Consultation Circles on the new Pact: Closing the Circle
On 11–12 June 2025, the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), with the support of the European Union and in collaboration with the Civil Society Facility for the Mediterranean (CSFM), convened the final EuroMeSCo Consultation Circles: Closing the Circle, in Brussels.
This concluding event marked the culmination of a region-wide consultation process launched earlier this year to inform the development of the New Pact for the Mediterranean — the EU’s renewed strategic framework for engagement with its Southern Neighbourhood.
Held back-to-back with the Senior Officials Meeting on the Southern Neighbourhood, the two-day gathering brought together civil society actors, researchers, policymakers, and EU representatives to reflect on and consolidate insights from previous consultations held in Rabat and Cairo. The event followed the high-level launch of the consultation process in Brussels in April 2025 with the Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica.
Day 1 (11 June) focused on strengthening the role of civil society in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. Through thematic panels and working sessions co-organised with CSFM, participants discussed how to embed inclusive, people-centred approaches in the Pact’s governance and implementation. Participants also discussed strengthening security collaboration within the new Pact for the Mediterranean.
Day 2 (12 June) turned to synthesis and forward-looking dialogue. Participants reviewed findings from the Rabat and Cairo consultations, analysed data from the 15th EuroMed Survey, and debated the Pact’s future structure and mechanisms. A final high-level session explored how the Pact can bolster the regional dimension of cooperation.
As the final Consultation Circle, the Brussels meeting reaffirmed the need for an inclusive, co-owned Pact that reflects diverse regional voices and translates shared priorities into actionable frameworks. Outcomes from the process will directly inform the Pact’s next steps and the EU’s engagement with its Mediterranean partners.
🎬 Recap from the 2 days Consultation
