JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS The Pact for the Mediterranean One Sea, One Pact, One Future
Date: 2025-10-16
Institutions: Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf, European Commission
Subjects: Mediterranean region (EU), Mediterranean third countries, Southern neighbourhood, climate change, economic cooperation, environmental protection, migration, regional policy, sustainable development, trade cooperation

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION HIGH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY Brussels, 16.10.2025  JOIN(2025) 26 final  JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS The Pact for the Mediterranean    One Sea, One Pact, One Future  
 
 
1.  INTRODUCTION  

Together, the European Union (EU) and partners across the southern Mediterranean1, share a 
space  of  common  opportunities,  challenges  and  responsibilities:  it  is  our  Common 
Mediterranean Space. We work in partnership for a stable and prosperous Mediterranean. 

Since the establishment of the Barcelona Process2 in 1995, creating an area of common peace 
and prosperity in the Mediterranean region has been a strategic goal for the European Union. 
Building on an existing set of institutions and formats for cooperation, the 2021 Agenda for 
the Mediterranean and its  Economic and Investment Plan (EIP)3 has provided a further 
boost,  mobilising  an  EU’s  total  funding  to  the  Southern  Neighbourhood  under  the  EIP  of 
approximately EUR 6 billion, thus triggering around EUR 27 billion in investments for several 
concrete flagship projects. 

The appointment of the first ever European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, working 
in  close  cooperation  with  the  High  Representative  of  the  European  Union  for  Foreign 
Affairs and Security Policy, highlights the EU’s ambition to step up and have a more focused 
approach to the Mediterranean.  

The Pact  for  the  Mediterranean  (‘the  Pact’)  reflects  this  strategic  ambition.  We  want 
to strengthen this  relationship  and  achieve  deeper  integration  within  the  Common 
Mediterranean  Space.  The  aim  of  the  Pact  is  to  bring  about  a  paradigm  shift,  which  is 
necessary  to  realise  the  full  potential  of  our  partnership  and  to  work  together  based  on  the 
principles of co-ownership, co-creation and joint responsibility. 

The Mediterranean region stands at the crossroads of three continents - Europe, Africa and Asia 
- and is a vital bridge for economic partnership, cultural exchange, and dialogue between these 
diverse regions. The current global and regional geopolitical context calls for closer political 
relations and a reinforced partnership. In particular, the effects of the war in Gaza reverberate 
in  the  Middle  East  and  beyond  leading  to  increased  insecurity  and  instability.  The  recent 
agreement on ending the Gaza conflict is a historical milestone and offers a chance for Israel, 
Palestine and the broader region to forge a credible political path towards lasting peace and 
security,  based  on  the  two-state  solution.  While  the  immediate EU  priority  is  to  ensure 
sufficient humanitarian aid reaches Gaza, the EU will also contribute by providing support for 
the governance and reform of the Palestinian Authority, funding for the reconstruction of Gaza, 
including through convening the Palestine Donor Group, and by strengthening the presence of 
its EU CSDP missions. 

Recent  conflicts  and  unrest  -  including  in  Lebanon,  Syria, Yemen,  and  Iran  -  have  further 
escalated tensions, impacting on maritime security and international trade. The Mediterranean 
region also faces the threat of spill-over effects from the insecurity and instability in Africa, 
especially in the neighbouring Sahel region, which is of strategic importance for North African 

1 The southern Mediterranean encompasses the 10 partners of the Southern Neighbourhood: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, 
Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine*, Syria and Tunisia.  
* This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the 
individual positions of the Member States on this issue. 
2 Barcelona Declaration and Euro-Mediterranean partnership | EUR-Lex. 
3 JOIN(2021)2. 

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countries. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine also impacts the region in particular as 
regards food security.  

The  Pact  is  an  opportunity  to  reshape  our  essential  relations  and  to  underline  our 
commitment  to  peace,  security  and  the  multilateral  rules-based  international  order, 
providing a clear political signal of partnership on the global stage.  

The  Pact  will  establish  a  practical  framework  of  cooperation  combining  strong  political 
commitment  with  a  bottom-up  approach  through  the  implementation  of  joint  initiatives  in 
priority policy areas of mutual interest. These initiatives can deliver tangible results for people 
of all ages, in particular for young people, women, small businesses and entrepreneurs. The 
Pact  will  promote  the  cooperation  of  the  regional  and  local  levels  in  the  Common 
Mediterranean  Space.  Ongoing  societal  and  economic  transformation  in  the  region  offer  a 
wealth of opportunity for cooperation that can benefit people. At the same time, addressing 
climate, environmental and security challenges together can help build and further strengthen 
the region’s resilience,  while refocusing our partnership on the industries of the future. The 
Pact  is  an  opportunity  to  direct  efforts  towards  areas  that  can  have  a  lasting  and 
transformative impact on the wider region and globally. 

The Pact is the result of an extensive consultation process with the 10 southern Mediterranean 
partners,  EU  Member  States,  the  European  Parliament,  the  European  Economic  and  Social 
Committee, the Committee of the Regions, non-EU neighbouring countries, UN agencies and 
other  international  organisations.  Given  its  unique  composition  as  an  inter-governmental 
organisation where all EU and southern Mediterranean partners are members, the Union for 
the Mediterranean (UfM) has been closely involved. The Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF) 
has also played an important role in the consultations. 

Consultations were also carried out with a wide range of stakeholders representing different 
components of civil society, including economic, cultural and social actors, academia and think 
tanks. Special attention was given to the regional and local dimension, also in light of the fact 
that they will be instrumental in the implementation of the Pact. Young people were closely 
involved  in  consultations  through  a  series  of  events,  most  notably  through  the  Euro-Med 
Youth Dialogue.  

The  outcome  of  these  consultations  was  discussed  as  part  of  the  EU–Southern 
Neighbourhood Ministerial meeting of 14 July 2025, where the 10 southern Mediterranean 
partners and EU Member States confirmed their willingness to work together pragmatically on 
the concrete initiatives and actions of the future Pact. 

Over  time,  the  Pact  has  also  the  potential  to  expand  its  scope  beyond  the  southern 
Mediterranean,  building  on  synergies  with  other  EU  initiatives. Participation  in  actions  of 
mutual  and  strategic  interest  for  the  Gulf  partners,  neighbouring  Sub-Saharan  African 
countries, notably Mauritania and Senegal, Türkiye as well as the Western Balkan partners and 
the  Black  Sea4  will  be  explored  and  encouraged  as  appropriate.  Cooperation  with  regional 
organisations – the African Union, the League of Arab States, the Gulf Cooperation Council 
– will also be pursued. 

4 The European Union's strategic approach to the Black Sea region, JOIN(2025) 135 

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The Pact will support the further stepping up of triangular cooperation in particular with 
Gulf  partners.  This  is  of  key  relevance  as  these  countries  represent  an  important  bridge 
between  Europe,  Asia  and  Africa  and  can  play  an  important  role  in  addressing  political, 
economic, development and humanitarian challenges in the southern Mediterranean, and in the 
Middle East in particular. Many focus areas of the Pact align with the priorities of the EU’s 
Joint  Communication  on  a  Strategic  partnership  with  the  Gulf5,  in  particular  on  the  green 
transition, trade, transport, regional stability and global security.  

2.  THE THREE PILLARS OF THE PACT 

The  Pact  marks  the  beginning  of  a  process,  open-ended  in  nature,  creating  a  practical 
framework for cooperation structured around three pillars:  

I.  People: driving force for change, connections and innovation   
II. 
III. 

Stronger, more sustainable and integrated economies  
Security, preparedness and migration management 

The three pillars are closely intertwined. Each one encompasses an initial set of new and 
actionable  initiatives,  as  well  as  proposals  to  scale  up  existing  actions  that  can  have  a 
transformative  impact  and  bring  an  added  value.  The  Pact  is  based  on  the  principle  of 
flexibility, which will allow for variable participation by partners in the implementation of the 
various initiatives. 

The Pact will build on existing initiatives, including the Economic and Investment Plan, the 
Association Agreements,  Partnership  Priorities,  Strategic  and  Comprehensive  Partnerships, 
other regional cooperation frameworks, as well as Member States’ national strategies6. 

