Op-ed: Europe’s Mediterranean Campus Vision

A Vision for a United Mediterranean Through Education

In an era marked by division and uncertainty, education stands out as the most powerful force capable of uniting people across borders. As the European Union prepares to launch its New Pact for the Mediterranean, it is clear that the focus must be on individuals—particularly young people—who will shape the future of this region. Nothing fosters connection more than education, and it plays a crucial role in strengthening ties between Europe and the Mediterranean.

This effort is just as vital as collaboration in economic and political areas such as renewable energy, climate change mitigation, digital connectivity, migration, and security. The EU is championing a bold new concept: a Mediterranean University, a networked institution with campuses and academic partnerships on both sides of the Mediterranean. This initiative goes beyond traditional education—it is about building a shared future.

The Mediterranean has long been a melting pot of civilizations, a place where trade, knowledge, and shared destinies have flourished. However, in recent decades, it has too often become a zone of misunderstanding and missed opportunities. To reverse this trend, the EU is investing in people, trust, and shared knowledge. The Mediterranean University will serve as the human and cultural cornerstone of the New Pact for the Mediterranean, symbolizing partnership, prosperity, and peace.

This initiative is built on three key pillars:

1. Enhancing Erasmus+ for Southern Partners

The first step is to upgrade the Erasmus+ program to include partners from the Southern Mediterranean. The goal is to enable more students, researchers, professors, and academic staff to study and work across the Mediterranean. This includes not only mobility but also real academic integration, such as joint degrees, shared curricula, and mutual recognition of diplomas in strategic areas like climate change, clean technology, digital skills, the Blue Economy, and intercultural dialogue.

2. Establishing a University Alliance

The second pillar involves creating a University Alliance to coordinate academic cooperation, research initiatives, and cultural exchanges. This alliance will have two hubs—one in the EU and one in the Southern Mediterranean region—to streamline efforts, pool resources, and expand access. The aim is to ensure that ideas and talent flow freely—not just from North to South, but also from South to North and across the entire region.

3. Building a Mediterranean University Ecosystem

The most ambitious part of the initiative is laying the foundation for a Mediterranean University with multiple campuses across the region. Degrees earned at these campuses will be recognized in both EU and Southern partner countries. Students will have the opportunity to spend time in different countries throughout their studies, gaining new perspectives and building lifelong networks. This university will not be a single building but a dynamic ecosystem of cooperation.

Challenges and a Personal Mission

Of course, such a project comes with challenges. I have lived through times when it was almost unthinkable to imagine shared educational standards or mobility across borders. Having grown up in a closed society and experienced war in my home country, I know how precious peace is—and how transformative education can be. This is a personal mission for me.

Through education, we can nurture a new generation that is not defined by borders or fear, but by opportunity and purpose. The Mediterranean University Initiative is not just about classrooms and diplomas—it is about inclusion, growth, and a shared vision. It is the right time to meet this ambition.

Let us embrace this opportunity—not only as policymakers or academics, but as people who believe in the enduring power of human connection across our beloved Mare Nostrum.