On Thursday 4 September, when presenting the future ‘Pact for the Mediterranean’, due to be published on 16 October, the European Commission’s director-general for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf, Stefano Sannino, called for closer relations between the EU and the 10 countries around the Mediterranean.
He told Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs: “The region is in turmoil, and, given the world’s geopolitical situation, we need to strengthen relations”, as the “potential is there”. “The EU and neighbouring southern countries must strengthen their cooperation. In an exercise of co-management, we need to develop our common Mediterranean area”, he added.
Although consultation between the European Commission departments has not yet begun, the director-general revealed the structure of the pact, which will be supplemented by an action plan expected in early 2026.
The pact will focus on three areas: people, a stronger and more integrated economy and, finally, security, resilience and migration management.
Regarding the first pillar, people, the pact emphasises skills, education and technical and vocational training, as well as culture, tourism and sport.
The economic focus is on trade, investment, support for start-ups, renewable and clean energy, the blue economy, digital connectivity and decarbonising transport.
Finally, the third pillar will focus on security and defence, resilience, new migration management, border security and judicial cooperation.
Joint working groups will be set up, with quarterly meetings, to monitor the pact’s implementation and contribute to the preparation of ministerial meetings. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) will be involved.
The previous day, during a presentation by Mr Sannino to the Member States, the ambassadors stressed the importance of an ambitious and modernised European approach to the region and cited projects relating to the economy and growth, education, energy, migration, trade, security and stability, the climate and the environment as areas for cooperation. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)