• April 14th, 2026

On 14 April, ASCAME President Dr. Josep Santacreu took part in the European Parliament’s hearing “A New Co-Ownership for the Future of Euro-Mediterranean Relations – The Pact for the Mediterranean”. The informal hearing, organized by Member of the European Parliament Mr. Nicola Zingaretti, Rapporteur of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, brought together key Mediterranean stakeholders to contribute to the implementation report of the Pact‘s action plan.

In his intervention, Dr. Santacreu strongly welcomed the inclusion of the private sector’s voice in both the design and implementation of the Pact. He also highlighted that the Mediterranean Pact, approved last year by the European Commission, is a cornerstone of ASCAME’s new strategic priorities and a key driver for deeper cooperation and economic connectivity across the region.

From the perspective of Chambers of Commerce and the private sector, the ASCAME President shared four key messages:

  • It is essential to ensure that the voice of the private sector is fully integrated into the design and implementation of the Mediterranean Pact, so that it delivers tangible impact for citizens, economic integration, and regional security. “Our ambition is to be an active partner of the European Union throughout this process”.
  • ASCAME’s network of Chambers of Commerce plays a fundamental role as an intermediary between institutions and businesses, especially SMEs, which form the backbone of the Mediterranean economy. “ASCAME has the capacity to connect the European Union with real economic actors”.
  • ASCAME’s sectoral events, such as Meditour (tourism), MedaLogistics (logistics and transport), and MedaCity (urban development), as well as the activities organized by its member Chambers, including business meetings and forums, provide European institutions and stakeholders with valuable opportunities to engage directly with the Mediterranean private sector. “ASCAME has the capacity to connect the European Union with real economic actors”.
  • The Euro-Mediterranean Economic and Business Forum, ASCAME’s flagship institutional event and, now, one of the leading economic forums in the región, organised together with the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona, the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), is offered to the European Union as a platform for structured dialogue with the private sector. ¨From ASCAME, we place this platform at the disposal of the European Union as a space for structured dialogue with the private sector, fully aligned with the objectives of the Pact and complementary to the initiatives promoted by the Commission¨. Dr. Santacreu also announced the new rotating format of the forum, confirming that the 2026 edition will be hosted in November 2026 by the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in Greece.

Participants in the hearing included Mr. Francisco Joaquin Gaztelu Mezquiriz, Director for North Africa at the Directorate-General MENA; Ms. Mariam Diallo, Senior Deputy Secretary General at UfM; MEP Mr. Nikos Panadreou; representatives from IEMed; Ms. Nathalie Tocci; and other experts from academic, human rights, and policy networks.

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