Dear President,

Dear Mayors, Councillors, and City Assembly Members,

Dear representatives of cities and regions,

Members of the Committee of the Regions,

Dear Guests,

It is a great honor to be with you again at the Committee of the Regions. Having visited many times as Vice-President for Democracy and Demography, I recognize that effective policies must be multi-level, as our citizens are at the heart of everything we do. No one is closer to the citizens than you.

Regional and local levels are crucial for making an impact, especially regarding our international policies.

Today, Europe faces several demographic challenges, including:

• an ageing society impacting national pension systems and public services,
• rural depopulation,
• ensuring all age groups remain in the labor market,
• housing issues, and
• integrating migrants.

Two years ago, I introduced the Demography Toolbox, which provides options for Member States and regions to tackle their unique demographic issues. For instance:

• Investing in quality child care to boost womens participation in the labor market.
• Supporting active lifestyles for the elderly to reduce health costs and enhance the quality of life.
• Investing in multi-generational housing, which can succeed with local and regional community involvement.

While not all strategies work uniformly, sharing experiences among regions can reveal effective policy options.

Demographic trends vary across the Mediterranean, where many regions in North Africa have over half their population under 24. The New Pact for the Mediterranean aims to establish Talent Partnerships and legal migration pathways while combating illegal migration and human trafficking.

Dear Members,

The Mediterranean represents a shared space of historical and cultural ties. Strengthening cooperation between the EU and North Africa, the Middle East, and Gulf countries offers mutual benefits.

This year marks the 30^th anniversary of the Barcelona Euro-Mediterranean process, with the Union for the Mediterranean serving as a vital forum for discussion.

My mission is to bring partners around the Mare Nostrum closer, as together we can achieve more. In these uncertain times, it is crucial to reinforce relations with our closest partners, particularly in the Southern Mediterranean.

Todays panel discussions will highlight how local diplomatic relations can enhance peace, stability, and prosperity through cooperation.

For example, MedCities unites 81 local authorities across the Mediterranean for sustainable urban development, with my hometown of Dubrovnik benefiting from participatory planning, sustainable services, and economic development initiatives.

Subnational public diplomacy is essential for the New Pact for the Mediterranean, which involves a three-phase timeline for stakeholder consultations, design, and implementation.

Our pragmatic approach focuses on visible initiatives in key areas like trade, renewable energy, digital connectivity, and skills development.

We are prioritizing:

• People, investing in education, job creation, and cultural exchange.
• Economies, enhancing clean-tech projects for job creation and energy security.
• Security, improving migration management and cooperation against organized crime.

Subnational public diplomacy starts at the local level and is integral to building strong economic and trade relations. Local cooperation can foster peace, as demonstrated by the Nicosia initiative for Libya.

I appreciate the Committee of the Regions efforts in bridging the EU with North Africa and the Middle East, as seen in the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), which supports Libyan municipalities.

In conclusion, I am privileged to continue our collaboration with the Committee of the Regions, strengthening our relations with the Mediterranean. Your role in subnational public diplomacy greatly contributes to our shared goals.

I wish you a successful and inspiring discussion in the panels.

Thank you.