All relevant EU financial instruments will be mobilised to support the implementation of 
the Pact, which is aligned with the priorities of NDICI-Global Europe 7, the Global Gateway 
and  the  future  Global  Europe8.  Contributions  from  EU  Member  States  and  southern 
Mediterranean  partners  will  be  sought  to  maximise  the  impact  and  synergies  of  actions. 
Similarly, in a Team Europe approach, EU Member States’ financial institutions, international 
financial institutions (IFIs)9 and private sector funding will be used, with a view to creating 
opportunities for people and businesses.  

The EU and the southern Mediterranean partners will work towards upholding human 
rights,  good  governance  and  fundamental  freedoms,  in  line  with  the  2030 Agenda  for 
Sustainable  Development.  They  will  simultaneously  promote  gender  equality,  non-
discrimination  and  the  rights  of  persons  with  disabilities.  This  will  underpin  the 
implementation  of  the  initiatives  and  is  an  essential  element  in  maintaining  a  vibrant  civil 
society and promoting a healthier and more conducive business environment. 

5 JOIN(2022) 13. 
6 Including the Mattei Plan for Africa and the related Rome Process. 
7 Regulation (EU) 2021/947. 
8 EU budget 2028-2034. 
9  Notably  the  European Investment  Bank  (EIB)  and  the  European  Bank for  Reconstruction  and  Development 
(EBRD). 

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I.  People: driving force for change, connections and innovation 

The Common Mediterranean Space starts with its people: it is a shared cultural, historical and 
human space. Connecting people creates bridges that foster mutual understanding and provide 
opportunities for growth and development, bringing stability and highlighting the benefits of 
working together.  

While  in  the  EU,  we  are  confronted  with  declining  demographic  trends  impacted  by  a 
combination  of  high  life-expectancy  and  decreasing  birth  rates,  the  southern  part  of  the 
Mediterranean region faces social, economic and demographic pressures. With the Pact, we 
have  an  opportunity  to  invest  in  education,  skills,  circular  migration  and  livelihoods10. 
Education has a clear and demonstrated impact on development and economic growth. While 
young  people  in  the  southern  Mediterranean  are  keen  to  engage  in  higher  education  and 
vocational training, lower graduation rates11, uneven recognition of qualifications and limited 
mobility as well as job and entrepreneurship opportunities constitute obstacles to their access 
to decent employment in national, regional and international labour markets12.  

By investing in people, supporting their choices for learning, growth and mobility, the Pact 
will help strengthen cultural, academic, social and economic ties which will make cooperation 
between the EU and the southern Mediterranean even stronger and more resilient.   

I.1.   Higher  education,  vocational  training,  development  of  skills,  research  and 
innovation 

In line with the Union of Skills13, the Pact will support the development of skills and access 
to  labour  markets  through  education  and  vocational  training.  Forging  collaborations  with 
institutions and private sector in the Common Mediterranean Space will aim at positioning the 
region as a hub for transnational education, innovation, research and development, contributing 
to resilience and reconstruction. Universities, education and training institutions, research and 
technology infrastructures, industries, foundations and cultural actors will have an important 
role to play in this context.  

The Pact will build on the high-level political dialogue on higher education at ministerial level, 
as well as  successful  cooperation  with  southern Mediterranean partners under Erasmus+,  to 
create a more integrated and inclusive higher education and skills development environment in 

10 JRC143548. Data show that, approximately in three decades, the southern Mediterranean region will transition 
towards similar demographic patterns as those currently observed in the EU. Currently, most of the countries in 
the southern part of the Mediterranean have a ratio between working age population and older person (over 65) 
between 12 and 15%. However, by 2060, this ratio is expected to fall to around 5%, just above the levels observed 
in  the  EU. These  changes  will  require  the  shift  in  economic  growth  models  from  a  reliance  on  an  expanding 
workforce to a focus on boosting labour productivity.   
11  JRC143548. The  average  gross  graduation  ratio  from  first  degree  programmes  (ISCED  6  and  7)  in  tertiary 
education for the 6 southern Mediterranean countries with available data is 32.7%, versus an EU average of 44.1%. 
12 The ratio of the active population (i.e. people either in employment or actively looking for employment) to the 
working  age  population  is  below  50%  in  southern  Mediterranean  countries,  and  only  30%  for  women.  This 
compares with almost 75% in the EU. Ratio of active population to working age population 15-65, 2023, Eurostat.  
13 COM(2025) 90. 

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the Common Mediterranean Space including through the launch of the new Mediterranean 
platform on higher education. 

In addition, education efforts can benefit from intergenerational fairness offering the chance to 
unite the energy of youth with the experience of older generations, turning diversity of age into 
a shared strength for innovation and cohesion. 

Higher education, skills, research and innovation  

The initiative will create a more integrated and inclusive environment for higher education 
and skills, notably by:  

•  Establishing  a  Mediterranean  University,  which  will  be  an  institution  with 
campuses  in  the Common  Mediterranean Space,  with  programmes on humanities, 
natural and technical sciences. This will build on the experience of higher education 
institutions in the region and the European University alliances, making use of and 
complementing existing capacity-building actions under the Erasmus+ programme. 
It  will  promote  staff  and  students’  exchanges  across  selected  universities  and 
business schools from the region, in an inclusive manner, and aim at developing joint 
curricula/programmes, joint degrees, as well as other educational activities, such as 
summer schools and joint micro-credentials.  

•  Enhancing student and staff mobility in higher education under the Erasmus+ 
programme,  as  well  as  promoting  the  mobility  of  researchers  under  the  Marie 
Skłodowska-Curie Actions of the Horizon Europe Programme. 

•  Establishing and further developing Innovation and Research Centres, bringing 
together  universities  and  the  private  sector  to  improve  knowledge  and  technology 
transfer, involving innovators, startups and investors. 

•  Establishing a Mediterranean Science Diplomacy Centre to bridge science and 
policy, and to train diplomatic and technical staff in cross-border negotiation, joint 
project design, and evidence-based policy advice. 

•  Supporting intergenerational mentoring programmes for sharing knowledge and 

experience with youth. 

Bridging the gap between education and vocational training, on one hand, and equal and 
decent employment opportunities, on the other hand, is key to ensuring a smooth transition 
to,  and  within, 
labour  markets  and  enhance  competitiveness.  Promoting  women’s 
empowerment and addressing the gender employment gap is essential to unlock the potential 
of  economies  and  societies  across  the  Common  Mediterranean  Space.  Expanding  labour 
migration  pathways  between  the  EU  and  southern  Mediterranean,  including  for  seasonal 
workers,  remains  of  crucial  importance  to  match  offer  and  demand  in  labour  markets  and 
promote economic growth14.  

14 JRC143548. Migration has a beneficial effect for the welfare of countries in the  southern Mediterranean and 
alleviates labour market pressure in the EU. Studying in the EU represents an increasingly important channel of 
entry into the EU labour market for nationals from the southern Neighbourhood.  

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Bridging the skills and qualification gap in labour markets  

The  initiative  will  aim  at  supporting  the  smooth  transition  of  workers  in  southern 
Mediterranean partners  to  regional, national  and  international  labour markets.  It  will  cove 
different employability areas, notably by:  

•  Scaling up existing Technical and Vocational Education and  Training (TVET) 
ecosystems  by  aligning  vocational  training  with  the  needs  of  the  labour  market  to 
cover  sectors  of  mutual  interest,  including  in  agriculture  and  food  processing,  the 
digital and cultural sectors, and innovative tourism. 

•  Supporting  the  development  of  schemes  modelled  on  Youth  Guarantee15 
National Plans tailored to regional and local contexts to ensure that young people 
find opportunities in labour markets. 

•  Establishing a MED Skill Tracker to document the skills acquired by beneficiaries 
of EU or partners’ projects. The MED Skill Tracker will facilitate the recognition and 
transferability of skills and enhance international and circular mobility opportunities 
under  existing  programmes  and  initiatives16.  This  will  contribute  to  Talent 
Partnerships.  

•  Enhancing quality apprenticeships and improved work-based learning models, 
notably by promoting southern Mediterranean partners’ participation to the European 
Alliance for Apprenticeships. 

