Barcelona Launches the New Pact for the Mediterranean
The New Pact for the Mediterranean Officially Launched in Barcelona
The New Pact for the Mediterranean was officially launched on Friday in Barcelona by European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas and the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Dubravka Šuica, on the sidelines of the 10th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).
Presented as a turning point for Euro-Mediterranean partnership, this initiative encompasses over a hundred projects focused on infrastructure, digital connectivity, energy interconnections, innovation, and security.
Kaja Kallas explained that the aim of the Pact is to "place citizens at the heart of cooperation," supported by additional investments planned within the upcoming EU multiannual financial framework.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares praised this initiative as "a new step" in Euro-Mediterranean relations, built on trust and shared ambition. He emphasized the determination of the countries in the region to "move forward together," reminding us that "cooperation is always stronger than division." He also highlighted the crucial role of the UfM as a platform connecting institutions and civil society.
The Pact, described as "a promise of hope" for young people, is based on three pillars: citizens, sustainable economies, and security, which includes managing migration. It outlines actions aimed at training, employment, mobility, the establishment of a Mediterranean University, the development of trans-Mediterranean renewable energies, new infrastructure, artificial intelligence, ecosystem protection, and strengthening efforts against terrorism, organized crime, and trafficking.
Co-chaired by Kaja Kallas, Jordanian Minister Ayman Safadi, and José Manuel Albares, the Forum brings together representatives from the 43 member states of the UfM, alongside Secretary General Nasser Kamel.
Originally launched in October by Ursula von der Leyen, this Pact is the result of a year of consultations with countries from the South, spanning from the Maghreb to the Middle East.
