The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, announced on Friday 26 February that European leaders had agreed to strengthen the dialogue between the two shores of the Mediterranean.
“We have a number of key priorities: strengthening the resilience of our economies and societies, preserving our collective security, meeting the challenge of mobility and migration, and providing opportunities for young people on both sides of the Mediterranean”, Mr Michel told the media.
In his view, this should be based on a strengthened and intensified political dialogue across the Mediterranean.
At the end of the videoconference, several leaders stressed the need to implement concrete projects. “We support the relaunch of a strategic partnership that promotes prosperity and stability in the Mediterranean region, based on concrete projects of common interest”, explained the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa. His Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, considered it necessary to implement the actions already adopted as soon as possible, in order to strengthen cooperation.
One tool to achieve this is the recent Joint Communication from the European Commission and the EU High Representative on ‘A renewed and strengthened partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood’ (see EUROPE 12654/8). In their declaration, the members of the European Council invite the Council of the EU to look into its implementation. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant, with Mathieu Bion)