With whom?
The EU established its privileged partnership with the Eastern and Southern shores of the Mediterranean back in 1995 with the launch of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership at the Barcelona Conference, establishing the goal of an area of peace, stability, economic prosperity, upholding democratic values and human rights.
EU cooperation with the Southern Neighbourhood takes place in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and includes ten partner countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine*, Syria and Tunisia.
The ENP was launched in 2004 to strengthen the prosperity, stability and security for all. Currently, cooperation is suspended with Syrian authorities but the EU maintains direct support to the Syrian population.
To relaunch and strengthen the strategic partnership between the European Union and its Southern Neighbourhood partners, the European Commission and the High Representative adopted on 9 February 2021 a Joint Communication proposing an ambitious and innovative new Agenda for the Mediterranean. It includes a dedicated Economic and Investment Plan to spur the long-term socio-economic recovery in the Southern Neighbourhood.
Factsheets
- EU response to the coronavirus pandemic in the Southern Neighbourhood: English | French | Arabic
- The partnership between the EU and its Southern Neighbourhood
- Towards a renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood
- Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) for the Southern Neighbourhood:
* This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue.