Upcoming Euro-Mediterranean Summit in Morocco: Towards a Balanced Partnership Between the Two Shores of the Mediterranean
By: Ghita Hafiani / ALDAR
Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, has announced that the Kingdom will host an upcoming Euro-Mediterranean summit, which he described as “historic.” The summit aims to establish the foundations of a renewed and more integrated cooperation framework between countries on both shores of the Mediterranean.
The event—whose detailed preparations are still underway—comes at a time when the Mediterranean region is facing mounting challenges related to energy security, migration, and climate change. There is also a growing need to drive economic development and promote political stability, particularly in the southern Mediterranean.
According to Bourita, the summit seeks to take concrete steps toward building a more integrated “Euromed” space based on balanced and equitable partnerships, moving away from outdated models of imposed policies and unequal relations. The initiative aspires to transcend the traditional framework that has characterized Euro-Mediterranean relations for decades, and to transition toward a new model rooted in mutual interests and shared development.
Morocco, long recognized for its leading role in bridging perspectives between the two shores of the Mediterranean, aims through this summit to reaffirm its commitment to supporting regional dialogue, strengthening economic and cultural interconnections, and stimulating investment in key sectors such as water, renewable energy, infrastructure, and digital transformation.
The summit takes place against the backdrop of major transformations in the Mediterranean region, particularly following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising geopolitical tensions, and the repercussions of the war in Ukraine on food and energy security across the southern Mediterranean.
Issues such as irregular migration and the worsening effects of climate change on southern countries underscore the urgent need to reevaluate current cooperation frameworks and modernize the European Union’s support mechanisms for its southern neighbors.
According to European diplomatic sources, several European capitals—including Paris, Rome, and Madrid—have expressed strong support for holding the summit in Morocco, citing the Kingdom’s political stability, dynamic economy, and strategic geographic location as key factors that make it an ideal partner for launching a new phase of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.
The summit is expected to bring together high-level leaders and officials from EU member states as well as southern Mediterranean countries, making it a pivotal event for reshaping the joint strategic vision between the two blocs.
Morocco’s selection as host is not merely a technical decision; it reflects international recognition of the country’s growing role in fostering North-South dialogue and in building bridges of cooperation between Europe, Africa, and the Arab world.
The summit is also anticipated to offer an opportunity to place major issues on the table, such as the Morocco-Europe electricity interconnection project, financing for the energy transition, and the expansion of youth support programs, education, and vocational training—seen as vital pillars for stability and development in the region.
