The European Union unveiled a new strategy on Thursday aimed at revitalizing and strengthening its relations with countries in the southern Mediterranean, including Lebanon and North African nations such as Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, and Syria.
Dubravka Šuica © EC - Audiovisual Service
The European Union unveiled a new strategy on Thursday aimed at revitalizing and strengthening its relations with countries in the southern Mediterranean, including Lebanon and North African nations such as Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, and Syria.
Dubbed the "Mediterranean Pact", the initiative focuses on boosting economic cooperation, investment in culture and green industries, and expanding collaboration on migration policy.
European Commissioner Dubravka Šuica acknowledged that southern Mediterranean countries may have felt sidelined in recent years as the EU focused on Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and the Western Balkans.
"Maybe at some point, people in the southern Mediterranean felt that we were too focused on other regions and that they were being left behind," she said in an interview.
The new pact aims to correct that perception by laying out a framework for renewed partnerships, designed to bring mutual benefits and long-term cooperation.
Migration and Legal Pathways at the Core
Migration remains a central issue. The EU hopes to create conditions that encourage young people to build their futures at home, while also establishing legal pathways for migration to Europe, Commissioner Šuica explained.
Although the pact is not yet accompanied by specific funding or implementation mechanisms, the European Commission said financial resources and detailed plans will follow in 2026.
Toward a Common Mediterranean Space
According to the Commission, the pact will promote a shared Mediterranean space that is connected, prosperous, resilient, and secure. Priorities include:
The EU said the document was drafted in close consultation with 10 partner countries, signaling a shift toward more inclusive and balanced regional cooperation.
The United States delivered a pointed assessment at the UN Security Council Thursday, accusing the Assad regime of having "permitted or turned a blind eye" to Hezbollah's activities and captagon trafficking networks, allowing the Iran-backed group to "sow destruction in Syria and across the region."
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 45-day extension of a ceasefire that has tamped down the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, as two days of talks facilitated by Washington concluded on Friday with an agreement to hold further meetings in the coming weeks.
Egyptian authorities on Thursday exhibited a plaster blocking wall of King Tutankhamun's tomb in Luxor and unveiled two restored ancient tombs on the West Bank of the city that date back to the New Kingdom and contain scenes of daily life and funerary rituals.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
