European Union - Participation of Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian in the meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers of the European Union and of nine Southern Neighbourhood countries (video conference, 26 November 2020)

Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is taking part today in a video conference of foreign ministers of the European Union and of nine Southern Neighbourhood countries.

This ministerial meeting is part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Barcelona Process and follows on from the Ajaccio Declaration, issued following the MED7 summit of 10 September, in which the heads of State and government put the case “for a renewed Mediterranean policy”.

In order to take up the many challenges affecting the Mediterranean region, the Minister intends proposing to the European Union that it conclude a “Southern Pact” with its Southern neighbours, based on partnership and built around a positive agenda. Building particularly on projects launched by the Union for the Mediterranean, 5+5 Dialogue and Summit of the Two Shores, this pact could be centred on a few cross-cutting priorities, including young people and the environment. It will have to rally partners on both shores over the long term around concrete cooperation projects and issues identified with civil societies. France will do what is needed to promote this project up to when it holds the European Union presidency, in the first half of 2022.