European Commissioner Dubravka ŠUICA at the Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Pact of the Mediterranean
10 November 2026
Contents updated on 10 Nov 2026
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European Commission
Follow its sittings00:03 - 03:02
Speaker 1
Thank you, Michael, dear acting Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Ambassador Hajjali, dear rapporteur of ARLEM, President Malpertuis, dear senior officials. First of all, let me thank you for coming this morning here to Brussels. As Michael rightly said, it has been 1 year since we launched the Pact for the Mediterranean, our common framework to provide stability, security and shared prosperity in the region. And I am proud to say that despite the challenges our region is facing, the Pact is delivering. All of the EU Member States and Mediterranean partners sitting around this table are shaping and implementing it together.
You have been active participants in our many initiatives, and it shows in the results. You know best what fits your countries and your regions. Here, I am also looking at the Union for the Mediterranean, the only international organisation to bring all our countries together at the same table, and ARLEM whose insight has been invaluable as well. Regional and local authorities play a crucial role for the Pact for the Mediterranean and for our actions to reach citizens. I know I speak for the colleagues in our services when I say this, we look forward to continuing to work in such successful cooperation because it is clear from the annual written update you have received, we are making real progress turning words on paper into impact on the ground.
Let me give you some examples. On pillar 1, for example, the Mediterranean University is moving forward. We already set up a secretariat with three implementing partners. The next step will be to launch a call for expressions of interest to set up university consortia and Med campuses. And of course, this work builds on synergies with our research and innovation centres and the upcoming Mediterranean science diplomacy centre.
Just last month, we discussed this progress with the UfM during their High Education and Research Week. We count on you to build this higher education alliance, bringing together universities from around the Mediterranean. In addition, work is progressing to invest in the untapped potential of young people across our region. As announced by President von der Leyen during her State of the Union address this September, we are launching the Mediterranean Youth Skills and Jobs Initiative. Consultations with key stakeholders will soon be convened.
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