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In a significant move to enhance educational cooperation between the European Union and the Southern Mediterranean region, the European Commission has unveiled its ambitious "Pact for the Mediterranean". This new initiative seeks to foster closer ties with North Africa and the Middle East, focusing on areas such as education, innovation, and youth empowerment.

The Pact for the Mediterranean is built around three main "pillars": People, Economies, and Security. Among these, the People pillar places a strong emphasis on strengthening higher education collaboration between the EU and the southern Mediterranean.

One of the most exciting aspects of the pact is its proposal to include students from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the EU’s well-known Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programs. This will allow students and researchers from countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and others to access greater mobility and opportunities within Europe.

As part of the People pillar, the Pact envisions a bold plan to establish the Southern Mediterranean region as a transnational education and research hub. Here’s a breakdown of key proposals:

• Creation of a Mediterranean University: The Pact aims to launch a Mediterranean University with multiple campuses spread across the region, creating a collaborative academic environment.
• Erasmus+ Expansion: The Erasmus+ program will be expanded to include more countries in the region, offering students, researchers, and academics new opportunities to study, collaborate, and innovate across borders.
• Innovation and Research Centers: The Pact proposes the development of state-of-the-art research hubs that will bring together academic experts and the private sector, driving innovation and economic growth.
• Science Diplomacy Center: The establishment of a Mediterranean Science Diplomacy Center will focus on influencing policy and creating partnerships in scientific research across the Mediterranean.
• Intergenerational Mentoring: A key part of the initiative will be mentoring programs aimed at providing young people with guidance and career opportunities.

The Pact for the Mediterranean places special emphasis on empowering youth in the region. Among its goals are narrowing the gender employment gap, expanding labor migration pathways, and improving skills-based training to meet the needs of the labor market.

Additionally, the Pact proposes the creation of a Youth Parliamentary Assembly for the Mediterranean, providing young people with a direct platform to influence policy decisions and play an active role in shaping the region's future.

The Pact for the Mediterranean is expected to be formally endorsed in November 2025, marking the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration (1995), which laid the groundwork for multilateral cooperation between the EU and the Southern Mediterranean.

As part of the broader framework, countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, and Tunisia are expected to be the key partners in this endeavor. Furthermore, the Pact may extend its scope to include other regions such as Turkey, the Gulf, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Western Balkans, and the Black Sea region.

This new initiative comes on the heels of the EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial Meeting held in July 2025, where stakeholders, youth organizations, and academic leaders provided input into the pact’s development. The aim is to foster deeper connections, increase opportunities for youth, and support regional development through education and innovation.

As this exciting initiative unfolds, students and academics from the MENA region can look forward to a wealth of new opportunities for cross-border academic collaboration, research, and innovation—bringing the Mediterranean closer together than ever before.

For more information on Erasmus+ opportunities and other study programs, visit Shakiledu.com.