Brussels, 30 January 2025
“Check against delivery”
Dear President of the Delphi Economic Forum, Symeon Tsomokos,
Dear Minister [for Infrastructure and Transport], Christos Staikouras,
Dear colleague Commissioner [for Sustainable Transport and Tourism], Apostolos Tzitzikostas,
Dear Ambassadors,
Distinguished participants and guests,
It is a great honour and pleasure for me to be here at the Delphi Brussels Forum today. This is already the 3rd edition of the Brussels format. So, it is fair to say that it has become a well-established event here in town. I would like to congratulate you on that.
With all the knowledge and expertise on the Mediterranean it is always valuable to have a Greek perspective. And if I look at today’s programme – the Draghi Report and the European economy, the Mediterranean Region, geopolitical dynamics and the EU’s role, enlargement, the defence industry, migration, infrastructure and energy, and the protection of our cultural heritage – that is a comprehensive account of the challenges and opportunities the EU is facing at the moment.
The Mediterranean Region, my new portfolio, is interconnected with many of the topics of this Forum. The creation of a dedicated portfolio for the Mediterranean, and the establishment of a new DG MENA – which will start working on the 1st of February – is of strategic importance to address the unique challenges and opportunities in the region.
The Mediterranean has always had a special place in the heart and history of Europeans. It connects Europe to Africa, the Middle East, and to Asia also including the Gulf countries.
It is one sea – mare nostrum – our sea, so we should take great care of it. The Mediterranean is a shared space, and there is no dividing line. There are, in fact, shared challenges and mutual interests between us, our neighbours on the southern and eastern shores.
The Mediterranean region has been facing enduring conflicts and political instability threatening peace and security.
However, the current ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, and the change of leadership in Syria, is a sunlight of hope:
- climate change which is transforming ecosystems and the economies, and the Mediterranean region is amongst the most severely affected regions worldwide.
- demographic pressures that are intensifying, and
- economic growth which is elusive and fragile.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our neighbours are looking for economic opportunities, access to clean technologies, and particularly for the investments they need. And this will be a mutually beneficial process also for Europe.
They want to develop industries and create sustainable growth and jobs for their own growing population, particularly the young people.
We often forget that in the Southern Neighbourhood, 50% of the population is under the age of 24, and many of them are out of employment, education, or training.
In this quest for economic opportunities, our neighbours in the Mediterranean need reliable partners. And we are determined to make clear that the EU is their first partner of choice.
We are neighbours and want to be compassionate partners on equal footing – unlike other international players.
Our first priority is to develop the new Pact for the Mediterranean. We want to re-energise our partnership hand-in-hand with our counterparts. And when we say partnership, we mean it.
There are two pillars of the new Pact:
- First: Comprehensive and Strategic Partnerships in key areas of mutual interest.
- Second: Concrete regional investment initiatives will supplement the Partnerships.
The groundwork has already been laid with the conclusion of the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnerships with Tunisia in 2023 and with Egypt in 2024. Both of them are delivering.
And yesterday we signed a new partnership agreement with Jordan. I am convinced that, apart from the bilateral partnerships, we need a regional agenda with concrete investment initiatives.
That is why, as part of the new Pact, we will present a Trans-Mediterranean Energy and Clean Tech Cooperation Initiative.
The initiative will allow us to boost renewable energy trading and clean tech manufacturing in the region.
We all have a lot to gain from a closer energy cooperation in the Mediterranean.
This cooperation is set to deliver triple wins:
- faster economic development and more jobs
- greater competitiveness for Member States’ industries and our partners in the region, and
- faster decarbonisation.
Closer cooperation with other key actors in the region is also in the pipeline. I am thinking in particular of the Gulf states, a region that falls also under my new portfolio and which is closely interconnected. In fact, we share many interests with the southeastern neighbourhood of the actual Mediterranean, and I intend to work closely with our Gulf partners.
Just think of their indispensable role in the mediation of the Israel-Palestine conflict. There would be no ceasefire in Gaza without them. And the Gulf states also have a considerable clout in geopolitical and economic terms, not only with regard to energy.
This brings me to our broader engagement in the Middle East.
I am closely working with the High Representative and Executive Vice-President Kaja Kallas on a new Middle East Strategy of the European Union. We firmly believe that the European Union should lead the way in creating sustainable peace and stability as well as prosperity in the region.
Allow me just to briefly mention two key hotspots in the region.
In Syria, despite the new leadership, challenges remain. Over the last 14 years, the EU has been present, and it should remain present. We need to keep up our support to the Syrian to ensure a peaceful and inclusive transition. Together with our partners we should step up our humanitarian, early recover and – hopefully in the medium term also – reconstruction support to help Syrians rebuild their country. This will also help create the appropriate environment for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of Syrian refugees.
Regarding Gaza, we are hoping that the ceasefire is going to be permanent. We are keen to rebuild Gaza as soon as possible. We will also take forward a multi-year Support Programme for the Palestinian Authority, anchored in reforms. This Programme will be instrumental on the way to a two-state solution. This means that we will also continue our collaboration with Israel, based on the Association Agreement.
To conclude, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Mediterranean is one of the most challenging regions. But it is also full of opportunities – for shared prosperity, security, and a wide array of related joint projects in a partnership of equals. I welcome the inputs from discussions – like the ones taking place as part of the Delphi forum – as we design these partnerships together.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Source – EU Commission