Updated Action Plan brings a total of 30 actions in one year under the Pact for the Mediterranean

One year after its launch, the Pact for the Mediterranean is delivering tangible benefits and new opportunities for citizens, businesses and communities along the entire coastline of our shared sea.

The European Commission and the European External Action Service presented the updated Action Plan to representatives of the EU Member States and partners in the southern Mediterranean, highlighting the progress made under the first set of actions of the Pact set out in the Action Plan, alongside nine new key initiatives.

With these initiatives, the total number under the Pact now stands at 30, driving forward the shared ambition of the EU and its partners to build a connected, prosperous, resilient and secure Common Mediterranean Area.

Key achievements and new actions:

First pillar: people. The driving force behind change, connections and innovation.

Progress has been made on the eight actions under the first pillar, including significant steps towards the creation of the Mediterranean University, which will strengthen transnational education and research through closer cooperation between universities and academics. Progress has also been made in establishing innovation and research centres to support scientific collaboration, skills development and competitiveness across the region. Other actions, such as the MED Skills Tracker, are progressing to help young people develop skills and access employment opportunities. These efforts pave the way for the new Mediterranean Youth Skills and Employment Initiative, announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her State of the Union address this year.

The updated Action Plan introduces two new measures. The first is the creation of a Mediterranean Centre for Scientific Diplomacy, which will serve as a regional hub for coordination, capacity-building and knowledge-sharing. The second is an initiative to raise awareness of the benefits of sport for physical and mental health across the region.

Second pillar: Stronger, more sustainable and more integrated economies.

Progress has been made on four actions under the second pillar, including the launch of the Trans-Mediterranean Cooperation Initiative on Renewable Energy and Clean Technologies (T-MED) on 9 June. The T-MED Investment Platform is now up and running to develop a portfolio of projects in renewable energy, electricity grids and clean technologies, combining EU funding and risk-sharing instruments to attract investment and industrial partnerships, with a projected investment of €25 billion.

The StartUp4Med initiative, which promotes inclusive growth and the creation of decent jobs, is also progressing as planned, as is the Women’s Employment Initiative (SWEI), launched on 23 September 2026 in partnership with UN Women, with the aim of creating 500,000 jobs for women in sectors with high growth potential. Around 900 companies in the MENA and Gulf regions have already committed to implementing the Women’s Empowerment Principles underpinning the programme.

The updated Action Plan introduces six new measures, such as modernising and strengthening trade and investment relations, and promoting sustainable transport for a better-connected region. It also includes various climate-related actions for a clean transition, sustainable growth and resilience, alongside the Blue Mediterranean Mission, which promotes a blue economy and water resilience.

Third pillar: security, preparedness and migration management.

Progress has been made on nine actions under the third pillar, including the European Firefighting Centre , based in Cyprus, which is extending support for disaster preparedness and response to the southern Mediterranean countries for the first time. Six aircraft were deployed to Pafos Air Base to bolster preparedness for the 2026 fire season, and partners also took part in a regional workshop on forest fires in May 2026, where common priorities and needs were identified.

The MED-OP initiative , which will support operational efforts to combat serious and organised crime in cooperation with justice and home affairs bodies, will be launched on 11 November at the first regional dialogue on internal security between the EU and partner countries. The Secure Borders action will be launched simultaneously to strengthen operational and institutional capacities for border management and governance in the security sector. The first EU-MED Forum on Peace and Security will take place on 18 November in Brussels and will provide an informal space to foster a shared understanding of the regional situation, exchange views and coordinate approaches on issues of common interest.

The Action Plan is also yielding results in preventing irregular migration and combating illicit trafficking and human trafficking. Actions were carried out under the Talent Partnerships in Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, with the aim of better aligning labour migration pathways with the needs of the labour market and employers in sectors such as transport, tourism, hospitality and construction.

The updated Action Plan introduces a new measure to strengthen the protection of vulnerable migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the southern Mediterranean through a regional approach covering the entire migration route.

Next steps

Against an increasingly volatile geopolitical backdrop, the EU remains committed to strengthening partnerships in the Mediterranean. The Action Plan is a flexible and dynamic document that will be regularly updated and adapted to the changing context through ongoing consultations with stakeholders and partners, thereby ensuring its relevance and effectiveness.

A further update to the Action Plan is planned for spring 2027.

An interactive websitehas also been launched to enable stakeholders to identify specific projects and initiatives, explore them by country and sector, and track their progress, thereby ensuring transparency and participation, whilst demonstrating the tangible impact of the Pact across the region.

Background

The Mediterranean Pact was adopted by the College in October 2025, prior to its official launch by the EU and the Southern Mediterranean partners on 28 November 2025.

Based on the principles of co-creation, co-ownership and shared responsibility, it is the result of an inclusive and unprecedented consultation process, ensuring alignment with the real needs and aspirations of citizens on both sides of the Mediterranean.

The Pact is a joint effort between the EU, its Member States and the Southern Mediterranean partners to work together on shared priorities for a connected, integrated, prosperous, resilient and secure Common Mediterranean Area.

The initiatives proposed under the Pact were well received by the Member States at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 20 November 2025, as well as at the European Council meeting on 18 December 2025. The leaders called for swift and efficient implementation, based on the principles of co-creation, co-ownership, mutual interest and joint responsibility.

 

More information: European Commission