High Representative Borrell and Commissioner Lenarčič travel to Barcelona for the Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean

On 27 November, High Representative Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič will travel to Barcelona, Spain, to take part in the 8^th Regional Forum of the Union for Mediterranean (UfM).

The meeting this year marks the 15th anniversary of the UfM and takes place against the background of Israel’s war against Hamas and the dire situation in Palestine. It will gather over 30 participants at ministerial level of the Euro-Mediterranean region, who will discuss this crisis.

In the morning, between 9:30 and 13:00, the High Representative will co-chair the Forum, alongside Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan.

The UfM Regional Forum will be hosted by José Manuel Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain and Nasser Kamel, the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean.

Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič will be representing the EU Commission. Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will also attend representing the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee.

HR/VP Borrell will give his opening remarks at 9:30 CET, he will then hold a the press conference with the co-chair and hosts at 13:00 CET.

Following his recent mission to the region, the Forum will be an important occasion for the High Represenative to exchange with representatives of the 43 UfM Member States on all aspects of the situation in and around Gaza and discuss the way forward.

The European Union is and will remain actively engaged with all its partners in order to work towards reviving a political process on the basis of the two-state solution.

In the margins of the Forum, Commissioner Lenarčič will meet with José Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation  of Spain, HRH Princess Rym Ali, President of the Anna Lindh Foundation, H.E. Mr Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and H.E. Mr Nasser Kamel, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, to discuss on the situation in Israel and Gaza.

The High Representative’s opening remarks at the UfM and the press conference will be broadcast live on EbS.

Follow also @JosepBorrellF and @eu_eeas for further information.