The Commission presented the Mediterranean Pact – European Firefighting Center in Cyprus
The European Commission presented the Mediterranean Pact today. This is a new strategy from the Commission to strengthen the EU’s relations with its partners in the Southern Mediterranean, which includes three pillars. As emphasized by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, “the Mediterranean region has enormous geopolitical significance,” while referring to recent events, stressing that the region is “on the razor’s edge,” pointing out that “we need to change our relations with our southern neighborhood.”
– The pillars of the Plan –
The first pillar is the people. This pillar includes the establishment of a Mediterranean University, “through an alliance,” as stated by the Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica, which will connect students from both shores of the Mediterranean, as well as the creation of artificial intelligence laboratories in the region. Additionally, it includes civil society and culture, under a mechanism for connecting our cultural institutions. Furthermore, it encompasses sports sectors, focusing on youth, with increased mobility through the Erasmus program.
The second pillar is the economy. This practically means actions for modernizing trade and investment relations in the region, digital and transport connectivity, as well as job creation. “In this context, a Mediterranean Renewable Energy initiative will be one of the flagship projects of this pillar.”
The third pillar includes security and migration. It signifies actions for a more comprehensive approach to the issue of migration. The goal is to create a holistic approach to border management and security, and, as emphasized in the presentation, “a holistic approach to migration management will be promoted, as well as a common approach for integrated border and security management, which will include operational partnerships to combat the illegal trafficking of migrants.”
Additionally, in initiatives for disaster prevention and response, a European Firefighters Hub will be established in Cyprus, and there will also be an Early Warning Center for potential disasters.
A key element of the Pact, as emphasized in the presentation, is the strengthening of cooperation between the EU, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf region. For this reason, it is open to collaborations with other regions, including Turkey and the Western Balkans.
Finally, the Commission’s proposal will be reflected in a special Action Plan, which will be agreed upon with the 10 southern partners of the EU. (16/10/25)
