Bardo — National Constituent Assembly (NCA) Speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar received Friday morning Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UFM) Fathallah Sijilmassi and stressed the need to revive the union mechanisms, objectives and working methods.

He highlighted the positive role the UFM can play in favour of the Maghreb region and the Palestinian cause, says a communiqué of the Constituent Assembly.

The economic and social challenges facing Tunisia, he said, require that the UFM contribute to favour the creation of new job opportunities for youths, launch projects and ease the movement of people and goods.

Sijilmassi affirmed for his part that the Union seeks to promote a common future and a fruitful co-operation between the two shores of the Mediterranean, emphasising Tunisia's role in the Mediterranean and Maghreb areas.

He also spoke of the structural developments within the Union for the Mediterranean likely to enable it to take a new start that would serve the interests of the region peoples.