Leaders of nine European Union countries visited Cyprus to attend the MED9 summit. Representatives of the countries discussed the situation in the region and further cooperation, calling for a de-escalation of violence and a ceasefire.
Guests: President of the European Commission and the King of Jordan
The Summit of EU Mediterranean States (MED9) was held for the 11th time. In addition to state leaders, the summit was attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and King Abdullah II of Jordan.
The prime ministers of Italy, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia and Malta and the Portuguese foreign minister expressed concern about the escalation of the conflict, calling for a ceasefire. At the same time, they noted the need to find a solution to the problem of illegal migration in the Mediterranean.
Will there be a Commissioner for the Mediterranean in the European Commission?
In his speech, Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela addressed the topic of migration, saying that the crisis in Europe will not be resolved without the participation of Mediterranean countries. According to him, the issue “tops the list of problems that concern the majority of our citizens.”
“Mediterranean countries are at the forefront of illegal migration to Europe. What happens here directly affects what happens to the countries of the north. When discussing the fight against illegal migration, the Mediterranean voice must be expressed clearly and influentially,” he said.
In this context, Abela expressed satisfaction with the decision of the President of the European Commission to appoint a Commissioner for the Mediterranean.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melloni also thanked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for creating the post of Commissioner for the Mediterranean. “This is vital because the Mediterranean is of strategic importance,” the Italian leader said.
Repatriation needs to be handled more carefully
She said that the leaders discussed migration flows. “Thanks to the work done by MED9 and Italy, we have seen that this approach works,” she said, adding that Italy is working closely with Albania to combat human trafficking.
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said MED9 countries needed to cooperate with other states on repatriation, encourage deportations of those in the EU illegally and be more active in identifying the organized crime behind illegal migration flows.
Energy crisis: we need to develop competitiveness
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, speaking about energy, noted: energy prices remain high, and access to new investments is limited.
The Prime Minister of Italy stated that the experts discussed the competitiveness of the EU, which she called “decisive for the future of Europe.” “We need to become more autonomous. We need to focus on strategic sectors such as technology, defense, agriculture,” Melloni said.
Middle East: the topic will be discussed at the G7
The latest developments in the confrontation between Israel, Hezbollah and Hamas also became one of the key topics of the meeting.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the escalation of the crisis in the Middle East. She noted that the presence of the King of Jordan at the summit was particularly important and his contribution very useful. Meloni recalled: the Italian military is present in Lebanon. The representative of the Italian side condemned the Israeli attack on UNIFIL. She noted that she would raise this issue at the next G7 meeting.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also condemned the Israeli attack on UNIFIL headquarters in southern Lebanon. Sanchez noted that more than 40,000 people have died so far in Gaza and Lebanon, many of them women and children. “History has taught us that peace cannot be achieved through weapons,” he said. According to him, the EU plays a major role in this issue and requires maximum involvement from all participants in the negotiations.
It is impossible to achieve peace through military means
Sanchez called for a clear demand at the next European Council meeting for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, an end to fighting in the West Bank and the release of all hostages held by Hamas terrorists.
Speaking about current events in the Middle East, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic noted: “We all want to see peace in the Gaza and Lebanon region.” He added that countries need to "do more for our southern neighbors like Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for our eastern neighbors."
Southern EU countries need to be heard
For his part, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said that the countries of the southern EU must be heard. He thanked the Cypriot authorities for their assistance in evacuating the citizens of this country, as well as other EU citizens, from Lebanon. Rangel expressed concern about the worsening situation in the Middle East, "as it affects not only the region, but also southern Europe, North Africa and countries beyond."
After the press conference, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, hosted a gala dinner for the leaders participating in the MED9 summit.
The text was prepared based on materials from Cyprus Mail and Stock Watch
Continuing the topic:
Education Minister Athena Mikhailidou emphasized the leading role of Cyprus in education. She noted the importance of the MED9 Ministerial Meeting on Education and Sustainable Development, which took place on 27-28 June and was attended by 70 representatives from nine Mediterranean EU countries. The meeting focused on introducing sustainable development practices into national education systems and transforming half of schools into sustainable educational institutions by 2026. Read more in our material “By 2026, Cyprus schools will become “sustainable”.
The beginning of September marked the start of Cyprus' presidency of the alliance of nine Mediterranean states of the European Union, known as MED9. The group also includes Greece, France, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Spain and Portugal. Cyprus will lead the alliance until the end of 2024. Read more in our material “The main events of MED9 will take place in Cyprus.”
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