On 4 July 2026, European Commissioner Dubravka Šuica addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in Cairo, outlining EU initiatives for regional cooperation and announcing a ministerial meeting of the Palestine Donor Group on 13 July in Brussels. The speech, hosted by Egyptian Parliament Chair Mohamed Abou El-Enein, focused on crisis management in the Middle East, including the situation in Gaza, Lebanon, and the Hormuz strait, and presented three pillars of the EU's Pact for the Mediterranean: the Mediterranean University, the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy and Clean Tech initiative (T-MED), and cooperation on security and migration.
Šuica reported that during a recent mission to Israel and the Palestinian territories, the EU agreed with Israeli representatives on two early recovery projects in Gaza and on extensions for border assistance in Rafah and support to Palestinian police. She reiterated the EU's commitment to the Two-State solution and called for an end to settlement expansion and settler violence, reduced economic restrictions on the Palestinian Authority, and early recovery in Gaza. The 13 July ministerial meeting of the Palestine Donor Group, which she will convene, aims to coordinate international support for Palestinian Authority reforms and Gaza recovery.
The speech contained concrete proposals alongside declarative commitments. On the Pact for the Mediterranean, Šuica detailed three ongoing initiatives: the Mediterranean University to connect higher education institutions across the region; the T-MED clean tech initiative, with a project to upgrade the Egyptian electricity grid already launched and an investment platform expected by September 2026; and security and migration cooperation, including capacity building in law enforcement and fighting organised crime. She noted that the Pact's Action Plan is updated every six months, with a new version planned for autumn 2026.
A new concrete proposal was the establishment of a Youth Parliamentary Assembly under the UfM, intended as a platform for young elected representatives from the region to address challenges. Šuica called on national parliament speakers to support holding the first meeting later this year. She also mentioned ongoing work with the European Parliament and the UfM Parliamentary Assembly.
The speech shifted the EU's approach towards a more conciliatory and cooperative stance, emphasising partnership and joint action rather than unilateral demands. Šuica stressed that the EU is not acting alone but with regional partners, and that the challenges do not stop at borders. The policy orientation is towards deepening bilateral Strategic Comprehensive Partnerships (already in place with Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, and under exploration with Morocco) and expanding multilateral cooperation through the Pact for the Mediterranean.
EU member states and Mediterranean partner countries will see increased coordination on energy, education, and security, with potential benefits from grid upgrades and clean tech investment. The Palestinian Authority and Israel may gain from early recovery projects and donor coordination, though the effectiveness depends on continued political engagement. Young people in the region stand to gain a new political platform through the Youth Parliamentary Assembly, enhancing their representation. EU taxpayers and businesses may see economic returns from the T-MED initiative and maritime trade stability, but the costs of aid and diplomatic efforts remain significant. The speech did not provide budget figures or detailed timelines for most initiatives, leaving implementation specifics to future action plans.