The newly launched Pact for the Mediterranean will include a network of Mediterranean public-private agents of cultural heritage, a Mediterranean University and a Youth Parliamentary Assembly, among 100+ actions, to be specified by the end of March 2026.
By Creatives Unite NewsroomMinisters from EU Member States and Southern Mediterranean partner countries gathered in Barcelona to jointly launch the Pact for the Mediterranean, aiming the co-create a Common Mediterranean Space of "peace, prosperity and stability through a genuine partnership”.
The Pact was launched on the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration, “a milestone moment for Euro-Mediterranean cooperation”.
Focusing on people, the first pillar of the upcoming Action Plan of the Pact is proposed to include actions on cultural heritage, education and youth.
Mediterranean cultural heritage is about to be protected and promoted by building on a network of public and private stakeholders and by advancing digitalisation in the preservation of the cultural heritage.
Education cooperation includes the creation of a Mediterranean University, connecting students across the Euro-Mediterranean region and offering joint programmes, degrees and other educational activities, such as shared courses and summer schools.
A ‘Youth Parliamentary Assembly for the Mediterranean' is about to be established to support youth, local communities and civil society and strengthen social cohesion.
The Pact’s Action Plan will be specified by the end of March 2026. It will be structured on three pillars: people, economy and security preparedness and migration management.
The Action Plan will include 17 initiatives and more than 100 actions on areas of mutual interest for the ten partners of the region, the EU and its Member States, aiming to:
- Unlock sustainable investment and economic growth;
- Create opportunities for young people and businesses;
- Advance clean energy and green technologies;
- Improve water management and climate adaptation;
- Boost trade, investment and job creation;
- Strengthen education, skills and mobility across the region;
- Drive digital innovation;
- Enhance security, responsiveness and right-based migration management.
The funding for the programme will involve EU financial instruments, including the NDICI-Global Europe, the Global Gateway and the future Global Europe, as part of the MFF 2028-2034. Additional funding will be sought from EU Member States and Southern Mediterranean partners, international financial institutions and the private sector.
Background
The Pact for the Mediterranean “One Sea, one Pact, one Future” is a flagship initiative of the European Commission, jointly set out with the External Action service.
The launch of the Pact took place on Friday 28 November, this year’s Day of the Mediterranean and was followed by the 10th Union for the Mediterranean Regional Forum (UfM), which offered a “unique moment to address the region's most pressing challenges, including the situation in the Middle East”.
Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission and Dubravka Šuica, Commissioner for the Mediterranean launched the Pact.
The Council has already approved the Pact for the Mediterranean: One Sea, one Pact, one Future (20 November).
The Pact was put forward by the European Commission and the EU High Representative on 16 October 2025.
Find more here
Image 1 - Courtesy of the European Commission.
Image 2 - from the Pact's Factsheet.
