French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and UfM General Secretary Nasser Kamel met in Tunis on 22 October, in the first official meeting between both diplomats. The aim of the encounter was to send a political message on the shared will to deepen cooperation between both shores of the Mediterranean, and the need to revitalize the UfM. France stressed its commitment to work closely with the UfM to strengthen and further foster the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. Diplomats discussed as well the French sponsored Summit on Euro-Mediterranean relations to be held in Marseille in June 2019.