I.2.   Culture, sport and tourism 

The Mediterranean has an impressive breadth of both tangible and intangible cultural and 
natural heritage. With over 60 UNESCO World Heritage sites and a dynamic contemporary 
architectural  and  artistic  scene,17  the  southern  Mediterranean  region  offers  a  powerful 
testimony  to  our  joint  roots  and  offers  a  foundation  for  future  cooperation  through  culture, 
sustainable  cultural  tourism,  including  food  traditions18,  education  and  heritage-driven 
development.  

Cultural  sites  and  institutions,  as  well  as  museums,  should  be  more  than  exhibition 
venues, acting as drivers of change, economic development and inclusive growth, having the 
potential  to  trigger  rehabilitation  and  revitalisation  of  urban,  coastal  and  rural  areas. 
Engagement with the public and private sector, as well as local and international donors and 
foundations,  is  key  to  unlock  their  potential.  By  promoting  sustainable  tourism  and 
management of heritage sites, regions can ensure that their heritage becomes a lasting source 
of economic and social benefits. Protecting art, cultural and natural heritage from pillage and 
trafficking (and protecting the rights of contemporary artists) remain areas of mutual interest.  

15 The reinforced Youth Guarantee - European Commission. 
16 Such as Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, PRIMA, THAMM+, MPF programmes, Medusa Connectivity Network 
and with the support of the ETF Mediterranean Skill Observatory. 
17 UNESCO World Heritage Centre - World Heritage List. 
18 Including through the possible extension of the AfrIPI - International cooperation project. 

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Cultural heritage sites and museums can become spaces for reflection and dialogue open 
to a variety of communities, thus offering opportunities for cultural resilience and cohesion. 
Arts, music, traditional  arts and crafts, and cinema have the ability to  promote mutual 
understanding,  diversity,  inclusion,  and  socio-economic  development.  The  Pact  will  foster 
actions including the launch of a high-level dialogue on cultural cooperation, which will also 
focus on cultural heritage. 

Investing in sport strengthens cohesion, overcomes social divides and promotes inclusion. 
Further to the health and economic benefits, it plays a key role in engaging youth and fostering 
a  sense  of  belonging.  Upcoming  important  sports  events19,  which  bring  together  countries 
across  the  region  offer  promising  opportunities  for  regional  cooperation,  sustainable 
connectivity and help promote equality and non-discrimination. 

Deepening  inter-religious  dialogue  contributes  to  mutual  understanding  and  peaceful 
cooperation to address common challenges. 

Building on lessons learned from Erasmus+, Creative Europe and Horizon Europe, the Pact 
will explore avenues to further enhance cooperation building on existing EU initiatives in the 
field of research, culture, youth and sport.  

Euro-Med initiative for culture, sport and tourism 

The  initiative  will  foster  a  multi-stakeholder  network  of  public  and  private  sector,  civil 
society,  foundations,  tourist  operators  and  universities  to  promote  cultural  heritage  and 
creative industry, cultural tourism and sport, notably by: 

•  Protecting and valorising cultural heritage: 
o  Establishing  a  dedicated  mechanism 

to  protect  and  promote 
Mediterranean cultural heritage by pooling public and private resources. 

the 

o  Creating  Mediterranean  Cultural  Pathways  to  reinforce  the  shared  cultural 

Mediterranean space. 

o  Extending  the  common  European  Data  Space  for  Cultural  Heritage  to 
southern Mediterranean partners, with the objective of advancing digitisation and 
preserving their cultural heritage. 

•  Building a collaborative digital platform ‘CulturIT’ to promote the matchmaking 

of cultural activities. 

•  Ensuring participation to major cultural events and improving residencies for 
artists and other cultural actors, including through regional networks for talent. 
•  Ensuring  participation  to  activities  linked  to  the  #BeActive  Campaign  and 
European Week of Sport to raise awareness about the benefits of sport for physical 
and mental health. 

•  Collaborating with  the Mediterranean  Games  to  further  raise the profile of this 
established event, in particular among young people, to promote the benefits of sport 
and its positive impact in combating stereotypes and fostering inclusiveness. 

19 Such as the Mediterranean Games and World Cup 2030  

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I.3 Empowering civil society, youth and local communities 

Civil society and local communities are deeply rooted in the reality on the ground. Their work 
-  supporting  local  communities  in  delivering  social  and  community  services,  in  raising 
awareness  about  key  societal  challenges,  enhancing  democratic  participation,  empowering 
women and young people, and in supporting digital literacy - contributes to a more inclusive 
society. They are also key in improving the situation of vulnerable groups, including persons 
with disabilities. 

An  active  and  empowered  civil  society,  alongside  parliaments  and  public  institutions,  can 
facilitate local dialogue, and enable better design and implementation of policies to the benefit 
of  citizens. A  thriving  media  environment  is  essential  for  ensuring  an  open  and  inclusive 
discussion  space.  Similarly,  advancing  development  at  regional  and  local  level  through 
integrated and participatory approaches can support balanced growth, both across urban and 
rural areas. 

The Pact will enhance efforts to promote an enabling environment for civil society and help 
local communities to build capacity to perform their roles effectively. 

Empowering civil society, youth and local communities 

The initiative will aim to support a vibrant civil society and local communities as vectors of 
development  and social cohesion.  It  will empower key actors that can concretely support 
their communities, notably by:  

•  Establishing a Youth Parliamentary Assembly for the Mediterranean to gather 

the voice and input of the youth. 

•  Supporting  the  development  of  a  Mediterranean  civic  service  through  the 
creation  of  a  platform  designed  to  connect  young  individuals  across  the 
Mediterranean region with a diverse range of volunteering opportunities both within 
their  own  countries  and  throughout  the  region.  This  initiative  will  build  on 
volunteering initiatives and complement other mobility initiatives, fostering a deeper 
mutual understanding among young people in the Common Mediterranean Space.  

•  Empowering  women-led  organisations  as  pivotal  influencers  within  their 
communities by actively involving them in the design and execution of initiatives 
across various sectors, such as upskilling,  higher education, and business support. 
The  action  will  build  also  on  the  experience  developed  to  support  women-led 
start-ups notably in rural and remote areas.  

•  Strengthening support for media organisations, by facilitating capacity-building 
initiatives,  providing  opportunities  for  collaborative  projects  and  fostering  the 
exchange  of  experiences.  The  action  will  strengthen  our  ongoing  cooperation  to 
support young influencers in the region.  

•  Enhancing  cooperation  mechanism  at  local  level,  inspired  by  the  Covenant  of 
Mayors approach, to promote social inclusion at local and municipal level for citizens 
of all ages, including for people in vulnerable situations. 

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II.  Stronger, more sustainable and integrated economies 

Deeper trade relations and economic integration help ensure stability and economic resilience. 
The EU and southern Mediterranean partners have strong and long-standing economic ties and 
enormous potential to further increase the economic integration of markets across the region to 
create sustainable growth and job opportunities. Our economies are complementary and can 
offer significant mutual benefits.  

The success of the Pact will also rely on the capacity to mobilise public and private investment 
at large scale. The Global Gateway20 in the Mediterranean can boost smart, clean and secure 
investments in the digital, energy, water resilience, innovative farming and transport sectors, 
while strengthening health, education and research systems in alignment with the EU’s Clean 
Industrial Deal21.  

II.1. Trade and investment opportunities 

The EU is the first trading partner of the southern Neighbourhood (accounting for 41% of the 
region’s trade in goods with the world in 2024). Southern Mediterranean partners often point 
out the need to develop value chains and attract and retain higher volumes of direct investments. 
At  the  same  time,  trade  and  investment  require  predictable  environments,  macroeconomic 
stability, regulatory convergence and a level-playing field between public and private sectors. 

The  region  presents  substantial  economic  and  trade  opportunities  underpinned  by  its 
human  capital,  competitive  renewable  energy  and  transport  costs,  and  accelerating  digital 
transition.  The  restructuring  of  global  trade  opens  new  opportunities,  as  the  southern 
Mediterranean  can  play  a  role  in  the  diversification  of  supply  chains.  Building  on  bilateral 
partnerships, the Pact  will contribute to  intensify the joint  work to  build a robust economic 
landscape, promoting sustainable trade and investments, and further integrate supply chains, 
including in the health and agriculture sectors as well as on clean energies and technologies, 
crucial to boost competitiveness and decarbonisation prospects of the Common Mediterranean 
Space.  The  Pact  will  reinforce  cooperation  on  critical  raw  materials  to  ensure  resilient, 
transparent, and sustainable supply chains in key sectors, such as fertilisers.  

