At a high-level event organized by the ECR Group, European Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica spoke about strengthening the partnership between the European Union and Africa, focusing on Mediterranean neighbors. She highlighted the recent adoption of the Pact for the Mediterranean, which aims to enhance cooperation with countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
Šuica outlined that this initiative seeks sustainable socio-economic development beneficial to both Europeans and their partners around the Mediterranean. “There is a joint determination on both sides that the Pact needs to deliver tangible benefits. For everyone around the Mediterranean,” she said.
The Commissioner explained that the Pact builds on existing EU initiatives like Global Gateway and aligns with Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa. These efforts focus on energy, digital and transport connectivity, as well as human capital development. “Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa, Global Gateway, and the Pact for the Mediterranean share the same DNA. They are built on partnership, sustainability, and win-win opportunities,” Šuica stated.
She noted that since 2021, over six billion euros in EU support have been allocated to projects in the Southern Mediterranean region. Including investments supported by Member States, as well as those backed by institutions such as the European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), more than 77 billion euros have been mobilized by last year.
Šuica highlighted specific flagship projects under Global Gateway in the region: “The Medusa Submarine Cable system…not only enhances digital connectivity but empowers universities, entrepreneurs, and young innovators with access to global markets.” The cable has reached Marseille with planned extensions to Jordan and potentially Lebanon.
Another project mentioned was Jordan’s Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination initiative designed to address water security issues by transporting desalinated water from the Red Sea northward to Amman.
Šuica also introduced T-MED—the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy and Clean Tech Cooperation Initiative—which will boost investment in solar, wind, green hydrogen, and clean technologies across North Africa and Middle East. She described T-MED as offering a “triple win: faster decarbonisation and more energy security; increased competitiveness on all shores of Mare Nostrum; quality jobs and inclusive socio-economic development.”
She emphasized that these partnerships are not one-way: “We are doing it together with our Mediterranean partners in a partnership of equals.”
Addressing concerns about migration related to educational initiatives within these programs, Šuica clarified: “Several sources have been spreading disinformation…arguing [the] Pact would become a channel to facilitate migration from our Southern Neighbourhood. This simply is not true.” She explained plans include investing in student exchanges among universities across Europe and southern neighbors but do not facilitate migration into Europe.
Concluding her remarks Šuica stressed delivering concrete results: “At the end of the day, success of Global Gateway, Mattei Plan, [and] Pact for Mediterranean depends on our ability to deliver concrete projects and tangible results.”
Guillaume Mercier served as spokesperson for this event.
