The European Commission on Thursday presented a new “Mediterranean Agreement” aimed at rebuilding relations with its southern neighbour, amid rising global instability.
The agreement includes several projects to be developed in 10 Mediterranean countries related to key sectors of the EU.
“We want to strengthen this relationship and achieve deeper integration within the common Mediterranean area,” the agreement reads.
“The purpose of the agreement is to bring about a paradigm shift, which is necessary to realize the full potential of our partnership and to work together on the principles of co-ownership, co-creation and co-responsibility.”
The document highlights the region’s growing role in EU supply chains for agriculture, fertilizers and critical raw materials, as well as trade integration, migration and border control.
It also mentions projects on decarbonization, climate change mitigation, renewable energy, water scarcity, disaster preparedness, private investment, digitalization and AI, as well as efforts to establish a Mediterranean University and promote education and cultural exchange.
The agreement concerns Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia and Syria.
However, there remains scope for the Gulf States, Mauritania, Senegal, Turkey, the Western Balkans and Black Sea partners to participate in the agreement’s projects.
Another approach?
At a press conference, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuka said that this time Brussels was showing a different attitude towards its partners across the sea.
“We have taken a bottom-up approach and have consulted not only the government, but also everyone on the ground in different parts of society. We underlined that we are building a partnership between equals,” Schuika told a news conference.
This was criticized by civil society representatives, who said the agreement included a “limited” consultation process.
“The publication of the agreement was preceded by a consultation process, but it was limited because many victims of regime repression in the region were not heard,” said Moatas El Feghieri, vice president of the NGO Euromed Rights.
“A clear focus on investment and trade, with no reference to democratic reforms, as was the case, for example, with the Barcelona Process, risks favoring cooperation between states in implementing the agreement.”
The Barcelona Process is an initiative launched in 1995 as a framework for cooperation between the EU and the countries surrounding the Mediterranean.
Despite several proposals to unify the region at the time, no tangible political results were achieved.
At a press conference on Thursday, in response to a question about how Brussels would compete with major global actors with strong presences in Mediterranean countries such as China and Russia, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kalas said the EU was “actively contributing by promoting a partnership of equals.”
“If you want to stay competitive, you need reliability and dependability,” Karas said.
Regarding Russia’s influence in the region, Karas said the EU was “raising the question of Russia” and called on partner countries not to evade sanctions.
