Slovenian Presidency of MED9

Slovenian MED9 Presidency Priorities

MED9 Presidency is an opportunity to emphasize the importance of the strong group of 9 EU member states and the impact they can have through a closely coordinated approach in contributing to a more resilient Mediterranean region in partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood.

Common interests of MED9 countries are closely related to the changing global environment, which calls for a more resilient and competitive EU, an EU that supports youth empowerment and capacity building and promotes intercultural dialogue for the benefit of the whole region. A Union that effectively manages the impacts of climate change, the challenges of food security, energy sustainability, migration, technological change and digitalisation. An EU that strengthens its global role through partnership with the countries of the Southern Neighbourhood, and support for the enlargement of the Western Balkan countries as part of the Mediterranean. MED9 is the driving force in regional fora such as the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). This is why Slovenia will put special emphasis to MED9 facilitating the synergies between the EU and the UfM in the preparation of the New Pact for the Mediterranean.

1. MED9 on current regional foreign policy issues and EU enlargement

On foreign policy, the Slovenian Presidency will focus on topical issues on the agenda of the European Council and Foreign Affairs Council.

Situated at the geo-strategic crossroads of the Euro-Mediterranean area, Slovenia will continue to support the enlargement of the EU to the Western Balkans candidate states and will advocate greater engagement of these countries in the Mediterranean region. Particular attention will be devoted to the involvement of Mediterranean candidate countries: Montenegro, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina in MED9 discussion.

2. MED9 on strengthening resilience, economy and competitiveness in the region

Slovenia will seek to bring together the positions of MED9 countries on key issues related to the competitiveness of the European economy and to coordinate a joint MED9 response on the financing of development-oriented measures in the future Multiannual Financial Framework and beyond. 

MED9 Presidency will focus on the importance of the green transition for the competitiveness of European businesses and the strengthening of energy connectivity in the Mediterranean region. In the light of the revised Directive on the Promotion of the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources (RED), Slovenia will work to set up joint cross-border projects in this area. The MED9 and Southern Neighbourhood countries are highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, which has implications for the future of the Common Agricultural Policy. Managing the consequences of extreme weather (droughts, floods, wildfires), finding solutions through technological innovation and digitalisation and developing more resilient plant varieties are at the heart of the Slovenian Presidency's efforts.

3. MED9 for youth empowerment and capacity-building in higher education and digitalisation

Slovenia will seek to strengthen the Mediterranean Higher Education Area by establishing modalities for a scholarship mechanism for youth mobility in the Mediterranean region, while also promoting closer cooperation on artificial intelligence and other new technologies that can help address current challenges in the Mediterranean such as climate change and natural disaster response to food security, migration and cybersecurity.

On MED9

The MED9 Group, comprising Cyprus, France, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain and Slovenia, was established in 2013 on the initiative of the Foreign Ministers of Cyprus and Spain, with the aim of cooperation between EU Member States on general issues related to the Mediterranean.

Slovenia and Croatia joined the group at the 9th summit of the then MED7 in 2021 in Athens, which led to the group being renamed MED9. The countries in this group represent a third of the EU’s Member States and up to 45% of the EU’s population, ensuring them considerable leverage in the EU when more closely aligning their common interests and positions. Closer cooperation within the group also helps to keep the Mediterranean issues high on the EU agenda.

The MED9 group is committed to strengthening the cooperation of the Mediterranean EU Member States on important EU issues and serves to coordinate their positions more closely within the EU in areas of shared interest. On the other hand, MED9 seeks to raise visibility and stimulate debate on the Mediterranean priorities within the EU and strengthen cooperation with the Southern Neighbourhood partnership. These priorities include not only political dialogue and cooperation, security and stability in the region, but also other common challenges and opportunities that connect all shores of the Mediterranean, such as coping with the adverse effects of climate change, energy and food security, migration, water, youth, the green transition, blue economy and economic development.

Cooperation between the MED9 countries takes the form of regular informal Ministerial coordination meetings held prior to various EU Council formations and the European Council. Thematic Ministerial meetings are organized to review the implementation of shared commitments and closely coordinate positions on topical issues in specific areas. To this end, MED9 coordination meetings between also take place in multilateral organisations and in other EU capitals. Regular meetings of Ministers or State Secretaries for EU affairs are held to prepare for the MED9 Summit as the last and most important event of each Presidency.