• May 13th, 2026

On 13 May, Mr. Thomas Wagnsonner, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Rapporteur of the recently adopted Opinion of the Pact for the Mediterranean on “The Role of the Private Sector and Civil Society in Strengthening Economic Cooperation within the Pact”, met with the ASCAME community to discuss the Opinion and its implications for the private sector.

Mr. Vassilis Korkidis, President of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Vice-President of ASCAME, speaking on behalf of Dr. Josep Santacreu, President of ASCAME, thanked the EESC for the opportunity to engage in this dialogue with the ASCAME community. He highlighted the importance of the inclusion of ASCAME in the design and implementation of the Pact, as a natural interlocutor for the private sector, with the capacity to connect the European Union with the real economic actors on the ground.

The meeting brought together representatives from the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce, Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CCI Aix-Marseille-Provence, Camera di Commercio di Cagliari-Oristano, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, CCI de Tunis, and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut & Mount Lebanon, who engaged in a fruitful exchange of views with the Rapporteur.

From left to right, Mr. Dimitris Lemonakis, Head of International Relations, and Mr. Vassilis Korkidis, President at the Piraeus CCI.

Mr. Korkidis highlighted the essential role of business communities, Chambers of Commerce, social partners and civil society in shaping the future Mediterranean Pact. Key messages included:

  • The Mediterranean is an interconnected economic ecosystem, linking Europe, North Africa and the Middle East through trade, logistics, tourism, energy and digital networks.
  • The private sector is indispensable for investment, job creation, innovation and the green and digital transitions.
  • Chambers of Commerce act as institutional bridges, strengthening cooperation between Mediterranean economies.
  • Deeper regional cooperation can reduce migration pressures, brain drain, unemployment and investment gaps.
  • The Mediterranean’s future stability and prosperity will depend not only on political agreements but on the ability of businesses, institutions, and civil societies to jointly create economic opportunity, resilience, and shared growth.

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