The EIB has a cooperation agreement with UNIMED, the Mediterranean Universities Union, an association of 90 universities from 22 countries bordering the Mediterranean basin. UNIMED’s aim is to develop university research and education in the Euro-Mediterranean area in order to contribute to scientific, cultural, social and economic cooperation. UNIMED acts in different fields: tangible and intangible cultural heritage, economics, the environment, health, new communication technologies.

The key priorities of the cooperation 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 assists the EIB particularly in academic research and dissemination activities on socio-economic issues related to the Mediterranean region and supporting the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.