Renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood. A new Agenda for the Mediterranean

Summary:

Joint Communication published on 9 February 2021 by the European Commission and the EU's High-Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, setting out a renewed agenda aimed at relaunching and strengthening the strategic partnership between the European Union and its Southern Neighbourhood partners.

Further information:

The Agenda proposes to join forces in fighting climate change and speeding up the twin green and digital transitions and harness their potential. It also renews the commitment to shared values, the need to jointly address forced displacement and migration and to promote peace and security in the Mediterranean region. The vision focuses on five policy areas:

• Human development, good governance and rule of law;
• Resilience, prosperity and digital transition;
• Peace and security;
• Migration and mobility;
• Green transition.

The Agenda also includes a dedicated Economic and Investment Plan for the region, funded by a new Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) for the period 2021-2027.

This Joint Communication was published on 9 February 2021. The Council of the European Union adopted via written procedure a set of conclusions concerning this Communication on 16 April 2021.

• Primary Source

• Alternative Source

Commentary and Analysis

EuroMed Rights: Newsletter, 22/02/2021: EU Agenda for the Mediterranean: more than speed dating? https://euromedrights.org/publication/eu-agenda-for-the-mediterranean-more-than-speed-dating/

ETTG: Blog, 23/02/2021: The 2021 ENP South Communication: A ‘renewed partnership’ but ‘old issues’ remain https://ettg.eu/2021/02/23/the-2021-enp-south-communication-a-renewed-partnership-but-old-issues-remain/

CEPS: In Brief, 03/03/2021: How new is the EU’s new agenda for the Mediterranean? https://www.ceps.eu/how-new-is-the-eus-new-agenda-for-the-mediterranean/

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News

EU Neighbours: News, 10/02/2021: Southern Neighbourhood: EU proposes new Agenda for the Mediterranean https://euneighbours.eu/en/south/stay-informed/news/southern-neighbourhood-eu-proposes-new-agenda-mediterranean

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Official

EUR-LEX: SWD(2021)23: Joint Staff Working Document accompanying the Joint Communication - Renewed Partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood Economic and Investment Plan for the Southern Neighbours https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2021:23:FIN

European Commission: Cooperation with the Southern Neighbourhood https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/neighbourhood/southern-neighbourhood_en

EU EEAS: Press Release, 09/02/2021: Renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood - A new agenda for the Mediterranean https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/92844/

European Commission: Press Release, 09/02/2021: Southern Neighbourhood: EU proposes new Agenda for the Mediterranean https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_426

European Commission: College readout by Commissioner Várhelyi on a renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood (9 February 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/read_21_507

German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development: Statement on the EU’s new Agenda for the Mediterranean by German Development Minister Gerd Müller (10 February 2021) https://www.bmz.de/en/press/aktuelleMeldungen/2021/februar/210210_Commenting-on-the-EUs-new-Agenda-for-the-Mediterranean-German-Development-Minister-Gerd-Mueller-said/index.html

Union for the Mediterranean: News, 22/02/2021: Benefits of EU’s new Mediterranean agenda “must reach beyond capitals” https://ufmsecretariat.org/benefits-of-eus-new-mediterranean-agenda/

European Parliament: Delegations, 24/02/2021: Leading MEPs welcome new EU Agenda for the Mediterranean https://www.europarl.europa.eu/delegations/en/leading-meps-welcome-new-eu-agenda-for-t/product-details/20210224DPU28889

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 19/04/2021: A new agenda for the Mediterranean: the Council approves conclusions on a renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/04/19/a-new-agenda-for-the-mediterranean-the-council-approves-conclusions-on-a-renewed-partnership-with-the-southern-neighbourhood/

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