The “EU Charter for the Mediterranean” was officially launched on Friday, coinciding with the convening of the 10th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean, attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi.
اضافة اعلان
The charter was unveiled jointly by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Region Dubravka Šuica, and Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares.
The charter represents a strengthened political and financial commitment between the European Union and the Southern Mediterranean countries, aimed at advancing shared priorities. These include the green transition, digital transformation, human capital development, and enhancing regional stability.
The launch aligns with the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration, which laid the foundation for a comprehensive partnership between the EU and the Southern Mediterranean.
The charter underscores the strategic importance of the Mediterranean region for the European Union and seeks to enhance relations with southern partners by creating a shared Mediterranean space and deepening cooperation.
The European Council highlighted the importance of building bridges between peoples and states to foster mutual understanding and generate opportunities for sustainable growth and development. It pointed to the significant potential for greater economic integration, increased trade and investment, economic diversification and value-chain development, the expansion of the blue economy, and enhanced energy cooperation. Strengthening connectivity between the EU and its southern partners is also a key priority, with the goal of creating job opportunities and enhancing economic stability and resilience to address social inequalities.
The Council emphasized that tackling climate challenges, environmental degradation, and water scarcity remains a shared priority—particularly through the implementation of the Barcelona Convention—alongside a focus on education, youth employment, cultural heritage protection, and addressing demographic challenges in the region.
The charter includes support for stronger cooperation in peace, security, and defense, including conflict prevention, mediation, combating organized crime, and ensuring maritime safety and security. It also encourages building the capacities of Mediterranean partners and facilitating interregional exchange.
The Council called for joint work with Southern Mediterranean countries to promote human rights, good governance, democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental freedoms.
Regarding migration, the Council stressed a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach across the full migration cycle, rooted in rights-based principles. This aims to curb irregular migration, protect migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in vulnerable conditions, and ensure effective return and readmission policies.
The Council concluded by underscoring the importance of strategic communication to strengthen public awareness and understanding of the political commitment embodied in the EU Mediterranean Charter.
