In November 2025, the European Union and Southern Mediterranean countries celebrated a significant milestone: the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Conference, which launched the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. On the eve of this jubilee, Brussels unveiled a new “Pact for the Mediterranean”, aimed at revitalizing the EU’s relationship with its southern neighbors amid a shifting regional landscape.
Over the past three decades, the dynamics in the Southern Mediterranean have undergone profound changes. Regional interactions have diversified; countries have expanded their external ties, reducing their dependence on the EU and, conversely, their interest in deepening cooperation with Brussels. This evolving reality has sparked concern within the EU about losing influence in a region historically considered a strategic priority.
In recent years, European policymakers and analysts have increasingly acknowledged that despite providing substantial humanitarian aid, the EU’s role in regional processes remains limited. The prevailing narrative now calls for a transition from reactive crisis management toward a proactive, strategic engagement that adapts to the new regional environment. This shift underscores the necessity for the EU to recalibrate its Mediterranean strategy, aligning it with current geopolitical and socio-economic realities.
A New Direction in Brussels’ Middle Eastern Policy
Since December 2024, the European Commission’s renewed leadership has signaled an intent to invigorate Brussels’ approach toward the Mediterranean. In July 2024, the Commission identified a more targeted policy toward neighboring regions, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive EU strategy for the Middle East, with Europe playing an active role in regional stability and security.
Concrete steps followed. In December 2024, Brussels appointed a dedicated Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, a seasoned EU official, to spearhead efforts. Her portfolio includes formulating an EU strategy for the Middle East, with key priorities such as advancing the two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, fostering strategic partnerships, supporting the Palestinian Authority, and engaging with Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Dubravka Šuica emphasized that the EU must evolve from a donor to a regional leader, positioning itself as a key actor shaping regional stability.
Among her initial mandates was drafting a new “Pact for the Mediterranean,” which she describes as a “triple opportunity”: to reaffirm the region’s importance for the EU, rebuild trust through dialogue, and develop a shared agenda of priorities. She underscored the symbolic significance of the Mediterranean as “Mare Nostrum” (“Our Sea”) and stressed the need for careful stewardship.
Institutional Reforms and Strategic Realignment
In early 2025, the EU undertook structural reforms to support this strategic shift. In February, the European Commission announced the creation of a new Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf (DG MENA), tasked with fostering robust regional partnerships for prosperity, security, and resilience. Simultaneously, a Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighborhood (DG ENEST) was established, reflecting a nuanced approach to different neighboring regions, including the Gulf states, which are now incorporated into the broader Mediterranean vision.
At the July 2025 “MedCat Days” conference in Barcelona, Dubravka Šuica articulated that the intended goal is to connect not just two shores of the Mediterranean but three: the north, south, and Gulf states. This broader perspective aims to position the Gulf as an integral part of the EU’s Mediterranean strategy, emphasizing cooperation on peace, security, and prosperity.
The “One Sea, One Pact, One Future” Initiative
The new EU initiative, titled “One Sea, One Pact, One Future,” was presented by the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs in October 2025, marking the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona process. It seeks to reenergize EU relations with ten Southern Mediterranean countries from Morocco to Syria by establishing a partnership grounded in shared ownership, creativity, and responsibility.
The Pact emphasizes a pragmatic and flexible framework structured around three interconnected “pillars”: people, economy, and security/migration. Its core philosophy advocates a “bottom-up” approach, prioritizing joint initiatives that benefit communities and economies on both sides of the Mediterranean. The Pact aims to foster regional and local cooperation, build resilience against environmental, social, and economic challenges, and promote sustainable development.
A key focus is on “people as the drivers of change,” with investments in youth education, vocational training, cultural exchanges, and sports. Initiatives such as the Mediterranean Youth Parliament and the establishment of a Mediterranean University aim to cultivate a common language of cooperation and innovation.
The economic pillar targets modernizing trade and investment, advancing green energy and clean technologies, managing water resources, and developing blue economy sectors like fisheries and maritime transport. Flagship projects include the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Initiative (T-MED) and StartUp4Med, a regional startup support mechanism.
Security and migration form the third pillar, with plans to enhance disaster preparedness, establish a regional fire management center in Cyprus, and improve cooperation on border management, counter-terrorism, and organized crime. A special emphasis is placed on legal migration pathways, talent partnerships, and addressing demographic disparities – acknowledging the opposite population trends on either side of the Mediterranean.
Broader Ambitions and Future Outlook
The Pact envisions extending its scope beyond the traditional South Mediterranean neighbors, potentially engaging the Gulf Cooperation Council, Sub-Saharan Africa, Turkey, the Western Balkans, and the Black Sea region. While the current package does not include a dedicated financial envelope, existing EU instruments – NDICI-Global Europe, Global Gateway, and the upcoming Global Europe – will underpin its implementation. The EU aims to mobilize private sector investments and has proposed doubling the Mediterranean regional budget to €42 billion for 2028-2034.
Transparency and accountability are central, with regular monitoring at EU and regional levels, alongside annual ministerial meetings to review progress. An action plan detailing specific projects and participating countries will be launched in early 2026.
Challenges and Strategic Implications
The renewed EU approach underscores its recognition of the Mediterranean’s strategic importance amid complex global challenges: the Ukraine conflict, US-China rivalry, regional instability, and the Gaza war. These crises have exposed internal divisions within the EU and diminished its influence in the region, prompting Brussels to seek a more proactive and inclusive partnership model.
However, this pragmatic pivot raises questions about the future of the EU’s normative agenda – particularly its promotion of human rights and democratic reforms – which risk being sidelined in favor of stability and security priorities. Scholars warn that the language of equality and shared responsibility may mask underlying geopolitical interests and pragmatic compromises, potentially limiting the EU’s capacity to advocate for long-term democratic principles.
Furthermore, with growing competition from Russia and China, and a more uncertain transatlantic relationship, Brussels’s efforts to engage Southern neighbors and Gulf partners are driven by a desire to diversify energy supplies, curb dependence on Russian hydrocarbons, and counterbalance Chinese influence.
As Europe marks three decades since the launch of the Barcelona process, the new “Pact for the Mediterranean” represents an ambitious attempt to redefine EU regional strategy – emphasizing partnership, local ownership, and pragmatic cooperation. Whether this initiative will translate into a transformative shift in relations with Southern neighbors or remain a symbolic gesture depends on its effective implementation and the evolving geopolitical context. For now, Brussels is taking steps to “cast off,” aiming to navigate the turbulent waters of regional and global change with a more proactive, inclusive approach.
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