Thank you very much to the High Representative and the Commissioner. We will now take your questions.

I would ask you to focus, of course, first on questions on the pact,

if possible, and then, if time allows, we will perhaps take questions on other topics.

Like always, please say your name and the media outlet for which you work.

Let's start here in the press room. Thanks. Hello, I'm Eleonora Vasques from Euronews.

So, I have the first question for, Commissioner Šuica, You said that this is a continuity with the 2021 agenda,

but there is a change in the methodology.

It's not clear to me, what do you mean by that?

If you can elaborate a little bit on this, and also I have a question for High Representative.

So there is a competition in the region of the Mediterranean region, for the presence of other, countries.

I can mention Russia, China, but not only that.

So how do you see this, development of the EU presence there can,

can, can come into action? Thanks. OK.

Thank you very much for this question.

As I already said, we changed the methodology, which means we had a bottom up approach, which means we consulted everyone on the ground, not only governments,

but also civil society, think tanks, academia, student organizations, youth organizations,

so this was a different approach this time and, as I already said, all their contributions are somehow.

Contained or comprised within this pact, so we wanted to have a partnership of equals, and this is how we change approach because nobody likes to be like to be preached,

to be mentored, so we are partners of equals, and this is how we approach our Southern Mediterranean partners. Thank you for your question.

It is true that geopolitical competition is really ongoing in all the regions.

What Europe is bringing is a positive offer.

We have so much to offer to those countries in terms of equal partnership.

We are interested in cooperation regarding energy,

regarding connectivity, regarding critical raw materials.

They are interested in the prosperity of their countries, and we can work hand in hand.

I think our proposal is much more positive than that of the other geopolitical players,

but we really need to work on that.

I think being a credible and reliable partner,

this is also what our partners actually look in our partnership. Thank you.

You, let's go to Mathias and Noureddine.

Yes, hi, Matteo Bagnolia answer the National Italian News Agency. Questions obviously for both of you.

I'm intrigued in the presentation by this notion of, your, Mediterranean common space.

So it is fair to say that so far the EU has looked at,

his, the eastern neighborhood in terms of enlargement, in terms of partnership.

Now with the past, it seems that you have broadened the vision and, Can we expect then something more for the Mediterranean, maybe not strictly an enlargement process in the way that we saw in the east, but maybe something similar,

because when you talk about this common space, then obviously so many examples,

examples can come to my mind and I would like you to give us maybe some example of what it means this common space. Thank you.

Thank you so much for this question.

Of course, the focus was and is on Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, and also on the Western Balkans, but we haven't forgotten our southern neighbors,

and this is the very reason why President von der Leyen decided to establish a new portfolio and new DG MENA,

which is the first entry point for all these countries.

When you ask about common space, of course, it was always in history common space,

our Mediterranean, be it culture, be it heritage, be it trade, shipping, whatever.

This is what we want to achieve also now by by trying to adhere to the same norms, to the same standards on the environment,

on fuels, on On producing renewable energy by doing this,

we are trying to decarbonise the region.

So if we decarbonise the region from the northern Mediterranean and we don't do it from the southern side,

then the sea will be polluted.

So we need the same standards, same norms, and we are trying to align with these standards. There is much more to say.

I that we will offer them roaming as one initiative.

There is much more, but it is all about that to invest in that part

of the world to help those young people there to find their destiny in their homes.

If they want to come, then there are legal pathways, but this is the moment to say.

We have to strictly differentiate between legal and illegal migration, although you haven't asked the question, but I just wanted to tell you that for us, it is very important to invest in the skills,

into vocational training, and this is exactly why I also mentioned the Mediterranean University,

which will be very important, I hope, legacy of this pact. Thank you.

Thanks, let's go now to Noureddine and then David,

then also from remote, continue with the President.

I have a question on Gaza in relation to the Mediterranean Pact. Madam High Representative.

Do you see, or do you expect very soon, the European approach moving according to what is going on in Gaza, because,

for example, the Americans are setting up an Office for the Stabilisation and Reconstruction in Gaza,

which will be seated in Israel.

I am asking you if you see a need for the European Union for its approach to move ahead,

to be more practical,

more quick to see How the European Union is.

Confirming, let us say,

its primary role in Gaza and on the resilient issue of the pact.