20 JOIN (2021) 30.  
21 COM(2025) 85.  

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Modernisation and strengthening of  trade and  investment  relations for more inclusive, 
resilient and sustainable growth  

The initiative aims at leveraging the potential of existing trade agreements22and engaging 
in new initiatives to strengthen economic integration, notably by:  

•  Supporting the modernisation of bilateral trade relations in a more flexible and 
targeted  manner,  through  new  forms  of  engagement  in  key  sectors  of  mutual 
interest,  while  ensuring  effective  implementation  of  commitments  to  remove 
non-tariff barriers to trade, in order to increase predictability and build investors trust. 
•  Exploring  Sustainable  Investment  Facilitation  Agreements  with  interested 

partners for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI). 

The  initiative  will  promote  and  attract  investment  to  support  innovative  and  digital 
economies, and enhance supply chain integration, notably by: 

•  Enhancing the business and investment environment, regulatory convergence, 
and simplification of customs’ procedures, including through technical assistance 
to support economic reforms of partner countries23. 

•  Scaling  up  national  and  thematic  investment  platforms,  bringing  together  the 

private sector, IFIs and national financial institutions. 

II.2. Leveraging startup ecosystems 

Despite many structural challenges, the southern Mediterranean region has experienced a rise 
in  entrepreneurial  activity,  relying  on  a  young,  tech-savvy  population  and  growing  investor 
interest. Gradual diversification and structural transformation of the economy are taking 
place at the local level, including both, urban and rural areas, creating new opportunities to 
develop  national  and  regional  value  chains  while  increasing  complementarity  for  economic 
integration.  To  fully  harness  this  potential,  it  is  essential  to  support  local  production  and 
businesses, including in agriculture. This will require further exploration of the role of local 
social  entrepreneurship  and  alternative  business  models  as  key  drivers  of  inclusive  and 
sustainable economic growth. 

22 These include the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention on preferential rules of origin. 
23 Including in the context of the EU macro-financial assistance where relevant. 

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StartUp4Med 

The initiative will unlock the growth and job creation potential of startups, and micro, small 
and  medium-sized  enterprises  (MSMEs),24  providing  opportunities  to  expand  economic 
participation, in particular for youth and women. It will establish links with existing sectoral 
mechanisms25 and align with the EU Startups and Scaleups Strategy.26 This will be achieved 
by: 

•  Setting up a regional startup support mechanism to improve access to finance and 
investment  mobilisation.  European  financial  institutions,  through  a  Team  Europe 
approach, will be mobilised combining with alternative financing channels, such as 
honour loans, crowdfunding, and blended finance 27. 

•  Setting  up  an  Open  for  Business  programme addressed  to  the  private  sector  to 

identify areas of concern and facilitate legal and regulatory simplification.  

•  Developing  a  Policy  Toolkit  to  promote  the  formalisation  of  MSMEs,  including 
through  simplified  administrative  procedures,  financial  incentives,  and  social 
protection linkages. Informal micro-entrepreneurs will benefit from targeted support 
such as coaching, legal assistance and skills certification. 

II.3. Digital infrastructure and cybersecurity 

The digital and artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is reshaping economies and societies.  
There is a strong incentive to partner in this area to unlock the potential of digital, data and AI 
solutions to enhance the competitiveness and efficiency of our economies and societies, while 
also  ensuring  security,  sovereignty  and  alignment  with  core  values,  human  rights  and  good 
governance principles.  

A  true  interconnection  through  secure  and  trusted  digital  infrastructures  across  the 
Mediterranean is a fundamental goal not only to bring our economies and citizens closer 
together but also to increase shared security and seamless communication. Data flows are vital 
for economic and societal development and will open new opportunities for people, businesses 
and organisations across the Mediterranean.  

Improving  access  to  online  public  services,  coming  forward  with  e-governance  and  digital 
public  infrastructure  (DPI)  solutions,  securing  critical  infrastructure,  improving  digital 
governance and regulations and protecting digital rights remain paramount in this context. 

The  availability  of  open  data  and  information  by  the  EU-owned  space  systems,  such  as 
Copernicus,  enabled  by  digital  infrastructures,  can  contribute  to  increasing  business 
opportunities in the region. 

24 According to World Bank statistics, MSMEs in the southern Mediterranean accounts for 90% of the total number 
of businesses and contribute two-thirds of GDP and 75% of employment.  
25 BlueInvest is open to innovative blue economy start-ups and tech SMEs from the Med. 
26 COM(2025) 270. 
27 The  Regional  Start-up  Mechanism  could  leverage  the  experience  of  the  European  Innovation  Council-  EIC 
venture Capital Funding to support European Deep Tech Innovation in particular for the  countries in the region 
associated to Horizon Europe and are already benefitting from it. 

11 

 
 
 
Tech Business Offer for integrated digital and data economies  

The  initiative  aims  to  put  forward  a  Tech  Business  Offer  for  southern  Mediterranean 
partners28, notably by:  

•  Supporting the roll-out of secure and trusted digital infrastructure in the areas 
of subsea-cable systems, 5G networks, rural broadband connectivity, and data 
centre infrastructures by:  

o  Connecting  all  interested  countries  in  the  region  through  submarine 
cable systems such as Medusa and Blue-Raman, with the possibility to also 
extend it to Gulf partners. This will facilitate secure and seamless exchange 
of data, including through interconnections with existing initiatives such as 
the EU-Africa-India Digital Corridor, also linking it to IMEC and T-MED. 
o  Offering technical and financial support for the roll-out of secure and 
trusted 5G and data centres in the region by involving IFIs, EU and national 
financial  institutions,  in  line  with  the  5G  Toolbox  and  other  relevant 
legislation29 and provided by trusted suppliers. 

•  Launching  a  regional  telecommunications  capacity  building  programme and 
exploring  the  potential  for  appropriate  telecom  frameworks,  including 
cooperation on roaming, among the interested southern Mediterranean partners.  
•  Building  on  the  model  of  the  EU Digital  Innovation  Hubs  and  the  EU  AI 
factories30, accelerating the build-up of AI ecosystems, including the deployment 
of  AI  and  data  infrastructure  and  support  to  universities,  SMEs,  industry  and 
startups to  develop  and  apply  AI  across  various  sectors  such  as  manufacturing, 
healthcare, agriculture, or climate. 

•  Sharing expertise and concrete e-Governance solutions in the areas  of digital 

identities and DPI by:  

o  Making use of open-source trust services, digital identity, and secure and 

data protection compliant DPI solutions.  

o  Simplifying  cross-border  government  and  business  exchanges  while  also 

facilitating citizens’ mobility. 

• 

Increasing technical exchanges and cooperation on cybersecurity, including to 
support capacity to detect, prepare for and respond to cybersecurity threats and 
incidents.  

II.4. Investing in renewable energy and clean technology 

The  Mediterranean  is  a  climate  change  and  biodiversity  hotspot,  at  risk  from  increasing 
environmental challenges and pressures. The Pact will set out a common agenda to unlock 
the  southern  Mediterranean’s  renewable  energy  potential  and  deliver  a  triple-win: 
accelerating  regional  decarbonisation,  improving  energy  security  and  enhancing  industrial 
competitiveness. A transition towards an efficient, reliable and sustainable energy model 

28 In line with the EU International Digital Strategy, JOIN(2025) 140.  
29 The EU toolbox for 5G security. 
30 AI Factories | Shaping Europe’s digital future. 

12 

 
 
 
is essential for the region. In line with the Clean Industrial Deal, a resource-efficient circular 
economy,  including  renewable  energy  development  and  clean-tech  manufacturing,  offers 
significant socio-economic benefits and attracts FDI. These objectives will be pursued through 
flexible  and  modernised  bilateral  trade  frameworks  and  new  forms  of  engagement,  such  as 
sustainable investment facilitation agreements and partnerships on clean trade and investment 
in the context of the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy and Clean Tech initiative. This 
will be developed also via stronger cooperation with Gulf partners, as well as with Sub-Saharan 
Africa.  

Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy and Clean Tech Initiative (T-MED) 

The initiative will support mutually beneficial trans-Mediterranean cooperation by advancing 
domestic energy transition and clean-tech developments in southern Mediterranean partners, 
while creating economic opportunities and facilitating renewable energy trade and industrial 
partnerships across the region, notably by: 

•  Establishing  a  T-MED Investment  Platform,  which  will  serve  as  a  coordination 
tool  to  develop  a  pipeline  of  projects  in  renewable  energy  generation,  grid 
infrastructure,  including  domestic  transmission  and  distribution  grids  in  southern 
Mediterranean  partners,  that  are  related  to  Projects  of  Mutual  Interest  identified 
pursuant to the TEN-E Regulation, and clean-tech manufacturing. The platform will 
bring  together  project  promoters,  IFIs,  EU  and  national  financial  institutions,  EU 
financial instruments and private investors to catalyse large-scale investment with a 
focus on blending and de-risking solutions.  

•  Creating  a  dedicated  regulatory  mechanism  to  support  southern  Mediterranean 
partners  in  implementing  targeted  regulatory  and  energy  sector  specific  reforms31 
linked to investment readiness and access EU financial instruments.  

•  Modelling  energy  systems  to  better  assess  economic,  sustainability  and  security 
impacts  of  higher  penetration  of  renewables  as  well  as  new  energy  infrastructure 
projects for the region. 

•  Giving access to a Technical Support Instrument, serving as one-stop portal for 
renewable energy, energy efficiency, electrification, and clean tech-related technical 
assistance.  

•  Establishing a certification and renewable energy trade support programme to 
enable  cross-border  trade  in  renewable  electricity  and  renewable  hydrogen.  A 
practical  handbook  will  be  launched  to  guide  implementation  of  certification 
schemes and pilot cross-border Guarantees of Origin.32  

•  Boosting  industrial  collaborations  in  clean  tech  to  foster  robust  industrial 
partnerships between European and southern Mediterranean companies across critical 
value  chains.  This  can  include  solar  and  wind  energy,  electrolysers  and  clean 

31 These may include  grid access for third parties, power purchase agreements, tariff transparency and reform 
including  cost-reflectivity,  unbundling,  liberalisation  of  wholesale  and  retail  markets,  cross-border  trade  and 
regional integration). 
32 Regulatory cooperation with southern Mediterranean countries will be needed to enable uptake of requirements 
for both renewable electricity and fuels, compatible with EU framework. Specific agreements with third countries 
will be needed to enable mutual recognition of guarantees of origin. 

13 

 
 
 
hydrogen production, as well as heating and cooling technologies, grid and storage 
technologies,  heat  pumps  and  energy  efficiency  technologies  in  the  industrial  and 
building sectors.  

•  Supporting  the  establishment  of  country-specific  European  energy  and  clean 
tech business organisations on the ground. This can be done in cooperation with 
the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and European industrial clusters. A dedicated 
stakeholder  platform  will  be  established  to  pinpoint  priority  sectors,  develop 
comprehensive, gender responsive action plans, and actively engage the EU private 
sector.  This  platform  will  also  play  a  central  role  in  facilitating  co-investment 
opportunities  and  negotiating  off-take  agreements 
long-term 
collaboration in synergy and complementarity with the EU Energy and Raw Materials 
Platform.  

that  underpin 

•  Developing  a  T-MED  Skills  Agenda33,  which  will  be  instrumental  to  address 
workforce  and  gender  gaps  and  align  training  with  the  needs  of  industry  and 
employers.  

II.5 Towards a sustainable and resilient Mediterranean 

Climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss heavily affect the Mediterranean region and its 
resilience.  The  clean  transition  also  represents  an  opportunity  to  boost  sustainable 
competitiveness in the region. The Pact will allow to harness the benefits arising from such 
transition, while addressing growing climate change impacts and environmental degradation, 
including in the framework of a possible Global Treaty against plastic pollution. The Pact will 
also  address  the  region’s  vulnerability  to  climate  change  and  environmental  degradation  by 
supporting  effective  planning  and  mobilising  available  funding  streams  for  sustainable 
investments, both international and domestic, private and public.  

Partnership for clean transition, sustainable growth and resilience 

The initiative aims to support regional cooperation and local partnerships on environment, 
including in the context of the Barcelona Convention34, and on climate in advancing clean 
transition and climate-resilient economic development, notably by:  

•  Enhancing  collaboration  with  interested  southern  Mediterranean  partners  on 
climate solutions, through dialogue and by promoting knowledge sharing as well as 
delivering targeted technical assistance on climate mitigation instruments, including 
carbon pricing. 

•  Developing climate adaptation investment pipelines by strengthening national and 
local capacities to develop and implement projects, while leveraging partnerships with 
IFIs, climate funds, and private stakeholders. 

•  Establishing  a  regional  plan  to  facilitate  investments  in  modern  wastewater 

treatment and solid waste management. 

33 Action linked to existing renewable energy partnerships (Pact for Skills) and related Erasmus+ projects such as 
SHOREWINNER. 
34 Barcelona Convention and Protocols | UNEPMAP. 

14 

 
 
 
 
•  Launching  new  Partnerships  for  Water  Resilience  to  strengthen  cooperation  on 

integrated water resource management, in particular water reuse. 

•  Reinforcing  the  Green  Forward  initiative,  empowering  in  particular  SMEs,  to 
promote  circular  economy  and  resource-efficiency,  eliminate  single  use  plastics, 
support  bioeconomy  and  promote  regulatory  dialogue  on  circularity,  including  for 
example on textiles. 

•  Supporting  the  joint  implementation  of  the  Global  Biodiversity  Framework 
notably the implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, and 
the  creation,  expansion  and  management  of  protected  areas,in  particular  marine 
protected areas. 

II.6. Promoting a sustainable Blue Economy 

The Mediterranean Sea sustains millions of livelihoods but faces growing environmental and 
economic pressure. The Pact will foster a fair, sustainable, and competitive blue economy in 
line with the European Ocean Pact35, including in the framework of the next MedFish4ever 
Ministerial Declaration, shaping the next General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean 
(GFCM) beyond 2027. Moreover, in line with the EU Water Resilience Strategy36, the Pact 
will strengthen water governance and promote efficient, sustainable use of water through the 
water–energy–food–ecosystems nexus.  

Blue Mediterranean health and wealth 

The initiative aims to restore natural resources of Mediterranean ecosystems, strengthen its 
resilience,  improve  sustainability  of  fisheries  and  aquaculture  practices  and  international 
fisheries governance, as well as boost blue tech innovation, notably by: 

•  Supporting investments in sustainable blue economy solutions through the Blue 

Mediterranean Partnership and the BlueInvest platform. 

•  Launching  the  Community  of  Practice  for  the  EU  Blue  Economy37  to  offer 
guidance based on data collection, development of data standards, methodologies, as 
well as analysis and research.   

•  Enhancing ocean diplomacy to work together with southern Mediterranean partners 
in promoting adherence to international governance standards38 and improving legal 
frameworks related to regional fisheries management. 

•  Developing a new project to increase the control and inspection capabilities of 
coastal states in order to enhance regional fisheries governance and combat illegal, 
unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing through capacity building, in monitoring, 
control and surveillance.  

•  Strengthening regional cooperation to ensure more coherent and sustainable use 
of  marine  space  through  maritime  spatial  planning,  as  enabler  for  nature 
protection and coexistence of activities at sea.  

35 COM(2025) 281. 
36 COM(2025) 280. 
37 European Union Blue Economy Observatory. 
38 Notably to ratify and implement the BBNJ Agreement. 

15 

 
 
 
•  Launching  the  ‘From  Water  to  Market’  initiative,  to  support  producers, 
cooperatives, and associations in the aquatic sector to expand the value added of their 
production, improve processing and reach new market, including  access to finance 
and investment.  

•  Strengthening  joint  research  and  innovation  on  water-energy-food-ecosystems 

(WEFE) nexus building on PRIMA.39  

•  Scaling  up  the  ‘Blue  Mediterranean  Mission’40  for  restoration  and  resilience, 
providing  research  and  innovation  solutions  to  restore  the  Mediterranean  Sea  and 
water’s  ecosystems  and  biodiversity,  halt  pollution  at  sea  and  from  land-based 
sources, reduce ocean noise, increase climate- and water- resilience, and preparedness 
of coastal communities to extreme events. 

