BRUSSELS (FN) — European Union Commissioner Dubravka Šuica said the bloc has no choice but to push forward with its new Mediterranean Pact, arguing Europe must play a central role in stabilizing the region amid growing competition from global powers.
“If we are not there, who will be there?” Šuica told Euronews in an exclusive interview. “We understand that there is China, there is Russia, there are countries that have an interest in this part of the world, but Europe wants to be present.”
The initiative, unveiled by Brussels earlier this month, aims to deepen ties with southern Mediterranean neighbors through economic development, job creation and energy cooperation. Šuica said the EU, already the largest donor to the region, wants to be seen as a strategic actor rather than just a financial backer.
Critics warn the pact could repeat the shortcomings of earlier Euro-Mediterranean policies, which often failed to deliver meaningful results. Šuica countered that this time Brussels consulted not only governments but also think tanks, academia and civil society groups to ensure broader support.
Migration remains a driving concern. “By opening new jobs, we are somehow tackling root causes of migration,” Šuica said. She added the EU hopes to encourage “brain circulation” rather than brain drain, allowing skilled workers to contribute both at home and abroad.
Energy and climate policy are also central to the plan. Šuica said Europe wants to decarbonize the region, warning that without shared standards, pollution in the Mediterranean would undermine progress. “We have a win-win situation: opening jobs, developing these countries, decarbonizing the region,” she said.
Šuica also addressed the Middle East, saying the EU should have a seat on U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace,” part of his 20-point plan for Gaza’s reconstruction. “We are the biggest, not only financial donors, but players,” she said. “We are their closest neighbors.”
EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss the issue Nov. 20 in Brussels. On the same day, Šuica and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa will co-chair a Palestine Donor Group meeting, bringing together 60 international delegations from Europe and the Middle East.
The EU is the largest donor of aid to Palestinians, but its funding to the Palestinian Authority is tied to governance and economic reforms. Šuica said the donor group will focus on empowering the PA, which administers parts of the occupied West Bank.
Concerns are mounting that Israel’s withholding of tax revenues owed to the PA is pushing the territories toward fiscal collapse. UN experts have described the practice as a “financial stranglehold.” Šuica urged Israel to release the funds, saying, “We need them to release tax revenues for the Palestinian people, which is not the case.”
