European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday (18 July) announced she would create a separate portfolio to deal with the Mediterranean, as part of her next team, signalling her next term will pay more attention to the region.
“The Mediterranean region should get undivided attention,” Von der Leyen told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg.
“This is why I will appoint a Commissioner for the region, and propose a new Agenda for the Mediterranean together with [EU’s chief diplomat-designate] Kaja Kallas – because the future of the two Mediterranean shores is one and the same,” she added.
In her policy outline for the next five-year term, Von der Leyen proposes the new portfolio to “focus on investment and partnerships, economic stability, job creation, energy, security, migration and other areas of mutual interests, respecting our values and principles.”
Middle East in focus
In her speech to EU lawmakers Von der Leyen promised in addition to pay more attention to the war in Gaza, and the wider suffering in the Middle East.
“Too many children, women and civilians have lost their lives as a result of Israel’s response to Hamas’ brutal terror,” von der Leyen said as she called for an “immediate and enduring ceasefire” and the release of all hostages.
She pledged to increase humanitarian aid, currently standing at around €200 million, and a “much larger multi-year package to support an effective Palestinian Authority.”
“The two-state solution is the best way to ensure security,” in Palestine and Israel, Von der Leyen added.
The move was seen especially as a concession to countries like Spain and Ireland, as well as the Socialists and Democrats group, who had been vocal in calling Von der Leyen out on her perceived misguided messaging after 7 October.
In her policy outline, she also announced her Commission would draw up a wider comprehensive EU-Middle East Strategy looking forward to ‘the day after’ the war in Gaza.
Splitting enlargement from neighbourhood?
Speaking in Strasbourg, von der Leyen reiterated the next European Commission would prioritise enlargement, with Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, “having made their free choice,” with their future being within the bloc.
“Inviting countries into our Union is a moral, a historical and a political responsibility. It is an enormous geostrategic responsibility for Europe,” said von der Leyen.
“We will support candidates, by working on investment and reforms and integrating them where we can into our legal frameworks (…), and we will ensure that all countries are ready, before joining,” she added, appointing a “dedicated Commissioner for Enlargement.”
The enlargement portfolio currently includes strengthening relations with the EU’s neighbours, providing a credible EU accession perspective, and supporting reforms in the EU’s nine candidate countries.
As Euractiv reported earlier, there have been rumours of a portfolio split, between a mandate for EU candidate countries likely to join in the future, and those considered ‘near neighbourhood’, such as those in North Africa and the Middle East.
A majority of EU diplomats had been positive towards such a move, as the current Commission term has often seen the incumbent switch back and forth between managing EU accession talks and migration deals with the Southern neighbourhood.
A separate portfolio for the Mediterranean is expected to give the long-neglected region more attention.
It could see an upgrade in relations with the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), a forum that includes representatives from the EU plus Middle Eastern and North African states.
Since last November, the forum has seen a revival as a potential platform to relaunch Israeli-Palestinian talks once the war ends, as the two sides would “sit on an equal footing” there.
But some EU officials have previously pointed out, that the split could create more tensions between this new role and the EU’s top diplomat position, which is expected to be Estonia’s Kaja Kallas.
One possible drawback could be that Kallas would have to ensure that in the future two instead of currently one commissioner remain on the same political line as her and the EU’s diplomatic service (EEAS).
Though the EU’s foreign policy chief typically deals with foreign relations and security issues, and commissioners with bilateral programs and money, the current European Commission term has seen multiple tensions concerning overreach on some topics, such as Gaza and the Western Balkans.
Furthermore, it is unclear how the migration aspect of the new Mediterranean portfolio could co-exist with the Commissioner responsible for migration as the new file would likely deal with the new deals sealed with several countries in Northern Africa.
Those, while spearheaded by Von der Leyen, have been facilitated by the European Commission’s DG NEAR.
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