Egypt as a member of the Union for the Mediterranean celebrated on 28 November the Day of the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean Union chose that day last year to mark the anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration of 1995 that laid the foundations for the creation of the Union. The Foreign Ministry said Egypt is proud of its Mediterranean identity and belonging to the countries on both sides of the Mediterranean. The regional cooperation is important to confront common challenges, including climate change, illegal immigration, extremism, the statement said. Egypt played a unique role throughout the ages in communicating across the Mediterranean thanks to its distinguished location and the continuity of civilizations on its land, the statement added. Egypt has played a major role in calling for Mediterranean unity since the 1990s, which crystallized over the years in the current Mediterranean institutions, including the Union for the Mediterranean and Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures. The day aims to foster a common Mediterranean identity while promoting intercultural exchanges and embracing the diversity of the region. The celebration also aims to raise awareness about the efforts undertaken by all the stakeholders who work on a daily basis to enhance cooperation and integration in the Euro-Mediterranean area.
