Overview
The file concerns an upcoming European Commission initiative titled “New Pact for the Mediterranean.” The procedure is at a pre‑proposal stage, with the Commission currently in a “Waiting for EC publication” status. The analysis is based on the provided procedural narrative, institutional handling details, and records of stakeholder outreach and positions.
Institutional handling
The initiative is being prepared within the European Commission’s Directorate‑General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (MENA). Commissioner Dubravka Šuica is identified as the responsible Commissioner.
Stakeholder reactions
Extensive stakeholder engagement has taken place during the preparation phase. A total of 71 meetings were held, involving 6 meetings with Members of the European Parliament, 41 with Commissioners, and 24 with European Commission staff. These engagements involved 36 distinct organisations. The most frequently encountered organisations were the International Crisis Group, the Anna Lindh Foundation, the International Rescue Committee, the Koncar Group, and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
On the topic of ‘EU relations with the Southern Neighbourhood’, several stakeholders expressed positions of opposition through their meeting discussions. The European Broadcasting Union’s emphasis on the media’s role in the region signalled a subtle but critical stance. The Anna Lindh Foundation’s focus on youth consultations indicated support for deeper participatory processes. The International Rescue Committee’s presentation of its regional work aligned with the meeting’s focus on the Pact. The Euro‑Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change (CMCC) presented on climate resilience, subtly supporting stronger environmental integration.
On a separate topic, ‘Overall simplification of regulation in the EU (free access)’, a number of stakeholders expressed support. BASF’s Board of Executive Directors discussed facilitating compliance with EU legislation and the Commission’s simplification agenda, indicating a clear preference for reducing regulatory burden. Wim Michiels advocated for linking the 2003 SME recommendations to inflation as a concrete proposal to reduce regulatory complexity. Marco Mensink’s direction was assessed as toward reducing red tape. Katja Scharpwinkel, a Member of the Board of Executive Directors, similarly discussed facilitating compliance and the simplification agenda, signalling support for these objectives.
*No data was provided on the legislative timeline or media coverage, so those sections are omitted.*