ZAGREB, 10 Feb (Hina) - The Pact for the Mediterranean will bring political, security and economic value to Croatia, European Commission Vice-President and Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica said in the coastal city of Zadar.
She urged Croatia to join as many initiatives as possible, including the Mediterranean University and the Medusa project.
Speaking at the conference "Pact for the Mediterranean - Partnerships for a Changing World", where the Pact was publicly presented for the first time, Šuica said it would rest on three pillars: People (science and mobility), Economy (energy and connectivity) and Security (resilience and migration).
She said the Commission had earmarked €42 billion for the southern Mediterranean neighbourhood in the new Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034, double the amount allocated in the current seven-year budget. The Pact is also open to cooperation with partners beyond the southern Mediterranean, including the Persian Gulf, sub-Saharan Africa, the Western Balkans and Turkey.
Within the first pillar, Šuica highlighted the Mediterranean University as a key initiative, describing it as a network and alliance of Mediterranean universities stretching from Beirut and Alexandria to Barcelona, Marseille, Naples, Split, Zadar, Dubrovnik and Piraeus.
On energy and reducing dependence on Russian supplies, Šuica said new energy sources lie in the southern neighbourhood and called on Croatian and European companies to invest there, arguing that this would strengthen local economies, create jobs and help address the root causes of migration. She also invited Croatia to join the Medusa undersea fibre-optic cable project linking North Africa with Europe, calling it a prerequisite for digital growth.
On security and migration, Šuica said the Commission's approach focuses on curbing irregular migration while opening legal and well-organised channels for work and mobility.
At the conference organised by the European Commission Representation in Croatia, Croatian ministers voiced support for the Pact. Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said Croatia strongly welcomed the initiative as a framework for better EU coordination in the Mediterranean, while Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek said it was turning the Mediterranean once again into a space of cooperation.
Zadar Mayor Šime Erlić said the Pact offered Mediterranean cities an opportunity to adapt to climate change and exchange approaches to tourism, while Zadar County Prefect Josip Bilaver said it could help local communities and the economy, including through better transport links and cooperation in sectors such as mariculture and water production.
