​(Communicated by the MFA Spokesperson)

An Israeli initiative aimed at promoting regional cooperation has been adopted for the first time by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).

The Union for the Mediterranean comprises the 28 EU member states, the European Commission and 15 Mediterranean countries. A meeting of senior UfM officials, currently underway in Jordan, adopted the Israeli initiative. The UfM serves as a framework for policy dialogue and exchange of project ideas, experiences and best practices among governments, key international institutions and cooperation structures, and provides a unique platform to formulate regional priorities and decide on specific cooperation initiatives to be put in place.

Projects and initiatives are implemented within the framework of the UfM in six strategic priority areas:  business development, social and civil affairs, higher education and research, transport and urban development, water and environment, and energy and climate action.  Israel is an active member of the UfM, and participates in various meetings at the ministerial level. 

The Israeli initiative that was adopted is the Eastern Mediterranean International School (EMIS) initiative, an international high school in Israel for students from all over the world who live and study together. The school is supported by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education. About 40% of the students come from countries in the Middle East, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
    
The initiative, which operates in accordance with the IB school format, promotes values of respect and tolerance, inter-cultural dialogue, environmental  and sustainability studies, leadership skills, entrepreneurship, community lifestyle and social involvement.