Written by Branislav Stanicek.
The Pact for the Mediterranean was announced in the Commission political guidelines for 2024-2029 and adopted on 16 October 2025. It is a new strategic framework proposed by the European Union (EU) to strengthen cooperation with southern Mediterranean partners and build a more integrated, stable, and prosperous Common Mediterranean Space. Launched on the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Barcelona Declaration, this Pact was presented as an ‘ambitious paradigm shift’ in Euro-Mediterranean relations – moving towards deeper integration based on co-ownership, co-creation and joint responsibility. The Pact sets out a comprehensive agenda across three interlinked pillars, each with actionable initiatives: people; sustainable and integrated economies; and security, preparedness and migration management.
By scaling up existing programmes and launching new joint initiatives, the Pact for the Mediterranean offers a blueprint to turn common challenges into shared opportunities. It calls on policymakers to unite their efforts in a spirit of partnership. By following through on these recommendations – investing in people, integrating economies, bolstering security, and collaborating across borders and tiers of government – the EU and its Mediterranean neighbours aim to co-create a future of peace, prosperity and stability for the region.
On 20 November, the Council approved conclusions on the Pact for the Mediterranean. A Pact for the Mediterranean ministerial meeting is scheduled for 28 November, in Barcelona, to launch the Pact formally and commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration. The meeting will also launch the Union for the Mediterranean Regional Forum.
Read the complete briefing on ‘The Pact for the Mediterranean: Co-creating a space of peace, prosperity and stability through a genuine partnership‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
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