The 10th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean, attended by Syria represented by Mohammad Bara Shukri, Director of European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, witnessed the adoption of the Union’s new strategic vision. This vision aims to connect peoples, economies, and states while strengthening Euro-Mediterranean partnership, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates stated that this marks Syria’s first ministerial-level participation in the Union for the Mediterranean after regaining full membership following a 14-year suspension. The Union officially welcomed the move, considering it a restoration of Syria’s role in regional dialogue and an opportunity to enhance comprehensive cooperation in the region.
During the events, the Syrian delegation took part in launching the New Mediterranean Charter, which provides a strategic framework for cooperation between Union member states and the southern shore. The charter redefines relations on the basis of a balanced partnership and shared responsibilities in areas such as development, energy, climate, migration, and economic connectivity.
Syria’s interventions emphasised making the charter and new vision a practical response to the needs of southern countries. They highlighted leveraging Syria’s return to open tangible cooperation pathways in education, the economy, energy, and transport, thereby supporting recovery and reconstruction efforts while enhancing stability across the Mediterranean basin.
The Union for the Mediterranean is an intergovernmental organization established in 2008 as an extension of the Barcelona Process launched in 1995. It brings together 43 countries from both shores of the Mediterranean, with the goal of strengthening regional cooperation in sustainable development, energy, climate, education, migration, and economic connectivity.
