The Secretary General of the Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), Mr Cosimo Lacirignola, and the Manager of the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI), Mr Mourad Ezzine, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to undertake joint activities to contribute towards Development, Inclusive Growth and Youth Empowerment in the Mediterranean region.

The MoU, signed on June 17th 2015 in Paris at the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) Secretariat, provides a solid basis for strengthened collaboration and coordination of mutual efforts in the promotion of Mediterranean Development Issues and Regional Dialogue.

Established in 2009 and based in Marseilles, the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI), is a space where development agencies, Governments, local authorities and civil society from around the Mediterranean convene in order to exchange knowledge, discuss public policies, and identify the solutions needed to address key challenges facing the Mediterranean region. Through innovative solutions, the CMI aims to help countries achieve transformative reforms and enhance integration in the Mediterranean region. Members of CMI are Egypt, France, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Tunisia, the City of Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, the European Investment Bank and the World Bank Group.

Founded in 1962, CIHEAM, intergovernmental organisation composed of thirteen member states (Albania, Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey), promotes multilateral cooperation in the Mediterranean in the fields of agriculture, food, fishery and rural territories, It pursues this cooperation mission through complementary higher education, specialised training, networked applied research, development and technical assistance, scientific diplomacy and policy dialogue. CIHEAM contributes to the elaboration of a shared vision in the Mediterranean where agriculture and food are key drivers for development.

In this perspective, CIHEAM and the CMI encounter each other in Mediterranean research and cooperation, public policy and multilateral fora discussions, publications and activities able to increase debate in the Mediterranean countries and providing regional public goods. CIHEAM and the CMI stress on the importance of improving the links between knowledge/capacity building and the needs of Mediterranean countries in a very strategic period for the regional development that requires more cooperation and more sustainability.

Therefore, the scope of the cooperation is mainly focused on the following issues:  youth empowerment and employment, regional integration, inclusive growth, development of territories, environment and climate change. CIHEAM and the CMI are firmly convinced about the need to reinforce the inter-institutional dialogue and set up synergic activities to face these important challenges for a safer future in the Mediterranean region.