Euro-Mediterranean leaders to renew 30-year commitment in Barcelona

Barcelona will be the center of the Euro-Mediterranean towns 30 years after the Barcelona Process succeeded in 1995. The initiative back then laid the groundwork for strengthening political, financial, and social collaboration between the European Union and southern and western Mediterranean countries.

Thirty years later, the Catalan capital will host a renewed event, with dozens of authorities attending discussions aimed at giving new impetus to regional cooperation and multilateralism.

Foreign Affairs ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean are expected to endorse a new strategic vision for the organization, headquartered in Barcelona. During the week, the EU Pact for the Mediterranean will also be adopted by EU Member States together with Southern Mediterranean partners.

Under the theme "Together for a Stronger Euro-Mediterranean Partnership," the forum will focus on the last three decades of "collective commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Mediterranean, while reaffirming the region's shared vision for a stronger and more resilient partnership in response to today's pressing challenges," a statement released by organizers read.

Among these obstacles are inequality, unemployment, rising living costs, stalled opportunities, and the growing impacts of climate change and water stress.

"Barcelona will be the capital of Mediterranean dialogue as we mark thirty years since the launch of the Barcelona Process," Union for the Mediterranean Secretary General, Nasser Kamel, said in a written statement.

The organization is also looking ahead "to a more connected, stable and prosperous Mediterranean," Kamel added.

After a weeklong program with several discussions and meetings, Friday, 28, will see a Foreign Affairs ministerial meeting co-chaired by the European Commission's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas. Attending will be Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ayman Safadi, Spain's Foreign Affairs Minister José Manuel Albares, and UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel.

Earlier in the week, on Wednesday and Thursday, the Barcelona city council will host mayors and local representatives from across the region. Together, they will join forces with civil society, academia, and socio-economic stakeholders to strengthen cities’ roles in shaping the Euro-Mediterranean agenda and advancing local leadership for global transformation.

Discussions will focus on advancing coordinated regional responses to climate change, socio-economic inequalities, and peace and security, while also exploring opportunities for deeper cooperation through the UfM’s new strategic vision and the EU’s New Pact for the Mediterranean.

The 1995 Barcelona Process was backed by all EU Member States and 12 Southern and Western Mediterranean countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, and Malta.