Chair:

• Senén FLORENSA. Executive President, European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed).

Chair:

• Heidi HUUHTANEN. Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA).

Speakers:

• Ali HIJAZI. Senior Researcher, Politics and Society Institute
• Chiara LOVOTTI. Associate Research Fellow, Italian Institute for International Political Studies –  ISPI
• Lorenzo FRUGANTI. PhD Candidate in Transnational Governance, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, Scuola Normale Superiore.

First Discussant:

• Rabha ALLAM. Expert, Al-Ahram Center for Political & Strategic Studies – ACPSS. 

Chair:

• Valeria TALBOT. Head, Middle East and North Africa Centre, Italian Institute for International Political Studies – ISPI. 

Speakers:

• Laury HAYTAYAN. MENA Director, Natural Resource Governance Institute
• Mehmet ILHANLI. PhD Researcher, National University of Singapore & General Coordinator, Diyarbakır Institute for Political and Social Research.

First Discussant:

• San BILAL. Executive Director, European Centre for Development Policy Management – ECDPM.

Chair: 

• Senén FLORENSA. Executive President, European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed).

The EuroMeSCo “plugged-in sessions” are spontaneous debates between EuroMeSCo researchers about issues and developments that will be high on the Euro-Mediterranean agenda at the time of the conference. The topics will be defined a week ahead of the conference.

Topics will be defined and announced shortly before the conference.

• Senén FLORENSA. Executive President. European Institute of the Mediterranean – IEMed.
• Harry TZIMITRAS. Director. PRIO Cyprus Centre.
• Cecilia GARCÍA GASALLA. Director of Cooperation with Africa, Arab World and Asia, Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation – AECID
• Representative of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU

The entry into force of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum marks a turning point in European migration governance, yet its implications for the Southern Mediterranean neighbourhood remain deeply uncertain. This panel examines the Pact’s operational and political impact on the Euro-Mediterranean region, interrogating whether its emphasis on border management and rapid processing procedures reinforces an asymmetric partnership model or opens space for more equitable and durable cooperation frameworks. Against the backdrop of accelerating geopolitical disruption — from the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Sudan to the reconfiguration of sub-Saharan migration routes — the panel explores how shifting security dynamics are reshaping patterns of forced displacement and human mobility across the region, placing unprecedented pressure on transit and destination states alike in the MENA region.

Organised in collaboration with PRIO Cyprus Centre and the Mediterranean Migration and Asylum Policy Hub – EPLO (MedMA)

Moderator:

• Harry TZIMITRAS, PRIO Cyprus

Reconstruction in fragile and post-conflict settings goes beyond technical and financial challenges. It involves navigating contested political transitions, weak institutions, and competing external interests, while aiming to deliver tangible recovery on the ground. 

Using Syria as a case study, this session will examine how international cooperation can be effectively structured in highly contested environments. It will explore key dilemmas for external actors, including engagement with transitional authorities, sequencing of support, and coordination across stakeholders, while drawing lessons applicable to other fragile contexts. 

 Moderator:

• Mark FURNESS. Senior Researcher. German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS). 

Panellists:

• Ammar KAHF. Co-Founder and Executive Director. Omran Center for Strategic Studies
• Reem TURKMANI. Research Fellow, Director of Syria Conflict Research Programme (CRP), London School of Economics.

First Discussant:

• Farah AL-SHAMI, Senior Fellow and Program Director for Social Protection, Arab Reform Initiative.

Major regional and external actors – including Russia, China, the Gulf countries, Iran, Türkiye, the United States, and the EU – are reshaping the Middle East and the Gulf through trade, investment, development finance, energy ties, arms sales, and soft power. This session will explore how competition and complementarities unfold on the ground, how actors adapt their strategies to specific countries and subregions, how these dynamics shift over time, and where the EU can position itself within this competitive landscape. 

This session will include a presentation of preliminary results of a regional study on geopolitical competition across Africa, Middle east and the Gulf by the EUISS.

Presentation of the Regional Study by:

• Katarzyna SIDŁO. Senior Policy Analyst for the Middle East and North Africa. EUISS

Discussants:

• Álvaro IRANZO. Associate Fellow, European Institute of the Mediterranean – IEMed.
• Ruta ZARNAUSKAITE. Head of Unit, Saudi Arabia, Unit Arab Emirates and Yemen (MENA.C.2), European Commission

• Roger ALBINYANA. Managing Director. European Institute of the Mediterranean – IEMed.  
• Harry TZIMITRAS. Director. PRIO Cyprus Centre