The twentieth meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) platform on Employment and Labour took place in Valencia, Spain on 23rd and 24th March 2026. This meeting, organized by the European Commission through its Directorate-General for Employment (DG EMPL) together with the UfM, aimed to monitor the progress of the Action Plan on Employment and Work (2026-2028).
The meeting was opened by the Vice-President of the Generalitat Valenciana in charge of housing, employment, youth, and equality at regional level, Mrs. Susana Camarero. It was attended by representatives from Ministries of Employment of about 25 UfM member countries participated, as well as representatives from European and Arab trade unions.
The focus of the session on the afternoon of the 23rd March was on presenting Interact, Interreg NEXT MED Programme and its contribution to improving employability in the Mediterranean, with a particular emphasis on youth and women’s employment through the projects it funds.
The Lead Partner of Interreg NEXT MED-funded MERAVIGLIA project shared his experience on how to support young people and people at risk of social inclusion to enter the labour market.
The following day, participants visited the Valencian NGO Jovesólides in the neighborhood La Coma located in Paterna, the Dr. Peset Aleixandre Secondary School, and two schools from the second-chance schools: Iniciatives Solidaries and the Adsis Foundation. Participants learned firsthand about the realities faced by young people at risk of social exclusion and how initiatives like these provide them with opportunities for training and access to decent employment.
Jovesólides is the lead partner of Interreg NEXT MED-funded DIGIWAVE aiming at supporting the access of women in the digital economy sector.
In the afternoon, several participating countries presented aspects of their national legislation that contribute to the implementation of the action plan, and members of the UfM community of practice on youth employment also met and presented their next steps.
Finally, a representative from European Commission’s DG MENA presented regional projects on jobs and skills in the Mediterranean, the state of play for the implementation of the Pact for the Mediterranean.
The branch office of Interreg NEXT MED for the Western Mediterranean based in Valencia thanks the European Commission as well as the Union for the Mediterranean for choosing this Spanish city to hold their meeting.
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