Video message by Commissioner Šuica at the International Conference of Balkan and Black Sea Regions

International Conference of Balkan and Black Sea Regions

Ladies and gentlemen,

Every day, all of us are feeling the impact of the current crisis.

Our citizens are seeing the cost of the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz in their fuel bill, grocery bill, and electricity bill.

They are seeing the impact of disconnection.

Of lacking diversified energy sources, and the infrastructure to be flexible and resilient.

The only way for Europe to overcome these challenges is to become more interconnected, more integrated.

If we invest in connectivity, in greater energy links across our borders – taking advantage of the Mediterranean as a gateway to the world – we will see the returns.

This is the logic behind the Pact for the Mediterranean.

Strong partnerships across all shores of the Mediterranean.

Working towards shared prosperity, resilience, and long-term stability.

Take energy, for example.

Not only are we investing in improving links across the Mare Nostrum – through energy grid investments.

We are diversifying Europe's energy sources, investing in solar, wind, and green hydrogen.

This is the goal of T-MED, the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy and Clean Tech Initiative:

Advancing the energy transition.

And building trans-Mediterranean clean-tech value chains.

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This is just one initiative of the Pact.

Our goal is to connect the EU to the wider region, building partnerships that last.

From investing in the blue economy to expanding cable systems like MEDUSA or Blue Raman, each initiative will act as a multiplier.

And the Balkans will be some of the prime beneficiaries – through energy security, access to new trade corridors, and economic growth.

Especially because the Mediterranean is a gateway to the world.

In fact, the Pact builds on all our regional cooperation initiatives – our EU macroregional strategies, the Three Seas initiative, ultimately connecting to the IMEC.

Let us learn from Patras – Greece's gateway to the West.

This city built its prosperity connecting to the Mediterranean.

Now is the time for the Balkans, the Black Sea, and indeed all of Europe to do the same.

Thank you.