Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic Gordan Grlić Radman participated on 27 and 28 November 2025 in Barcelona at the 10th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean, which this year marked the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, as well as at the ministerial meeting during which the Pact for the Mediterranean was officially presented.
At the presentation of the Pact for the Mediterranean, Grlić Radman underlined that Croatia, as a Mediterranean country, strongly supports the Pact as a cooperation framework aimed at strengthening connectivity, resilience, prosperity, and security across the shared Mediterranean region. He emphasized that the Pact places people at its core and opens opportunities for enhancing educational and economic cooperation, improving migration management, and deepening ties between societies on both shores of the Mediterranean.
In his address, the minister expressed strong support for the Pact for the Mediterranean and particularly highlighted that it creates real opportunities for young people - through quality education, employment, and engagement in local communities - as the foundation of stability and sustainable development. He endorsed the Pact’s focus on creating new economic opportunities, as well as on strengthening security, resilience, and better migration governance, stressing Croatia’s readiness to actively contribute to the implementation of shared objectives, including through its presidency of the MED9 group in 2026.
At the 10th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean, Grlić Radman voiced support for the process of revitalizing the Union for the Mediterranean and for the new Vision Statement for 2026, highlighting the importance of this organization as a key platform connecting the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean and fostering concrete projects in the areas of the economy, the green and blue economy, transport connectivity, and social policies. In this context, he stressed that peace is a prerequisite for all progress. “Ultimately, the key word that remains at the centre of all our efforts is peace. Without peace, there can be no progress or sustainable development, which is why Croatia supports all efforts leading to a just peace in Ukraine and to stabilizing the situation in the Middle East,” the minister stated.
On the margins of the forum, Grlić Radman held a bilateral meeting with Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration, Badr Abdelatty, marking a continuation of the intensification of the bilateral dialogue between Croatia and Egypt. Both sides confirmed their readiness to further deepen economic cooperation, particularly in the sectors of energy, tourism, and maritime connectivity.
The minister welcomed the cooperation agreement between the Port of Rijeka and the Port of Alexandria, as well as the Convention on the Avoidance of Double Taxation between Croatia and Egypt, noting that the Convention represents a strong and long-term incentive for increasing trade and strengthening economic relations. He also highlighted Egypt’s importance in preserving the stability of the Mediterranean and the Middle East, as well as its contribution to advancing regional initiatives aimed at peace, strategic stability, and maritime security.
Through its presidency of the Three Seas Initiative and its upcoming presidency of the MED9 group, Croatia is investing in strengthening cooperation with partners from the EU’s southern neighbourhood, with a particular focus on emerging economic opportunities, security challenges, and the sustainable development of the Mediterranean region.
By taking part in the Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean and the presentation of the Pact for the Mediterranean, Grlić Radman reaffirmed the strong commitment of the Republic of Croatia to strengthening partnerships in the Mediterranean, promoting peace and stability, and advancing concrete projects that benefit citizens on both shores.
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