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The European Union aims to reset its approach to Mediterranean partners and build cooperation on equal terms, E.U. foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in Brussels.
She and European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica presented the E.U.’s new Mediterranean Pact during the Ministerial Meeting in Barcelona.
Kallas said the region’s importance has grown as security concerns deepened after the war in Ukraine. The Mediterranean has shaped much of her foreign policy agenda, she noted, pointing to issues ranging from Syria’s collapse to the war in Gaza.
Stronger partnerships and broader cooperation could support shared prosperity and security, she argued. “We need to reset our relations. The new Pact for the Mediterranean is part of this reset,” she said.
According to Kallas, education and culture stand at the front of this renewed effort. More than one hundred ideas are under discussion, including a Mediterranean University and proposals for artificial intelligence factories. She also said ministers would devote significant attention to the situation in Gaza.
Suica said the Pact contains a wide range of concrete initiatives that aim to deliver measurable results for citizens and economies.
She stressed the goal of securing long-term stability and prosperity. The plan to establish a Mediterranean University sits at the centre of this vision, and she said the E.U. wants to expand Erasmus Plus to create more mobility opportunities for students, researchers and academic staff. “This is about brain circulation, not brain drain,” she said.
A Youth Parliament will also be created, and talent partnerships will grow to support labour mobility, skills development and the participation of young people in public debate. Suica highlighted further projects that focus on innovation and economic cooperation, including a startup ecosystem with funding, mentoring and legal support for entrepreneurs.
The E.U. also plans to introduce T Med, a renewable energy and clean technology initiative that draws on the region’s solar, wind and green hydrogen potential.
She said the Pact also places strong emphasis on tackling irregular migration. Counterterrorism, efforts to prevent radicalisation and stronger operational cooperation against organised crime will form part of the wider strategy.
Suica added that the E.U. wants this Pact to differ from previous Mediterranean agendas by ensuring implementation and practical results.
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