EU proposes transforming Mediterranean into Europe’s clean energy hub

A June 2025 briefing by E3G (Third Generation Environmentalism) and ECCO (Italian Climate Change Think Tank) proposes a strategic transformation of the Mediterranean into a clean energy hub for Europe. It calls for unlocking the region’s renewable resources through cross-border cooperation, backed by two upcoming EU strategies—the New Pact for the Mediterranean and the Trans-Mediterranean Energy and Clean Tech Cooperation Initiative.

The plan responds to lessons from the 2021–23 gas crisis and the 2025 Iberian blackout. It identifies the Mediterranean’s solar and wind potential, industrial relevance, and geographic proximity as key assets in reshaping EU energy security.

The briefing outlines seven proposals:

1. Just transition: Help fossil-fuel-reliant countries switch to renewables. Ensure transparent demand planning and expand efficiency in North Africa.
   
   
2. Renewables target: Support the TeraMed goal of 1 TW of renewables by 2030 to attract regional investments.
   
   
3. Grid investment: Build bidirectional grids for resilience and affordability—not for extraction.
   
   
4. Industrial linkages: Align renewables with local manufacturing, training, and technology partnerships.
   
   
5. Finance: Harmonize EU and national funding. Strengthen EU delegations to address SME-level barriers.
   
   
6. Pan-Mediterranean approach: Involve all regional stakeholders in the New Pact. Support multilateral bodies and South-South cooperation.
   
   
7. Climate mainstreaming: Make climate action central to stability, planning, and economic growth.
   
   

E3G and ECCO underline that the Mediterranean is no longer a peripheral energy supplier. Instead, it is emerging as a central pillar in a climate-aligned and resilient European energy architecture.