A new Pact for the Mediterranean: putting business and civil society at the centre

The Pact for the Mediterranean, presented by the EU Commission in October 2025, sets out an ambitious new strategy to strengthen EU relations with its Southern Mediterranean partners. Building on the Barcelona Declaration, which laid the foundations for a comprehensive partnership between the EU and ten countries in the southern Mediterranean, and rooted in a broad consultation process involving stakeholders from both shores of the Mediterranean, the Pact focuses on vital areas of mutual interest with a clear objective: to shape a more integrated, resilient and secure Common Mediterranean Space.

When Cyprus took over the Presidency of the Council of the EU in January 2026, it asked the EESC to draw up an Opinion on the implementation of the Pact.

Focusing on the role of the private sector and civil society in strengthening economic cooperation within the Pact, the main message of the Opinion is simple: social partners and civil society organisations must be involved not only in consultations, but also in the implementation and follow-up structures of the Pact at both EU and Euro-Mediterranean level. Such involvement is essential to ensure co-ownership, transparency and accountability, and most importantly to make sure that the Pact will deliver its goals through meaningful cooperation, especially an economic one.

For this reason, we call on the Cyprus Presidency to support the EESC as the EU’s voice of organised civil society, and to secure it has a formal role in the implementation and monitoring processes of the Pact.

Economic Cooperation and Skills Development

A central focus of our Opinion is the role of micro, small and medium‑sized enterprise (MSMEs). They are undoubtedly the backbone of both the EU and the Mediterranean partner countries' economies, yet their contribution to value added remains limited. To unlock private sector potential, MSME‑focused reforms are needed, including improved access to finance, simplified procedures, a conducive regulatory framework and support for digitalisation and connectivity. These measures would enable firms to join regional value chains and boost investor confidence. 

The Pact should therefore support MSMEs and start-ups not only through better access to finance, but also with business development services, digital transformation support and innovation ecosystems, with special focus on youth- and women-led enterprises.

In this context, we welcome the Patc's focus on sustainable tourism as a promising area for MSMEs to cooperate transnationally, as well as the creation of the Mediterranean University, which could give a strong boost to start‑ups and entrepreneurship.

Furthermore, economic integration should be linked with skills development, innovation policies, and investments in vocational training, lifelong and non-formal learning. Enhancing human capital is a prerequisite for improving productivity, competitiveness and quality job creation. 

Trade and investment

As far as trade and investment is concerned, we believe that the Pact must promote sustained and inclusive economic growth, enforceable standards (including environmental) and investments in sustainable regional projects. The Pact’s trade dimension seeks a more integrated, competitive Mediterranean economy, with effectiveness relying on regulatory alignment, implementation capacity and sustained political commitment from the EU and partner countries. .

This is why in the Opinion we have identified some priority trade sectors, namely agri-food, clean energy, digital services, sustainable transport and the blue economy. To boost these sectors, we call for a reframing of EU trade policy around economic resilience and investments from both the private and public sectors.

Finally, we welcome the Pact's investments in formal and non-formal education.  The informal economy in Southern Mediterranean partner countries restricts growth while its impact is negative particularly on women and youth. This is why we call for a transition from the informal to the formal economy. 

In this context, the role of financial assistance is essential in the successful implementation of the Pact. A number of EU funded international financial institutions including the European Investment Bank are already active in the region but stronger coordination among them will definitely enhance efficiency and maximise impact.

Overall, the Pact for the Mediterranean offers an opportunity to renew and strengthen the Euro‑Mediterranean partnership on a more pragmatic, inclusive and results‑oriented basis. By placing economic cooperation, skills, innovation and sustainable investment at the heart of the agenda, the Pact can become a powerful driver of shared prosperity and stability across the region.

By Manthos Mavrommatis, EESC Employers' Group member and member of the Study Group of Opinion REX/613 The Role of the Private Sector and Civil Society in Strengthening Economic Cooperation within the Pact for the Mediterranean.