MED9 Foreign Affairs Meeting underway in Split

A two-day interparliamentary meeting of the MED9 Foreign Affairs Committees is underway in Split, hosted by the Croatian Parliament as Croatia holds the rotating presidency of the Mediterranean group for the first time.

Croatia is using its presidency to emphasize its Mediterranean identity and its strategic position as a gateway between the Mediterranean and Central Europe.

The Croatian presidency has identified three key priorities for the coming year: building a more secure, sustainable and resilient Mediterranean region.

The gathering in Split has brought together representatives from the nine Mediterranean European Union member states, along with senior officials and experts, to discuss issues of shared strategic importance. Discussions are focusing on regional security, sustainability, migration, organized crime and the Mediterranean’s growing geopolitical significance.

The role of the Western Balkans in strengthening regional stability, connectivity and cooperation is also among the key topics on the agenda.

Vice-Rector of the Franjo Tuđman Defence and Security University, Gordan Akrap, said security is essential for sustainable development, particularly in Croatia, where tourism remains closely tied to stability and safety.

Akrap warned that Mediterranean countries face a range of common challenges, including political instability in North Africa and the Middle East, illegal migration, drug and human trafficking, and organized crime. He said these issues would form a central part of discussions during the two-day conference.

As part of the event, Croatia’s parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee is also holding bilateral meetings with representatives of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies and Senate.

The MED9 group was established in 2013 to strengthen cooperation among Mediterranean EU member states. Croatia and Slovenia joined the initiative in 2021, expanding the former MED7 into today’s MED9 alliance.