Working towards a macro-regional strategy for the Mediterranean

Briefing 11-10-2021

A rich tapestry of nations and cultures, the Mediterranean has always been a strategic area for the European Union (EU) and there is much mutual benefit to be garnered from closer cooperation with the countries of the southern and eastern Mediterranean. As a geographical region whose countries face many shared challenges given their joint proximity to a common sea, the idea of establishing a macro-regional strategy for the Mediterranean region has been present in EU discourse from the very beginning, drawing support from institutions such as the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), with Parliament also contributing. Discussions on the development of a macro-regional strategy in the Mediterranean have explored a variety of different scenarios, from an overarching strategy encompassing the whole region, to three separate macro-regional strategies or a combination of both approaches. Progress towards greater macro-regional cooperation in the region has, however, been slow. This situation has arguably been compounded by the challenges facing the region in general, which include issues such as digital transformation, climate change, migration and mobility, and environmental protection. Whereas a large number of territorial cooperation initiatives have developed over the years to help countries work together to address these issues, the developmental differences between the countries of the Mediterranean are such that the priorities of the countries of the southern Mediterranean differ significantly from those of their northern neighbours, making it difficult to agree on a set of common priorities for a possible macro-regional strategy in the Mediterranean. This lack of consensus could ultimately prove to be the most difficult challenge of all. For while the European Council remains open to new macro-regional strategies, the lack of any agreement among the countries concerned regarding priorities or indeed geographical scope raises serious questions as to the prospects for the implementation of a macro-regional strategy for the Mediterranean.