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The expected arrival of Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Pedro Sánchez in Tivat, with confirmation from Giorgia Meloni still awaited, is turning the EU–Western Balkans Summit into one of the most important international events Montenegro has hosted since regaining independence.
Economic pressures across the Mediterranean—from Spains housing shortages to Italys talent mobility to North Africas educated diaspora—reflect the same transformative moments that have historically reshaped societies, offering both challenges and unprecedented opportunities for democratic renewal. While young people throughout the region navigate wage stagnation and housing accessibility, they are also witnessing increased regional integration, cross-border investment, and growing recognition that traditional career paths need modernization. This moment presents a unique window for Mediterranean nations to collaborate on realigning education with emerging job markets, developing innovative housing solutions that serve residents while attracting sustainable investment, and creating new pathways to prosperity that leverage the region s strategic position in global trade, renewable energy, and digital connectivity.
North Africa s political instability—marked by Tunisia s democratic backsliding under President Saied, Algeria s energy leverage amid persistent political stagnation, and Morocco s strategic positioning through controlled liberalization—creates significant challenges for EU Mediterranean policy. Regional dynamics are complicated by Algeria-Morocco tensions over Western Sahara, sustained migration pressures from economic stagnation, and climate-induced security risks including desertification and water scarcity. For the European Union, current transactional approaches to migration control and energy diversification often prove unsustainable due to domestic instabilities in partner countries, requiring a shift toward comprehensive partnership frameworks that address root causes through governance support, economic diversification, and climate resilience investment to achieve lasting Mediterranean stability.
The article argues that in the Mediterranean, water is much more than an environmental concern; it is a primary tool for political bargaining among elites. Ruling groups leverage their control over water resources, such as dams, pipelines, and allocation permits to secure political loyalty, negotiate power with regional rivals, and suppress opposition. This politicization of water, evident from North Africa to Southern Europe, leads to inefficient management, environmental damage, and potential instability. The article concludes that achieving long-term sustainability and political stability in the region requires shifting from this system of opaque bargaining to one of transparent, data-driven, and inclusive water governance.