The European union has launched a sweeping new initiative-the New Pact for the Mediterranean-aiming to revitalize its relationship with North African and Middle Eastern partners. Announced in November, the pact seeks to address pressing regional challenges like economic instability, climate change, and security concerns through increased cooperation and investment. This aspiring framework builds upon the foundations of the decades-old Barcelona Process,but promises a shift toward more equitable partnership and shared responsibility. Morocco is poised to play a key role in the Pact’s success, advocating for expanded connections across the Atlantic as well as the mediterranean.
Thirty years after the Barcelona Process, the European Union has unveiled a New Pact for the Mediterranean, aiming to fundamentally redefine cooperation between the two shores.
Barcelona – The European Union is seeking a renewed partnership with North African and Middle Eastern nations with the launch of the New Pact for the Mediterranean, announced on November 23rd during the 10th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean. The initiative comes as the region faces increasing geopolitical and climate challenges, and represents a significant attempt to revitalize the Euro-Mediterranean relationship.
The pact, presented by European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas, seeks to address long-standing concerns about the existing framework and establish a more equitable and responsive partnership. It prioritizes citizens by focusing on projects spanning infrastructure, energy interconnection, digital connectivity, education, innovation, mobility, and migration management. Key proposals include the creation of a Mediterranean University, bolstering green energy corridors, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and enhancing maritime security.
A central tenet of the new pact is a focus on human development, with commitments to expand mobility, employment, and training programs for young people – a demographic facing significant economic exclusion in the region. Security cooperation will also be strengthened, with increased efforts to combat terrorism, organized crime, and human trafficking, alongside a focus on resilience to migration and climate crises.
European institutions are framing the Pact as a paradigm shift, moving away from top-down approaches toward a model of co-construction, co-decision-making, and shared responsibility. The goal is a more pragmatic and effective collaboration, officials said.
Morocco, a key partner at the crossroads of Euro-Mediterranean ambitions
Morocco has welcomed the initiative as a “turning point,” according to the country’s ambassador to Madrid, Karima Benyaich. Having undertaken significant reforms in areas like energy transition, innovation, and regionalization, the Kingdom views the Pact as a strategic opportunity to solidify its role as a key hub between Europe and Africa.
Rabat is advocating for the inclusion of an Atlantic dimension within the Pact, aiming to better connect African, Mediterranean, and European spaces. This vision is already reflected in projects like the Atlantic Gas Pipeline and cooperation surrounding the Tanger Med port. However, questions remain regarding the Pact’s implementation.
Currently, the Pact remains a broad framework with operational details, a precise timeline, and a detailed budget still to be determined. While the European Commission has pledged to clarify investment plans within the next multi-annual budget, skepticism persists, fueled by past commitments that have gone unfulfilled.
This caution is understandable given the historical challenges of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, which have often been hampered by bureaucratic complexities, a lack of transparency, and structural imbalances in the relationship between the two regions.
To break with this legacy, the Pact will require strong institutional capacity, effective inter-ministerial coordination, enhanced transparency in project management, and intelligent integration with national policies, particularly from Morocco’s perspective.
The success of the Pact also hinges on its reception by civil society, young people, entrepreneurs, researchers, and local authorities. It must move beyond a technocratic level and become relevant to the daily lives of citizens to be truly effective.
Ultimately, the New Pact for the Mediterranean represents the most ambitious attempt in three decades to reimagine cooperation between Europe and the Southern Mediterranean. It comes at a time of strategic realignment for the EU, which is seeking to strengthen partnerships in a region grappling with security, climate, and economic crises. The development underscores the EU’s growing focus on its southern neighborhood.
For Morocco, this presents a unique, though not guaranteed, opportunity. The future of the Pact – and with it, the prospect of a more integrated, resilient, and collaborative Mediterranean – will depend on its execution, governance, and the alignment of interests.
Sami Nemli / Les Inspirations ÉCO
