Following the conclusion of the MED9 summit in Split, a final press conference was held featuring the heads of state and government; alongside the host, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, participants included the President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, Prime Minister of Malta Robert Abela, Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Portugal Luís Montenegro, and Prime Minister of Slovenia Janez Janša.
Summit took place under Croatia’s presidency, and Prime Minister Plenković told reporters that the nine MED9 countries account for one-third of European Union member states and 41 percent of its GDP, representing a population of 205 million—or 45 percent of the European total—while also contributing 293 Members of the European Parliament. He also noted that the total volume of trade between Croatia and the other eight MED9 countries exceeded 20 billion euros, a figure that, in the Prime Minister’s assessment, underscores the political and economic significance of cooperation within this framework. He emphasized that Croatia’s presidency of the MED9 group was conducted under the slogan “For a Safer, More Sustainable, and More Resilient Mediterranean” and highlighted the shared priorities: stability, security, the protection of the sea and environment, and the resilience of our economies, energy systems, and communities. He also recalled that the Three Seas Initiative summit had previously been held in Dubrovnik, noting that Split was chosen for this event to further showcase Croatia’s identity as a Mediterranean nation.
Split Declaration Adopted
Reflecting on the Split Declaration adopted today, the Prime Minister stated that it very effectively summarized the content of the day’s discussion as well as the year-long cooperation that had taken place through various ministerial meeting formats. He added that the discussion was dominated by topics relevant to the upcoming European Council meeting, such as the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034, European Union enlargement, the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East, energy cooperation, and finding responses to rising energy prices. Regarding sustainability, discussions focused on joint efforts to preserve Mediterranean bio-resources, the clean energy transition, the protection of fish stocks, and prioritizing specific policies for islands to ensure their residents have equal opportunities to those living on the mainland. He also noted that the situation in the Middle East was specifically addressed in the context of today’s third anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, which claimed the lives of over 1,200 people and saw 250 taken hostage. Regrettably, he pointed out, tens of thousands of Palestinians—particularly in Gaza—have been killed in the three years since. “We expressed our sorrow for all the victims and advocated for peace, humanitarian aid, and the stabilization of the situation,” Plenković said. The Prime Minister once again thanked everyone for coming to Split and wished Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro success as he assumes the MED9 presidency.
Source: Government of Republic of Croatia