II.7. Sustainable transport and increased connectivity 

A well-connected region is key to supporting trade and emerging sectors while boosting 
the decarbonisation of economic activities. The Common Mediterranean Space often suffers 
from transport and regulatory fragmentation, underinvestment, and lack of planning capacity. 
This has substantial implications for the cross-border mobility of people, goods and services. 
It is  therefore vital  to  addressing  capacity gaps and regulatory misalignment in  the areas of 
customs, efficiency, safety, security, and environmental standards. This will make it easier to 
reach the objective of extending the EU’s Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T) and, 
where relevant, further increasing connectivity to neighbouring regions, such as the Gulf and 
beyond.  In  particular,  further  coordination  and  expansion  of  the  India-Middle  East-Europe 
Economic Corridor (IMEC) would enhance reliable transport and secure digital connectivity 
in the Mediterranean, while contributing to the economic security of the region.  

Sustainable transport for a better-connected region 

The initiative aims at providing reliable and sustainable transports solutions, notably by: 

•  Stepping up joint efforts to promote the production and uptake of renewable and 
low-carbon fuel  for  transport (maritime and aviation), in line with the principles 
laid out by EU regulations on Sustainable Aviation Fuels41, on Sustainable Marine 
Fuels42 and in the EU Ports Strategy43. This will also include seeking alignment of 
sustainable practices in line with international standards (ICAO, IMO), thereby also 
supporting the actors in the Mediterranean in their efforts on prevention of pollution 
from  ships  as  well  as  encouraging  cooperation  efforts  through  the  regional  Sea 
Conventions44 to foster a clean, secure, and safe Common Mediterranean Space. 

39 Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA). 
40 BlueMissionMed 
41 PE/29/2023/REV/1, Regulation (EU) 2023/2405.  
42 PE/26/2023/INIT, Regulation (EU) 2023/1805.  
43 P9 TA(2024)0025 – Building a comprehensive European port strategy.  
44  Several  EU  Member  States  (Croatia,  Cyprus,  France,  Greece,  Italy,  Malta,  Slovenia  and  Spain)  as  well  as 
Algeria,  Egypt,  Israel,  Lebanon,  Libya,  Morocco,  Syria  and  Tunisia  are  participants  to  the  Regional  Marine 
Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), administered by the International 
Maritime  Organization  (IMO)  and  operating  under  the  framework  of  the  UNEP-administered  Barcelona 
Convention. 

16 

 
 
 
links  and  through 

•  Improving  connectivity  across  the  region  via  the  expansion  of  multimodal 
transport 
interoperability  and  regulatory 
improved 
alignment, thereby making progress towards the extension of the TEN-T to countries 
of the southern Mediterranean and also linking with IMEC, T-MED and Sub-Saharan 
Africa. Connecting ports to other, low-carbon modes of transportation will provide a 
better integration of coastal hubs with inland markets. Improved regulatory alignment 
can  be  ensured  by  supporting  technical  assistance  projects  and  enhanced  policy 
dialogue. 

•  Improving air connectivity, in line with environmental standards, through continued 
work  on  existing  or  new  EU-level  air  transport  agreements  with  southern 
Mediterranean partners and supporting the single African aviation transport market. 
•  Supporting urban and rural mobility projects with EU expertise and technology 
to complement efforts made on multimodal transport by implementing the concept of 
TEN-T  urban  nodes45  and  to  promote  sustainability  –  including  through  climate 
adaptation  and  mitigation  –  and  liveability  in  the  rapidly  expanding  cities  in  the 
Mediterranean. 

II.8. Evidence-based policy making and knowledge sharing 

The  promotion  of  evidence-based  policymaking  and  knowledge  sharing  remains  of  crucial 
importance. In particular, the EU Copernicus system offers services on the state of the Earth’s 
environment, based on a full, free and open data policy and can thus support evidence-based 
decision making. Moreover, the availability of relevant and comparable official statistics and 
data is essential for evidence-based decision and policy making. 

Knowledge sharing and statistics for better decision-making 

The initiative aims to improve statistics, knowledge and data sharing between the EU and 
southern Mediterranean partners, notably by: 

•  Establishing  an  ad  hoc  mechanism  to  exchange  information  and  assess 

cross-border impacts of respective legislation.  

•  Further  developing  cooperation  with  the  National  Statistical  Institutes  of  the 
southern  Mediterranean  countries  to  provide  relevant  and  comparable  official 
statistics and data on the areas covered by the three pillars of the Pact. 

•  Sharing  best  practices  and  experiences,  using  new  data  sources  and  modern 
technologies, including AI, to develop new statistical insights and relevant statistical 
tools. 

•  Fostering  public sector  innovation  by  relying on  available  data  and  information 
from the EU space systems to prepare evidence-based decisions in many of the areas 
covered by the Pact. 

45 The concept of TEN-T urban nodes ensures (1) the recognition of the important role of cities in the overall 
transport network, (2) the drawing up of sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs) for the functional area around 
cities, (3) collecting data on safety, sustainability and accessibility, and (4) the construction of multimodal hubs. 

17 

 
 
 
 
III. Security, preparedness and migration management 

The Common Mediterranean Space is confronted with challenges related to security, natural 
and human-induced hazards, illegal migration and border management. Instability in regional 
hotspots creates insecurity, putting a strain on societies’ resilience.  

Growing  border  pressures,  cross-border  crime  and  shared  challenges  from  illegal  migration 
along key routes, demand coordinated efforts to combat migrant smuggling and trafficking in 
human  beings,  while  ensuring  safe,  orderly,  and  rights-based  approaches  that  ensure  the 
protection of migrants and refugees’ rights and promote mobility pathways, while addressing 
these interconnected issues requires sustained and collaborative cooperation to foster stability 
and prosperity throughout the region. 

III.1. Peace and security  

The rules-based international order is experiencing severe strain. Alongside traditional threats 
like  terrorism  and  violent  extremism,  and  organised  crime,  new  cross-border  threats  are 
emerging, such as cyber and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) – often 
as part of broader hybrid campaigns – or the radicalisation of minors and young adults. The 
increased exploitation of the maritime domain exposes new vulnerabilities, whether the risks 
associated  with  substandard  shipping  practices  or  the  increasing  importance  of  maritime 
infrastructure.  

These threats are among the most serious and complex common security challenges. The 
EU and southern Mediterranean partners need to engage more closely with each other and build 
resilience, also in line with the commitments of the EU Maritime Security Strategy 46. 

The  Pact  will  aim  to  achieve  a  common  understanding  of  regional  and  international 
security  landscapes,  fostering  cooperation,  including  on  areas  such  as  preventing  and 
countering terrorism and violent extremism, circumvention of EU sanctions, maritime security, 
resilience of critical infrastructure, hybrid and cyber threats, FIMI, defence capacity building, 
peace mediation, and conflict resolution.  

In the Mediterranean, EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) civilian and military 
missions  and  operations,  particularly  Operation  IRINI  and  the  EU  Integrated  Border 
Management Assistance  Mission in  Libya (EUBAM Libya), play  a central  role in  fostering 
cooperation with Libya, enhancing regional stability implementing the UN arms embargo on 
Libya, countering illicit trafficking and human smuggling. Beyond the Mediterranean, the EU 
supports its partners in the region through further CSDP civilian and military missions47.  

46 Maritime security strategy - European Commission. 
47 These include EUNAVFOR ATALANTA and EUNAVFOR ASPIDES in the Red Sea, the EU Advisory Mission 
in  support  of  Security  Sector  Reform  in  Iraq  (EUAM  Iraq),  the  EU  Border Assistance  Mission  for  the  Rafah 
Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah), and the EU Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS). 

18 

 
 
 
 
EU-Med Peace and Security Initiative 

The  initiative  will  support  a  coordinated  approach  to  concrete  peace  and  security  topics, 
notably by:  

•  Setting  up  a  regional  forum  for  the  EU  and  the  southern  Mediterranean 
countries on peace and security. The forum could provide an informal setting to 
foster joint regional situational awareness, share views and coordinate approaches on 
issues  of  common  interest,  such  as  the  regional  security  situation  and  respective 
peace  and  security  activities,  including  peace  mediation,  and  to  identify  potential 
support for strengthening partners’ capabilities. 

