promote dialogue and cooperation. The UfM Secretariat works to promote employability prospects for young people and women, including the development of skills and the cultivation of entrepreneurship in the region.

The ETF has been contributing expertise to the UfM Regional Platform on Employment and Labour and is actively engaged in the Advisory Board of the UfM Mediterranean Initiative for Jobs (Med4Jobs), which is the UfM flagship initiative for addressing the employment challenges in the region.

 

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