European Commission Approves the Mediterranean Pact
The European Commission has approved the Mediterranean Pact.
The Mediterranean Pact will strengthen cooperation and economic ties between the shores of the Mediterranean and beyond. It will also contribute to the creation of a common Mediterranean space that is connected, prosperous, resilient, and secure.
The Pact adopts a practical approach, focused on concrete initiatives that will bring added value to people and economies across the Mediterranean. The goal is to create mutual benefits, from clean energy production to unlocking private investment. This objective will be achieved by mobilizing regional projects that generate opportunities for both people and businesses, with particular attention to youth, women, and small enterprises.
The Pact is built on three main pillars:
- People as the driving force for change, connections, and innovation – These actions include the promotion of higher education, vocational training, skills and employment, youth empowerment and civil society, mobility, culture, tourism, and sport, with a strong focus on youth. A flagship project under this pillar will be a Mediterranean University, which will connect students from all shores of the Mediterranean.
- Stronger, more sustainable and integrated economies – These initiatives focus on modernizing trade and investment relations, promoting clean energy and technologies, water resilience, the blue economy and agriculture, digital and transport connectivity, and job creation. In this context, a trans-Mediterranean initiative for renewable energy and clean technologies (T-MED) and StartUp4Med will be among the flagship projects. A more sustainable and regenerative blue economy in the Mediterranean basin will also be promoted.
- Security, preparedness, and migration management – Efforts will address common security challenges, enhancing regional preparedness, and cooperating on a comprehensive approach to migration.
The Pact is also open to dialogue with partners beyond the Southern Mediterranean, including the Gulf, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Western Balkans, and Turkey. Strengthening cooperation between the EU, the Middle East and North Africa, and the Gulf region is a key goal of the Pact.
The Pact is proposed for political endorsement by the EU and Southern Mediterranean partners in November 2025, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process.
The initiatives proposed under the Pact will be incorporated into a dedicated action plan, which will specify the participating countries and stakeholders for each initiative. The initial action plan is expected in the first quarter of 2026. It will be a living document, allowing for the addition of new initiatives over time. Regional organizations, civil society, and youth organizations will be invited to support its implementation, while EU institutions will be regularly updated on its rollout.
The Pact is the result of a consultation process involving, among others, Southern Mediterranean partners, EU Member States and institutions, neighboring countries in the wider region, as well as representatives from civil society, the private sector, academia, think tanks, and cultural and economic organizations.