EU Unveils Ambitious Mediterranean Pact to Boost Trade and Counter Global Rivals

This strategic program for the Mediterranean aims to remove trade barriers with these North African and Middle Eastern countries and to "align them with the rules of the EU single market," according to a note from the European Commission dated before April 2025, consulted by Euronews. This concerns in particular Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon, Libya, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Syria.

To reduce Europe’s dependence on Russia and China, the European Commission, under the leadership of President Ursula von der Leyen, is advocating for the diversification of trade exchanges. The project should be presented in mid-October. "The consultations will also aim to integrate the perspectives of the neighbors, in particular the Gulf countries and Turkey, recognizing their important strategic interests, their contribution and their influence in the region," the document states.

"Many [EU Member States] propose to modernize existing agreements and eliminate trade barriers, calling for alignment with the rules of the single market and support for convergence in sectors such as digital, energy, environment and labor standards," it reads. The initiative is not new. In 1995, the EU member countries had agreed, during the "Barcelona Declaration," to create a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area (EMFTA). A project that has never materialized.

With the future pact for the Mediterranean, the EU member countries wish to strengthen their trade relations with the MENA region, in particular "regulatory alignment, market access and support for local producers." The document stresses that "the proposals include laws inspired by the [General Data Protection Regulation] and online administration tools, as well as peer exchanges to support convergence. A group of partner countries is prioritizing convergence on clean energy and environmental standards."