greece, croatia, israel, italy, lebanon, libya, morocco, malta, montenegro, palestinian territories, slovenia, syria, tunisia and turkiye. 6. see manoli, p. ( 2021 ), “ economic linkages across the mediterranean : trends on trade, investments and energy ”, policy paper, no 52 / 2020, hellenic foundation for european and foreign policy, january. 7. see union for the mediterranean secretariat, ufm youth strategy 2030. euro - mediterranean youth towards a common goal. 8. international labour organization, “ trade, investment and employment in the southern mediterranean countries ”, thematic report of the “ mainstreaming employment into trade and investment in the southern neighbourhood ” project, executive summary. 9. see ambrosetti, e. ( 2020 ), “ demographic challenges in the mediterranean ”, iemed mediterranean yearbook. 10. see hadibi, z. ( 2023 ), “ the migration of young mediterranean talent and the challenge of employability ”, friedrich naumann foundation for freedom, july. 11. scarrone, n. ( 2021 ), the education paradox in the southern and eastern mediterranean – youth, human capital and transition to work ”, iemed mediterranean yearbook 2021 12. see “ encyclical letter laudato si ’ of the holy father francis on care for our common home ”. 13. see union for the mediterranean, “ first scientific report on climate and environmental change in the mediterranean ”. 14. see “ summary for policymakers ” in cramer, w., guiot, j. and marini, k. ( eds. ) ( 2020 ), climate and environmental change in the mediterranean basin – current situation and risks for the future, first mediterranean assessment report by mediterranean experts on climate and environmental change, union for the mediterranean, plan bleu, unep / map, marseille, france, pp. 11 - 40. 15. escribano, g., lazaro touza, l. and urbasos, i. ( 2023 ), “ revamping the euro - mediterranean energy and climate space ”, elcano policy paper, june. 16. world trade organization ( 2023 ), world trade report 2023 – re - globalization for a secure, inclusive and sustainable future. 17.. see deandreis, m., panaro, a. and ferrara, o. ( 2022 ), “ maritime scenario in the mediterranean : analysis of the competitiveness

fostering growth and inclusion on its southern shores. it would endow young people with the skills, especially in green and digital sectors, that are necessary for a just and equitable society. and it would help all of us to meet the challenge of our times : halting the warming of the planet. conclusion let me conclude. in the late fourth century bc, a daring young man from marseille named pytheas embarked on an extensive journey. it took him north - west, across the straits of gibraltar to the mysterious island of thule and beyond. pytheas would become known as the first scientist to describe the wonders of the arctic, from the northern lights to the perpetual snow. his story exemplifies a way of life based on curiosity and a burning desire to unravel the mysteries of the world. there is no doubt that he shared this inquisitive nature with the pioneering phoenician seafarers who came before him. their curiosity helped to open up the mediterranean to its people, which in turn laid the foundations for the extraordinary exchange of goods, cultures and religions on which numerous great civilisations were founded. today, the mediterranean may have lost some of its former character. but it has not forgotten its roots, nor has its potential been dimmed. this can serve as the basis for renewing a sense of shared purpose, helping to drive the region ’ s economic reintegration and repair its social fabric. and it can help us forge closer bonds that will ultimately heal the divisions and inequalities that we cannot, in good conscience, tolerate in a just society. each of us where we can contribute. 1. see cartwright, m. ( 2016 ), “ the phoenicians – master mariners ”, world history encyclopedia, 28 april. 2. aubet, m. e. ( 1993 ), the phoenicians and the west : politics, colonies and trade, cambridge university press, cambridge, pp. 133 - 166. 3. see wilson, a. and bowman, a. ( eds., 2017 ), trade, commerce, and the state in the roman world, oxford university press, oxford, pp. 5 - 6, november. 4. see european commission, “ eu trade relations with its southern neighbourhood. facts, figures and latest developments ”. 5. in purchasing power parity ( ppp ) in 2019 for albania, bosnia and herzegovina, cyprus, algeria, egypt, spain, france,