The EU, in its ongoing efforts to deepen institutional cooperation and integration with its southern bloc, announced on Thursday, October 16th, a new “Pact for the Mediterranean“, a flagship initiative jointly developed by the European Commission and the External Action Services. The Pact aims to build a more resilient southern neighborhood amidst global challenges and instability.
The Southern Mediterranean Partners refers to ten countries in the southern neighborhood; Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, and Tunisia.
According to Euro News, the Pact’s document focuses on migration, trade, border management and raw materials. Amongst others, it also addresses climate change efforts such as renewable energy, decarbonization, water scarcity, digitalization and AI.
The initiative is guided by three core principles: co-ownership, co-creation, and joint responsibility
The Pact
The importance of the Mediterranean as a geopolitical hotspot was highlighted by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
She stated, ” The geopolitical importance of the Mediterranean cannot be overstated. The region connects three continents [..]With the new Pact for the Mediterranean we open a new chapter and a chance for more productive cooperation and lasting stability in the region”.
The project aims to enhance economic integration across the Mediterranean sea, building on previous efforts to create a Common Mediterranean Space that promotes security and prosperity, while creating more opportunities for people and businesses through regional projects.
The project is split up into three main pillars:
- People: education and training to develop skills and jobs to support initiatives in culture, tourism, sports, and mobility
- Sustainable and Integrated Economies: Promoting sustainable energy, integrating supply chains, and improving digital infrastructure to support a more sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean basin
- Security and Disaster Preparedness: Addressing migration management, resilience, and establishing a regional forum for peace and security, in collaboration with Southern Mediterranean partners
The pact also aims to engage with partners beyond the region, including the Gulf, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Western Balkans and Turkey.
While the creation of an action plan is scheduled for early 2026, a proposal for political endorsement is expected in November 2025.
Bottom-Up Approach and Criticism
European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, emphasized that the Pact adopts a bottom-up approach, engaging not only with governments but also with people on the ground. However, some civil society representatives have criticized this process. NGO EuroMed Rights Vice-President Moatax El Fegiery argued that the consultation was limited and did not fully represent the “victims” of certain regimes included in the Pact.
The Mediterranean Project Context
The pact comes against a backdrop of growing global insecurity and instability, building on years of efforts to engage in extensive and inclusive dialogue with the Southern Mediterranean partners.
This engagement dates back to 1995 with the signing of the Barcelona Declaration, which established a framework for multilateral cooperation in the Mediterranean. In 2021, the renewed Agenda for the Mediterranean further emphasized shared interests and strengthened cooperation. The latest pact reflects the EU’s strategic goals of enhancing security not only along its borders but also across the wider Southern Mediterranean region.
