Memorandum of Understanding between the EIB and UNIMED

On 3 May 2007, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and UNIMED, the Mediterranean Universities Union, signed a “Memorandum of Understanding”.

The cooperation agreement is established within the framework of the “EIB University Networks”, a system of partnerships of the EIB Group with University networks showing characteristics that are of particular relevance to support its objectives as the policy bank of the European Union.

UNIMED, the Mediterranean Universities Union, is an association of 74 Universities from the countries bordering the Mediterranean basin. UNIMED aims to promote research in the areas of conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage, environment, health, economy and new communication technologies, in order to contribute to the political and economic dimensions of the relations between the European Union and its Mediterranean partner countries.

The key priority research themes of UNIMED’s 2007-2009 programme are:

• Euro-Mediterranean regional integration as well as integration and cooperation between the southern and eastern Mediterranean partners of the EU;
• Environmental protection and sustainable development;
• Protection and enhancement of the Euro-Mediterranean cultural heritage;
• Social policy, especially with regard to public health and employment.

UNIMED will now represent one of the preferred vehicles of the EIB to channel its Universities Action Programme, framing the cooperation between the Bank and the academic world. UNIMED will assist particularly in academic research and dissemination activities on socio-economic issues related to the Mediterranean region and supporting the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.