The European Commission has reported progress in implementing the actions under the Pact for the Mediterranean, including the European Firefighting Hub based in Cyprus, as it presented on Tuesday, together with the European External Action Service (EEAS), the updated Action Plan. The plan includes nine new key initiatives, bringing the total number of actions to 30, one year after the Pact was launched.
Under the first pillar, focusing on people, education and innovation, work is progressing on the establishment of the Mediterranean University, as well as innovation and research centres aimed at strengthening scientific cooperation, skills and competitiveness. The MED Skills Tracker is also advancing to help young people develop skills and access employment opportunities, while a new Mediterranean Youth Skills and Jobs Initiative is being prepared, following its announcement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The two new actions under this pillar include the establishment of a Mediterranean Science Diplomacy Centre and an initiative to raise awareness of the benefits of sport for physical and mental health.
The second pillar, focusing on economic development and regional connectivity, includes the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy and Clean Tech Cooperation Initiative (T-MED), launched on 9 June. Its investment platform aims to build a pipeline of renewable energy, electricity grid and clean technology projects, with pound 25 billion in investments expected to be mobilised. Progress is also being made on StartUp4Med, which promotes social entrepreneurship and decent job creation, and the Surging Women’s Employment Initiative (SWEI), launched in cooperation with the United Nations, which aims to create 500,000 jobs for women in high-growth sectors. Around 900 companies across the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf have already committed to implementing the Women’s Empowerment Principles.
The six new actions under the second pillar include, among other things, the modernisation of trade and investment relations, the promotion of sustainable transport, the green transition and climate resilience, as well as the Blue Mediterranean Mission, which aims to promote the blue economy and water resilience.
The third pillar, covering security, preparedness and migration management, includes the European Firefighting Hub, based in Cyprus, which is extending support for disaster preparedness and response to countries in the Southern Mediterranean for the first time. Six aircraft were pre-positioned at Paphos airbase for the 2026 wildfire season, while a regional workshop on wildfires was held in May.
On 11 November, the MED-OP initiative, aimed at strengthening operational cooperation against serious and organised crime in collaboration with Justice and Home Affairs agencies, and Secure Borders, which seeks to strengthen border management and security sector governance, are due to be launched. The first EU-Mediterranean Peace and Security Forum will take place in Brussels on 18 November, providing a platform for coordination and exchanges of views on shared regional challenges.
Meanwhile, efforts are also under way to address irregular migration and combat migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings. Under the Talent Partnerships, activities have been carried out in Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia to better align legal labour migration pathways with labour market needs, particularly in transport, tourism, hospitality and construction. The new action under the third pillar aims to strengthen protection for vulnerable migrants, asylum seekers and refugees through a regional, whole-of-route approach across the Southern Mediterranean.
The Action Plan will be regularly updated, with the next revision expected in spring 2027. An interactive webpage has also been launched, allowing stakeholders to identify specific projects and initiatives by country and sector and monitor their progress.
The Pact for the Mediterranean was adopted by the European Commission in October 2025 and officially launched by the EU and its Southern Mediterranean partners on 28 November 2025. It is based on the principles of co-creation, co-ownership and shared responsibility, bringing together the EU, its member states and Southern Mediterranean countries.