European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica, addressing the European Affairs Committee of the French Senate on 21 May 2026, warned that instability in the Middle East directly impacts European citizens through higher energy and food prices, and called for a strong EU budget post-2027 to fund the Pact for the Mediterranean. She stressed that the EU must defend its interests in the region, as 'nobody will defend our interests for us.'
Šuica outlined the three pillars of the Pact for the Mediterranean: people (skills and education initiatives like the Mediterranean University), economy (trade and investment, notably the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy and Clean-Tech Cooperation Initiative, T-MED), and security/migration management (building law enforcement capacity, preventing illegal departures, and promoting legal pathways). She argued that renewable energy from the southern Mediterranean is 30-40% cheaper than in Europe and that 'nobody can close the straits of sunshine and wind,' making the Pact crucial for EU energy independence and competitiveness.
On the current crises, Šuica noted that the Iran ceasefire remains fragile, with consequences from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz already felt. She condemned the Hamas attacks of 7 October and reiterated EU sanctions against extremist forces, while also opposing Israeli settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank. She welcomed the Foreign Affairs Council's decision to sanction violent settlers, but cautioned that 'signals alone will not suffice.' The EU remains the largest donor to the Palestinian Authority, with a €1.6 billion support programme over two years, and will assess progress at the next Palestinian Donor Group meeting on 13 July 2026. Recovery and reconstruction needs in Gaza are estimated at over $70 billion, according to a joint World Bank-UN assessment.
Regarding Lebanon, Šuica expressed concern over the impact on civilians, with over one million displaced, and condemned Hezbollah's illegal actions as well as Israel's response. She offered condolences for the loss of French and Indonesian peacekeepers and highlighted a €25 million Team Europe Initiative for recovery, supported by France. The EU has also offered to negotiate a Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership with Lebanon.
Šuica emphasised the importance of partnerships with Gulf countries, noting a market of 600 million people, and praised France's support for the India-Middle-East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). She called for a swift agreement on the EU's new long-term budget beyond 2027, with a strong Global Europe instrument and a dedicated Middle East, North Africa, and Gulf pillar, warning that inaction would allow competitors to fill the gap to Europe's detriment.
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