The European Union With You

In 1978, the European Commission opened its first delegation in the region in Cairo.

Today, the EU has 15 Delegations across the Middle East and North Africa, with a new Delegation in Oman being established.

In 1995, the Barcelona Process, established a framework for political and economic cooperation between the EU and its southern Mediterranean neighbours.

In 2025, the EU and its regional partners launched the Pact for the Mediterranean, a new framework for cooperation focusing on promoting people-to-people relations, stronger economies, safer and more resilient societies.

Through the war in Syria, the EU supported Syrians inside the country and across the region. Today, it is supporting Syria’s recovery, reconstruction and transition.

The EU has been standing consistently alongside the people of Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq through sustained humanitarian and stabilisation support.

In the Maghreb, due to geographical proximity and deep-rooted historical and cultural ties, profound partnerships have developed over the decades with Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya,  focusing on trade, investment, energy, green transition, migration and mobility.

In the Gulf, the EU has strengthened its ties with the countries of the region over more than three decades. 

It works to build strategic partnerships to enhance cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, energy, climate, security, and regional stability.

From the Mediterranean to the Gulf, our story is one of continuity and consistency.

Today, our partnerships are strong, reflecting a shared ambition to achieve peace and prosperity.