Madam High Representative and Madam Commissioner,

I am asking you to try to explain to me the regional dimension of this pact.

Having in mind that the This region is so divided.

It crossed by multiple crises from Morocco to Syria.

Plus, the European Union and in this pact,

you are not providing or suggesting more financial resources.

Can you help me to understand the regional dimension that could be attractive for business, for the young generation, but also for politicians,

because the region is politically leaving a kind of disappointment of the double standard at a political level,

without elaborating further on that.

I reply to the question of Gaza.

When President Trump came up with the peace plan,

then we took it very piece by piece

how Europe can contribute to several points and basically. Three areas reconstruction, security, and governance.

There are many issues that need to be solved, and the peace to be sustainable in Gaza,

it needs strong international backing, which also means the European Union.

So we are working on those different points.

I mean, we have two missions Eub Bam Rafah border crossing.

We have Eupol COPS that is also training the Palestinian police

to really get the whole of the security in that region. We are discussing the governance.

Of Gaza, I mean the day after, where we have clear input when it comes to reconstruction, then we have announced a new donor platform for Palestine also to be engaged in reconstruction,

but these things are very much interrelated because without

security there is no point of reconstruction either because then.

You know, these will be damaged again and without the issues

of the governance where also Europe has a very clear say. Hamas should have no role.

There has to be a Palestinian ownership of of these

territories or I mean the process has to be Palestinian.

Palestinian-led and as we have always supported the two-state solution,

it means also that there are two states there to support.

So, so these are the working lines that we are taking and working working on.

On the question on the regional dimension, of course, there are two approaches, bilateral and regional.

This is exactly knowing that there is diversity among the countries,

there are a lot of differences and divisions.

We are working on strategic partnership agreements bilaterally, but of course, sometimes we are trying,

and this is also one attempt, with respect, to work with them regionally.

I have to use the word flexibility here, so we are very flexible,

and those who are ready to join the pact and join the

initiatives and our action plan which will come are welcome to come.

They are not at the same level of development at this moment, so it will depend on either political or economic or other reasons,

so we are very flexible here, and we would like to see the region, of course, united, as I already said. So you spoke about financial resources.

There are, as I said, the financial resources are doubled.

Our proposal from the Commission went into co-legislators' hands, let's see,

so we are investing much more, but we are also trying to attract private capital.

So this could be, according to analysis, at this moment.

1 million or billion can be multiplied by 5,

so we need public public partnerships, we need,

as I said, international financing institutions.

They are already there in some countries, but as I said, the countries differ.

If I may add to our High Representative, we are really on Palestine.

High Representative mentioned our donor group for Palestine,

but by now we are the biggest, biggest financialr of Palestinian Authority.

Without us, without the European Union, the Palestinian Authority wouldn't exist.

So we have a program, all of you know, the metrics reform program, which is valued at 1.6 billion, so we will continue,

but of course we also want to have our role,

and I hope that we will have a role in governance, as Kaya rightly said. Thank you.

We have some 5 minutes still together, so just to say that if you can keep questions short,

that would be appreciated, so I can give the floor to more colleagues.

Let's go to David and then I'll take a question from Ramot.

Thank you so much David Radicalitania Radio.

Apart from methodology, there is something else that has changed.

The words good governance, democracy, human rights are not anymore in your speaking points.

We, we are seeing young people, protesting in, in Morocco, asking not for stadium but for hospitals,

for example, and it's a problem of good governance.

We are seeing a, a regime in Tunis. Which is quite harsh.

So I'm wondering what is the place of these important issues, at least for some,

well, in the past, right now it's more stability and prosperity.

A quick follow up on, on the Russia question to the IRF if I may.

It's clear you are a positive offer, but do you think that you, I mean,

the relationship with Russia should be a red line to trigger a negative consequence,

not just carrot, but also a stick. Thank you. On on human rights.

I had to leave something for your questions.

I haven't mentioned this in my introductory speaking points, but human rights are high on the agenda of the pact,

so we don't shy away from mentioning human rights,

of course, and we are working with them on this.

Human rights are very important and we we always have human rights clause in each and every agreement with them,

so we are not investing, especially.

Money in the countries or in the projects where human rights are not being adhered to. So everything is about that.