•  Advancing dedicated dialogues and consultations on peace, security and defence 

with southern Mediterranean partners. 

•  Exploring  potential  contributions  by  southern  Mediterranean  partners  to 
CSDP  missions  and  operations,  notably  through  new  framework  participation 
agreements48.  

•  Strengthening  partners’  capabilities,  including  through  European  Peace 
Facility (EPF) assistance measures, and further coordination and synergies with 
North  Atlantic  Treaty  Organisation  (NATO)  capacity  building  activities,  in 
respect of EU’s and NATO’s decision-making autonomy. 

•  Trainings under the auspices of the European Security and Defence College, for 
example in the area of climate change environment, and peace, security and defence.  
•  Expanding the use of the Open-Source Intelligence Toolkit to detect and analyse 
identity-based  disinformation (IBD)-focused  FIMI49  and  increasing  situational 
awareness to better address the specificities of FIMI in the region. 

•  Setting up a dialogue with southern Mediterranean partners on the security of 
submarine cables, and in line with the EU Action Plan on Cable Security50, which 
includes actions on detection, response, and recovery measures. 

•  Increasing  cooperation  on  threats  to  maritime  security,  such  as  substandard 
shipping  and  risky  navigation  practices,  including  as  part  of  the  International 
Maritime Organisation. 

•  Enhancing exchanges and cooperation on prevention of violent extremism under 
relevant  global  initiatives,  including  the  EU  Knowledge  Hub  on  Prevention  of 
radicalisation framework. 

•  Facilitating  cross-regional  exchanges  between 
Mediterranean region on cyber and health issues.  

the  EU  and 

the  southern 

•  Enhancing  cooperation  with  national  authorities  by  addressing  sanctions 
circumvention  and  the  maritime,  environmental  and  competition  risks  posed  by 
substandard shipping and risky navigation practices. 

48 The agreements define the terms of the participation of non-EU countries in EU crisis management operations 
and the relationship of those countries with the EU in carrying out the missions and operations. 
49 How to Detect & Analyse Identity-Based Disinformation/FIMI: A  Practical Guide  to Conduct Open Source 
Investigations | EEAS. 
50 JOIN(2025) 9. 

19 

 
 
 
III.2. Increasing regional preparedness  

Building a secure Common Mediterranean Space requires increasing the preparedness of the 
region to both  natural  and human induced disasters and hazards. In a region  warming 
20%  faster  than  the  global  average,  climate  change  is  expected  to  increase  the  current  risk 
landscape, acting as a threat multiplier and leading to more frequent and severe disasters that 
impact both the environment and socio-economic systems, especially threatening coastal and 
island communities.  

Wildfires, droughts, water scarcity as well as floods and extreme weather events are already 
affecting soil health and food security, which are the key factors for political stability and social 
cohesion  in  the  region.  Innovative  agriculture  plays  an  important  role  in  enhancing 
preparedness to natural and human induced disasters and hazards.  

The risk of health-related hazards underscores the critical importance of strengthening health 
security  measures  to  ensure  resilience  against  emerging  threats.  In  this  context,  besides 
building  a culture of preparedness  by design,  strengthening the capacity of and cooperation 
between public and private partners to respond to unexpected events, and increasing prevention 
of  and  joint  response  mechanisms  to  extreme  weather  conditions,  including  floods  and 
droughts,  in  line  with  the  recently  adopted  EU  Preparedness  Strategy51,  remains  a  priority. 
Following 
effective 
and 
decentralisation  and  links  with  local  authorities,  alongside  with  active  participation  of  civil 
society  organisations,  are  essential  to  ensure  prompt  responses,  leveraging  local  knowledge 
and fostering community-based resilience.   

‘whole-of-government’ 

‘whole-of-society 

approach’, 

a 

Mediterranean Disaster Preparedness 

The  initiative  aims  to  improve  regional  preparedness  and  strengthen  response  capabilities 
across  the  Common  Mediterranean  Space  through  an  all-hazards  approach.  This  will  be 
achieved, notably by:  

•  Supporting the development of an all-hazards early warning system building on 
existing  tools  (e.g.  Copernicus  Emergency  Management  Service)  in  line  with  the 
‘Early  Warnings  for  All’  initiative  and  the  Union  Civil  Protection  Mechanism’s 
disaster resilience goals linked to anticipatory action strategies.   

•  Supporting food security preparedness, building upon the model of the European 

Food Security Crisis Preparedness and Response Mechanism52. 

•  Reinforcing existing bilateral agricultural policy dialogues and establishing new 
Agri-food policy partnership dialogues with southern Mediterranean partners in line 
the Vision for Agriculture and Food53.   

•  Strengthening  synergies  on  disaster  preparedness  with  the  EU  Chemical, 
Biological,  Radiological  and  Nuclear  Risk  Mitigation  Centres  of  Excellence 
Initiative, through trainings and simulations  exercises, sharing of best  practice  and 
increasing awareness. 

51JOIN(2025)130.  
52 Ensuring global food supply and food security - European Commission. 
53 COM(2025) 75 final 

20 

 
 
 
•  Expanding  cooperation  in  civil  protection,  by  building  on  existing  regional 
initiatives and capitalising on Interreg cooperation programmes54. A new European 
Firefighting Hub based in Cyprus will also support regional neighbours55.  

•  Exploring  opportunities  provided  by  AI  modelling  in  disaster  preparedness,  in 
particular advancing crisis management and emergency response capabilities by 
integrating AI algorithms in existing services and developing multi-hazard Decision 
Support Systems under the umbrella of AI for Public Good56. 

III.3. Migration management  

Migration is a global reality. Managing it is a joint responsibility that requires close cooperation 
and a comprehensive, whole-of-route and rights-based approach in line with the external 
dimension  of  the  Pact  on  Migration  and Asylum57.  This  includes  strengthening  migration 
governance, improving border management, preventing illegal departures, supporting efforts 
to fight against migrants’ smuggling and trafficking in human beings, as well as fostering legal 
migration and mobility, in line with international law and human rights. Facilitating effective 
return, readmission and reintegration activities, as well as supporting resettlement efforts and 
providing solutions to ensure the protection of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers along the 
routes, are also an integral part of this approach. As local authorities and host communities are 
at the forefront of this work, it is essential to strengthen their capacity in this area, including by 
supporting international organisations such as UNHCR and IOM.   

54 Home - Programme Interreg Euro-MED. 
55  Existing  regional  initiatives  include  for  instance,  building  on  the  established  cooperation  in  the  domain  of 
firefighting between Cyprus, Jordan and Egypt. The creation of a new European firefighting hub was proposed 
by Commission President von der Leyen in her State of the Union 2025 speech. 
56 For instance, AI algorithms could be integrated in European Forest Fire Information System and Global Wildfire 
Information System. AI for Public Good | Shaping Europe’s digital future. 
57 COM(2024) 251. 

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Implementing a whole-of-route approach to migration management 

The  initiative  will  support  a  joint  approach  on  migratory  routes  leading  to  and  across  the 
Mediterranean. It  will also strengthen and complement bilateral  cooperation on migration, 
notably by:  

•  Strengthening the capacities to adequately manage migration and better address 
the consequences and challenges for local communities. Greater cooperation with 
relevant  actors will lead  to  increased  capacity to  prevent  and respond to  migration 
crises, through the development of early warning systems, risk monitoring tools and 
multi-stakeholders’ contingency plans.  

•  Stepping up dignified voluntary returns and the reintegration of migrants from 

southern Mediterranean partners to their countries of origin.  

•  Strengthening  cooperation  on  effective  returns  and  readmissions  of  people 

staying illegally in the EU.  

•  Enhancing  cooperation  on  preventing 

illegal  migration,  countering  migrant 
smuggling and trafficking in human beings through operational partnerships, and 
relevant projects, including as part of the Global Alliance58.  

•  Organising regional awareness raising campaigns on short-stay visa procedures 
to limit hindrances and facilitate visa issuance, with the involvement of EU Member 
States issuing visas in the concerned southern Mediterranean partners.  

•  Scaling up Talent Partnerships59 and launching the EU Talent Pool to facilitate 
links  between  EU  employers  and  job  seekers  from  partner  countries,  including  by 
facilitating visas for students, skilled workers, researchers and academics.  

