New Pact for the Mediterranean: turning vision to impact?
The European Commission’s New Pact for the Mediterranean, unveiled on 16 October, seeks to reinvigorate Euro-Mediterranean relations at a moment of geopolitical upheaval. With instability in Lebanon and Libya, an end to the civil war in Syria and growing competition with Russia and China, the initiative is designed to anchor a more strategic vision for the “Common Mediterranean Space”. But without new funding or firm political backing, turning the ambition into reality will be challenging.
The Pact sets out a cooperation framework for countries around the Mediterranean and the wider Middle East – from Morocco to Jordan but also Gulf states and Türkiye. Aimed at deepening regional integration, it rests on three pillars: human development (such as scaling up Technical and Vocational Education and Training programmes), economic potential (notably renewable energy cooperation), and security, preparedness and migration management. The Pact aims to balance strategy with tangible results.
While the EU’s Global Gateway dominates development cooperation with its focus on strategic investments, connectivity and critical supply chains, the Pact brings human development to the fore. Its focus on skills, education and Talent Partnerships could boost mobility amid changing labour-market needs in both the EU and neighbouring countries and across sectors, including agriculture, health and tourism. Its integrated approach could complement Global Gateway by linking economic investment with jobs and training opportunities for wider social impact.
Although not meant to overshadow the broader cooperation framework, migration management still looms large in the Pact’s third pillar, which lists reducing irregular migration, countering people smuggling and improving return and readmission as priorities. But by coupling these with education, skills development and mobility pathways, the Pact could support a more balanced approach to migration cooperation.
However, with no dedicated budget line and most EU external funds programmed until 2027, the Pact’s success will hinge on member-state and private-sector contributions, especially for new regional initiatives. EU bilateral deals with Tunisia, Egypt and others are embedded in existing EU financing mechanisms.
With endorsement expected in November, sustained political will and financial commitment from across EU member states will determine whether the Pact becomes more than words on paper.
Helena Hahn is a Policy Analyst within the European Diversity and Migration programme.
The support the European Policy Centre receives for its ongoing operations, or specifically for its publications, does not constitute an endorsement of their contents, which reflect the views of the authors only. Supporters and partners cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