We are working with them, but as I said, if I may say that democracy can be compared, if at least democracies could be compared,

there are different democracies among these countries,

and we are really trying to work with them and trying to uphold the state of play.

Yes, on the question of relationship with Russia, we are raising these issues every time we meet with our counterparts,

specifically on the circumvention of sanctions,

because this war that is going on is also hurting the countries around the Mediterranean,

so we need collective.

Effort to really stop this,

which means that wars end when one party runs out of money.

That's why we have the sanctions,

and that's why we are also working on the countries to not circumvent the sanctions.

And of course we have tools in our toolbox which is the sticks as well as the carrots, and we are using them.

I, because I mentioned that we had consultations with civil society.

Civil society has a very prominent role in this in this pact.

We were always in contact with them, so we have to differentiate between countries and governments,

so we are in a very close cooperation with civil society of all the countries, but especially of some of them.

I'll take a question from remote.

I will certainly not pronounce this correctly, apologies, S'habu Kilani.

We can't quite hear you and we can't see you either,

I'm afraid.

So that's not going to work just for the time being,

so let's take another question from Mosa please.

Let's see if you can find a solution to deal with the technical problems. Hello, thank you very much,

It's most up the block from the Bast Times.

I would like to ask a question about connect connectivity, and what you said before that this new pact will go somewhat be joined,

I mean, the Mediterranean Sea and the countries around the sea.

The question is about the so-called India.

Middle East, Europe economic corridor, which is supposed to,

link India with Europe through the Mediterranean Sea.

I would like to ask you both, If, this huge project is also somehow part of the new pact,

will be, let's say, supported by the pact or promoted in some way.

And another small, small question is about this European university you mentioned.

I would like to ask if, is, are we talking about one university, and if so, where is it going to be located? Thank you. Was it university?

Thank you so much for this question.

IMEC is also, as when I said that, the pack goes beyond Mediterranean, it's also about IMEC.

All of you know that IMEC starts in India and, it's ending in, Mediterranean.

So this is, also a project which is, being,

which is being a subject of this pact.

I'm working, clo in close relation with, Commissioner Síkela.

On this, so it is on connectivity, be it digital, be it transport,

so a new Silk Road will be IEC, I hope.

It's also about TNT corridors which we are thinking

about expanding TNT corridors towards this part of the Mediterranean.

On Mediterranean University, it's not about building new building new premises.

It's about alliance of Mediterranean universities which will be.

Which will be located around the Mediterranean in different, our plan is to add curricula on historic, culture, background, whatever,

on the Mediterranean to the existing universities in order to connect young people,

researchers, and this is where we think.

Erasmus to expand Erasmus and to expand Horizon program.

So it's about maybe we will have it's in the pipeline at the moment.

We are thinking about establishing two secretariats, one on the northern northern side,

another one on the southern side, but let's see, it's just the beginning of this process. Thanks a lot.

I will be taking the last question.

The colleague from remote, is not, connected anymore. I don't know. You wanna try it again, Shabukilani. Let's see if it works better.

Otherwise I'll take the last question from the press room. Sorry for the technical problems.

I hope you can hear me now. Just a quick question.

With the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean.

I wanted to know what impact this pact would have on

Tunisia at the socioeconomic level and in terms of migration too. Thank you. Thank you for this question.

Of course, the pact will have an impact.

We call it a pact because we really mean it's not only a document,

but it is a genuine pact which we want to establish with the people, also the people of Tunisia.

We already have many projects in Tunisia since we had the pledging conference.

There are many projects ongoing in Tunisia.

We want to enhance all this, so on migration, of course, we are. Assisting a lot.

I was in Tunisia two weeks ago.

On that occasion we donated 2 boats for search and rescue operations.

We as the European Union, we are investing in radars and surveillance systems. We are investing in border control.

We are investing in training of different services, so there is much to do with Tunisia and Of course,

we are trying to upgrade our cooperation in all sectors. Thank you.

This brings us to the end of this readout press conference.

Let me first of all thank the High Representative and the Commissioner for having been here with us.

Thanks to all of you for having participated, to the interpreters who always help us, especially on college days.

Let me just remind you that we have.

We will be back in a couple of minutes

for a press conference on the defense readiness roadmap 2030.

Then we will have a small break and at 3 o'clock you

can expect a press conference on the EU global climate and energy vision. See you soon.