Brief description and main aims:
FIEC informs Member Federations about key aspects of the EU institutions’ activity with regard to Southern Mediterranean partner countries, in particular in the context of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).
Why FIEC is dealing with this topic:
The policy of the European Union towards the Southern Mediterranean countries aims at encouraging political and economic reforms in each individual country and at enhancing cooperation among the countries of the region and with the European Union. Relations with Southern Mediterranean countries are crucially important, considering the key challenges related to migration and security.
The Political Guidelines, which were presented by Ursula von der Leyen for the next European Commission 2024-2029, include a more strategic approach to the Mediterranean area.There will be a EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean (Dubravka Šuica, Commissioner-designate) to focus on investment and partnerships, economic stability, job creation, energy, security, migration and other areas of mutual interests, respecting our EU values and principles.
A new Pact for the Mediterranean has been announced in order to update this EU-Southern Mediterranean relationship, to work on themes of common interest.
Another field of attention for the MEDA Vice-Presidency is the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), an intergovernmental organisation bringing together the EU Member States and 15 countries from the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. It is a permanent structure, with its headquarters located in Barcelona, and it is dedicated to strengthening dialogue, cooperation and exchange of projects ideas. 6 strategic priority areas have been identified: business development and employment, social and civil affairs, higher education and research, transport and urban development, water and environment, and energy and climate action.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) activity, as well as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Depelopment (EBRD) activity in the third Mediterranean countries, are also aspects of attention.
Action:
MEDA Newsletters are available periodically on the FIEC intranet for the Member Federations, containing relevant and updated information mainly from the EU Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).