On 16 October, the European Commission and the High Representative set out a new ambitious strategy to strengthen EU relations with its Southern Mediterranean partners. Building on our historical and cultural ties, the Pact for the Mediterranean will focus on areas of mutual interest where we share challenges and aspirations.  The Pact for the Mediterranean will step up cooperation and economic ties between the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and beyond. It will contribute to building a Common Mediterranean Space that is connected, prosperous, resilient and secure.

The Pact is built on the principles of co-ownership, co-creation and joint responsibility. It takes a practical approach, centred around concrete initiatives that will bring added value for people and economies on all shores of the Mediterranean. The goal is to create mutual benefits – from producing clean energy, to unlocking private investment. This will be achieved by mobilising regional projects that create opportunities for people and businesses alike, with a particular focus on youth, women, and small businesses.

In addition, the Pact also provides an opportunity to further advance our cooperation on security, preparedness and migration management. Areas of common interest such as maritime security, the resilience of our critical infrastructure and foreign interference are among the actions identified for stronger regional peace and security cooperation.

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 transposed into a dedicated Action Plan, which will specify the participating countries and stakeholders for each initiative. The initial Action Plan is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026. The Action Plan will be a living document to which new initiatives can be added over time. Regional organisations, civil society, and youth organisations will be invited to support its implementation while EU institutions will be regularly kept informed about its roll-out.