From the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership to Pact for the Mediterranean: Examining three Decades of Euro-Mediterranean relations

The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP), also known as the Barcelona Process, was launched in 1995 as a cornerstone of Euro-Mediterranean relations. At its inception, the EU sought to foster trust, promote stability, and share its peace-building experiences with its southern neighbours. Over the years, additional initiatives like the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Union for the Mediterranean were introduced to adapt to shifting geopolitical realities and strengthen the EU’s role in shaping regional governance. However, the Euro-Mediterranean landscape has grown increasingly complex, marked by regional instability, unresolved conflicts, and the influence of external actors, such as China, Russia, Turkey, and Iran. In light of such challenges, the article critically examines the thirty-year trajectory of the Euro-Mediterranean relations, through the lenses of policy learning. By analyzing developments at the micro, meso, and macro levels, this article highlights how and to what extent EU policymakers acquire knowledge and interact with different actors – including national governments and civil society organizations. To further unpack these dynamics, the article introduces a typology – based on the strength of collaboration between actors and the degree of power-sharing in decision-making – that deconstructs the governance of the Euro-Mediterranean relations, offering a more nuanced assessment of its successes, failures, and evolving objectives.