On Tuesday 9 February, the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy, Olivér Várhelyi, presented the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the EU on ‘A renewed partnership with the southern neighbourhood, a new agenda for the Mediterranean’.
“The biggest challenge for the region and for us - because we are interdependent - is instability, which has worsened with Covid-19, whether economic, social or security. There are two areas that we must focus on with our partners: the economy, with a need for growth and jobs (...), and security”, he explained.
The strategy is based on five priorities. The first is human development, good governance, and the Rule of law to renew the shared commitment to democracy, the Rule of law, human rights, and accountable governance, but also to improve healthcare and cooperation on youth, education, skills, and culture.
Resilience, prosperity, and the digital transition are the second priority, with the aim of supporting resilient, inclusive, sustainable, and connected economies that create opportunities for all, especially women and youth.
The EU is also proposing to work on peace and security by supporting Mediterranean countries in addressing new security challenges.
Another area of cooperation is migration and mobility. The Commission and the High Representative want to strengthen cooperation on migration “on the basis of comprehensive, balanced, tailor-made and mutually beneficial partnerships, in line with the New Pact on Migration and Asylum”. They also want to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement and propose to harness the benefits of legal migration and mobility, while respecting EU and Member State competences.
Finally, they are building a partnership on the environmental transition - climate resilience, energy, and the environment – with a view to harnessing the potential of a low-carbon future, protecting the region’s natural resources, and generating green growth.
The Communication is accompanied by an ‘Economic and Investment Plan for the Southern Neighbours’, which aims to “help stimulate long-term socioeconomic recovery, promote sustainable development, address structural imbalances in the region, and exploit the region’s economic potential” and to implement the measures proposed in the Communication.
The Commission proposes to mobilise up to €7 billion under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – including guarantees and mixed financing under the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) – which should help mobilise private and public investment of up to €30 billion.
See the communication: https://bit.ly/3aQBSdA and the plan: https://bit.ly/3q3OWCY (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)