Presentation ceremony of the UfM Secretary General

The Paris Summit for the Mediterranean (July 2008) decided to create a Secretariat for the UfM (Final Statement, Marseille, 3-4 November, 2008).

Barcelona was chosen unanimously the seat of the UfM Permanent Secretariat. It symbolizes the effort made by Europe and the Mediterranean Countries to build a joint future for the Region.

The Senior Officials appointed on January 12th Mr. Ahmad Masa´deh, Jordanian Ambassador in Brussels, as future Secretary General of the UfM.

On March 4th 2010 a public presentation ceremony of the Secretary General will be held in Barcelona. The event will be attended by foreign ministers of the two co-presidencies and Jordan.

Two main issues are delaying the adoption of the statutes:

• The possibility to create a sixth General Deputy Secretary.

• Allocation of the portfolios:

- Coordination and project finance, SME and business development: Italy

- Energy: Greece

- Water and Environment: National Palestinian Authority

- Research and education: Israel

- Social and civil affairs: Malta

- Transports: to be allocated

Once the statutes are approved the negotiations should focus on funding and administrative issues.

Funding: It must be taken into account that the Secretariat will not have own resources and would have to rely on the contributions of the CE and the 43 member countries.

A draft Road Map is already being developed by the Senior Official to speed up the launch process.

The Secretariat should:

• Give an impulse to the UfM Process in terms of follow up, assess projects and search funding opportunities.

• Work in operational liaison with all structures of the process, particularly with the co-presidencies, including the elaboration of working documents for the decision-making bodies.

• Work as a focal point for projects funding in the framework of the UfM

• Have a separate legal personality with an autonomous status

Secretariat’s Building:

Pedralbes Royal Palace (XVIIth Century)

Contact information	n/a
Event type	Conference
File link	n/a
Source	http://www.ufm-water.net
Subject(s)	ENERGY , FINANCE-ECONOMY , NATURAL MEDIUM , POLICY-WATER POLICY AND WATER MANAGEMENT , PREVENTION AND NUISANCES POLLUTION
Relation	http://www.ufm-water.net/meetings/weg3/
Geographical coverage	Spain
Address	Barcelona
Organizer	Spanish Presidency of the EU
Target audience	Regional
Period	04/03/2010
Status	Confirmed
Working language(s)	ENGLISH

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