EU official: Economic gap between north, south of Mediterranean growing

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell stated that "the economic gap" between the North and the South of the Mediterranean Sea has increased.

He stated this when opening the 7th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean, Anadolu reports.

The head of the European diplomacy called for increased efforts to narrow the "economic gap" between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

Borrell stressed that much quicker and more effective actions are necessary, in particular regarding projects related to youth.

According to him, the countries of the Union for the Mediterranean must do more to develop scientific cooperation and address priorities in the field of climate change and renewable energy, as well as to accelerate the integration of women in public life and to implement measures to combat violence against women.

Speaking about the consequences of the war between Russia and Ukraine, Borrel expressed gratitude for Turkey's contribution in prolonging the "grain agreement" ensuring the supply of grain from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea to world markets.

He stressed that the war should not harm relations with countries on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Borrell noted the need to "reduce the negative consequences of the conflict to a minimum.