EESC member Stefano Mallia has been tasked with drawing up a report that is expected to provide the European Commission with critical input for the development of an EU macro-regional strategy for the Mediterranean.

Macro-regional strategies are currently the EU’s instrument of choice to solve complex regional and territorial issues which transcend the geographical confines of a single member state.

Within the Commission services, DG Regio is actively searching for a rationale to officially launch the process for the development of such a strategy within the Mediterranean. Mr Mallia will be drawing up the report with Italian EESC member Stefano Palmieri and with the expert input of Prof. Roderick Pace from the University of Malta.

“Through this report we have an excellent opportunity to contribute in a concrete manner to the process of changing the EU’s policy in the Mediterranean area,” Mr Mallia said.

The proposed report is expected to offer the Commission’s DG Regio with the necessary critical input needed to define an overall strategy and elaborate a concrete and hands-on action plan.

Stefano Palmieri expressed his satisfaction that the report will be drawn up by two members from “two very active Mediterranean countries”.

“A future EU macro-regional strategy for the Mediterranean would enable an overall project to be set out for the Mediterranean region which is considered to be vital to the EU’s future especially in view of the need to emerge as quickly as possible from the present crises,” Mr Palmieri said.

The report is expected to argue that the circumstances within the Mediterranean basin warrant the development of an EU macro-regional strategy for the region which will aim at ensuring economic, social and territorial cohesion in the member states of the Mediterranean; accelerating sustainable growth within the region with a specific focus on local SMEs; and enhancing integration.

It will also focus on ways to take advantage of specific niches, such as seabed resources, maritime activities; accelerate the development of renewable energy infrastructure and subsequently reduce the carbon footprint of the region; accelerate the uptake of communication technology, thus facilitating the development of innovative economic activities and integration with key markets; and ensure the involvement of the social partners and wider society.