•  Enhancing  the  protection  space  for  vulnerable  migrants,  asylum  seekers  and 
refugees in the southern Mediterranean in line with international obligations, notably 
through a new regional protection project for the southern Mediterranean, which 
will promote exchange of good practices on specific protection issues.  

•  Supporting Member States’ voluntary efforts on resettlement and humanitarian 

admissions. 

III.4. Law enforcement, judicial cooperation and border security 

An  effective,  rights-based  and  integrated  Mediterranean  cooperation  on  border 
management  and  search  and  rescue  is  crucial  to  transform  borders  into  safer  areas  and 
gateways for prosperity and security of the people.  

On the basis of the activities carried out as part of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant 
Smuggling,  increased  collaboration  and  information  sharing  will  aim  at  harmonised 
approaches on border and maritime surveillance, as well as checks at border-crossing points 
and during customs controls. This increased collaboration and intelligence sharing  will also 

58 Call to Action on a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling. 
59 Already launched in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. 

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strengthen  coordination  among  law  enforcement  actors  at  the  borders  to  intensify  the  fight 
against criminal networks involved in migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings and 
prevent movements of individuals likely to pose security threats.  

Substantial  cooperation  between  the  EU  and  southern  Mediterranean  partners  is  in  place  to 
improve partners’ capacities to manage borders effectively. The increasingly cross-border and 
global  nature  of  security  threats  exacerbated  by  rapidly  evolving  technology,  call  for 
strengthened and more effective cooperation. The initiative aims at disrupting and countering 
illicit activities, providing a secure and safe environment and protection for persons and goods 
in the Common Mediterranean Space.  

Secure borders 

The initiative will put in place a common approach to integrated border management and 
security, notably by: 

•  Strengthening institutional and operational border management capacities while 
ensuring  compliance  with  human  rights  standards,  through  targeted  technical 
assistance and by creating synergies with existing programmes. This assistance will 
include support for capacity building activities and the collaborative development of 
standard operating procedures. 

•  Selecting small- to medium-scale pilots for implementation, based on the actions 
and  exchanges  above,  which  could  have  the  potential  to  evolve  into  longer-term 
projects. 

•  Aligning  standards  and  expecting  customs  clearance  through  digitalisation  to 

reduce congestion and shorten transport time. 

•  Raising  awareness  and  sharing  knowledge,  such  as  through  the  EU  Common 
Information Sharing Environment for the maritime domain, starting with study visits 
and  exchanges  for  middle  to  high-level  management  from  border  management 
authorities. 

•  Fostering cooperation between border and coast guards in the Mediterranean, 
to enhance capacity building and skills in tackling maritime situations by optimising 
the use of the Mediterranean Coastguards Functions forum and other EU-Southern 
Neighbourhood cooperation mechanisms and fora. 

•  Supporting  the  negotiation  and  implementation  of  working  arrangements 
between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (‘Frontex’) and the border 
management authorities of southern Mediterranean partners. 

Crime knows no borders. It is essential to ensure a collective and coordinated response to fight 
corruption, transnational organised crime and terrorism. Greater judicial and law enforcement 
cooperation  is  critical  to  ensure  appropriate  investigations  and  the  effective  prosecution  of 
crime.  Such  cooperation  requires  a  solid  framework  for  the  protection  of  personal  data, 
procedural rights and comprehensive criminal justice frameworks. Various actions are already 
in place to support police and justice cooperation in the region. Nevertheless, bridging the gap 
between  capacity  building,  collaboration  and  tangible  operational  outcomes  remains  a 
significant  challenge  that  requires  further  convergence  of  goals.  To  address  this,  enhanced 
cooperation and the exchange of information, expertise and early warnings  between the EU 

23 

 
 
and  our  southern  Mediterranean  partners  are  essential,  to  strengthen  preparedness  on  drug 
trends and reinforce operational cooperation against trafficking with the Maritime Analysis and 
Operation Centre – Narcotic. 

MED-OP: Judicial and law enforcement cooperation 

The initiative will aim to strengthen our collective response in the fight against serious and 
organised crime and terrorism by strengthening cooperation in law enforcement and judicial 
cooperation. It will promote convergence of standards within and across the region to enable 
operational  cooperation and provide stronger safeguards  for  citizens and  their rights.  This 
will be achieved, notably by:  

•  Putting in place a regional dialogue on internal security to be regularly convened 
among  senior  security  policy  officials  from  the  Common  Mediterranean  Space, 
modelled on the EU’s Standing Committee on Operational Cooperation on Internal 
Security.  The  work  under  the  Regional  Dialogue  should  lead  to  the  adoption  of  a 
roadmap  for  operational  cooperation  in  areas  of  shared  interest,  which  will  be 
periodically updated.  

•  Guiding  collaborative  efforts  in  combating  serious  and  organised  crime  and 
terrorism including with the support of EU Member States and EU agencies, by: 

o  promoting  convergence  of  goals  and  key  reforms  on  justice  and  data 

protection, including through dedicated technical assistance; 

o  addressing key operational training gaps; 
o  setting up regular experts’ dialogues; 
o  carrying out study visits and deployment of short-term national experts;  
o  making use of dedicated technical assistance.  

•  Supporting the negotiation and implementation of international agreements and 
working arrangements including with Europol, CEPOL, Eurojust and the European 
Public Prosecutor’s Office. 

3.  IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING 

The implementation and monitoring of the Pact will be overseen by a two-layer structure, 
at the EU level and at the Euro-Mediterranean level. 

At  the  EU  level,  the  Commission  services  and  the  European  External Action  Service  will 
ensure coordination and technical oversight of the implementation of the Pact. A discussion on 
the roll-out of the Pact will take place at the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) every semester, 
on  the  basis  of  an  implementation  update  provided  by  the  Commission  and  the  High 
Representative. These discussions will allow for the preparation of the yearly EU-Southern 
Neighbourhood ministerial meeting.  

The  European  Parliament  will  be  regularly  updated  via  its  relevant  committees  and 
interparliamentary  delegations.  The  European  Economic  and  Social  Committee  and  the 
Committee of Regions will also be kept informed. The Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local 
Assembly will serve as a key institutional channel for regional and local contributions.  

24 

 
 
 
 
At Euro-Mediterranean level, a joint group at senior officials’ level will convene twice a 
year to monitor the implementation of the Pact through a dedicated action plan. The group 
will bring together representatives of the European Union and southern Mediterranean partners. 
The group will also contribute to the preparation of the yearly EU-Southern Neighbourhood 
ministerial.  Other  actors,  such  as  national  financial  institutions  and  IFIs,  civil  society 
representatives, and representatives of other countries and international organisations, could be 
invited to participate in the group’s discussions, where relevant.  

The initiatives proposed under the Pact will be transposed into a dedicated action plan, which 
will specify the participating countries and stakeholders for each initiative. The implementation 
of the action plan will be assessed jointly. It will be a living document and new initiatives will 
be added over time. 

The initial action plan will be presented in the first quarter of 2026 by the Commission services 
and the European External Action Service at the joint group at senior officials’ level and will 
be updated and reviewed jointly on a rolling basis. 

The Union for the Mediterranean has experience in building regional networks and leading 
flagship projects. With its convening power, the UfM will support the joint group meetings, 
and  it  will  also  be  a  partner  in  the  roll-out  of  the  Pact60,  including  through  its  ministerial 
meetings.  

The  Youth  Parliamentary  Assembly  for  the  Mediterranean  will  provide  an  important 
guidance  for  the  implementation  and  development  of  initiatives  under  the  Pact.  Similarly, 
regular dialogues will be organised with  civil society organisations, including academia, 
researchers, social, cultural and economic actors, as well as the business community.  

4.  CONCLUSION 

The Pact is proposed for political endorsement by the EU with the southern Mediterranean 
partners  in  November  2025  on  the  occasion  of  the  30th  anniversary  of  the  Barcelona 
declaration. 

With the Pact, we will  shape  our joint  future in  a spirit of partnership  and joint  ownership, 
developing a more deeply integrated, resilient and secure Common Mediterranean Space.  

60    The  UfM  has  developed  expertise  in  specific  areas  such  as  Education,  Employment  and  Economic 
Development, Water, Environment and Blue Economy; Crisis management and civil protection.  

25