Shaping the Mediterranean's Future: Union for the Mediterranean’s Youth Forum in Helsinki

The Mediterranean Youth Forum was attended by young people, policy-makers, private sector’s representatives, Social Partners, as well as other stakeholders from the Mediterranean region to exchange insights and best practices, foster dialogue, collaboration, and set a course for future initiatives.

Four panels took place on:

• Empowering youth for their path to entrepreneurship
• Cultivating Sustainable and Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (Emerging)
• Youth-led Ventures as Catalysts for Cross-Regional Employment and Skills Development (Executing)
• Youth Engagement in Finding Solutions for Global Challenges and Sustainable Development (Elevating).

The recommendations from the meeting will inform the next UfM Ministerial Meeting in 2025 and provide guidance for future initiatives.

Context

The Mediterranean Youth Forum was co-organised by the European Commission on behalf of the Union for the Mediterranean Co-Presidency with the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat and a Finnish partner, MIMIR.

It has also been prepared in close cooperation the Mediterranean Network of New Chance, the Young Professionals Network, and the Anna Lindh Foundation.

The Mediterranean region is home to one of the youngest populations in the world, with one in every three people under the age of 25.

This demographic reality was at the centre of the discussions of the Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial on Employment and Labour, held on 18 May 2022 in Marrakech, Morocco.

The Youth Forum built on this momentum, recognizing the critical role of young people in addressing regional challenges like climate change.

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