Minister Fajon at MED9: A united and decisive response is needed to stop the violence in the Middle East

Representatives of MED9 countries. | Author Ministrstvo za zunanje in evropske zadeve

"The situation in the Middle East remains very serious. Today's meeting must send a clear and unified message to all parties involved: violence begets more violence and must therefore be stopped immediately. We must seize this moment to allow diplomacy to prevail and prevent an even greater crisis from developing, particularly an energy crisis. We need greater unity within the international community since we can no longer afford a fragmented response. The world is smaller than it seems, a reality that is particularly evident in Mediterranean countries," emphasised Minister Fajon.

She also noted that the situation on the ground remains extremely unpredictable. "The ceasefire, although fragile, must hold - this is a key prerequisite for further de-escalation and a return to political dialogue." She also condemned Israel's recent attacks on Lebanon, which have resulted in a high number of civilian casualties. She added that she is in contact with her counterparts in the region, who have warned that the situation is alarming. "Innocent civilians are paying the highest price, and we must protect them," she added.

The foreign ministers primarily used the meeting to discuss energy security, supply chains and ways to strengthen cooperation within the MED9 group, placing particular emphasis on comprehensive and coordinated crisis management. Various aspects of the crisis were addressed, including maritime security, energy and supply chain resilience, critical infrastructure protection, environmental risks, potential migration and refugee pressures and hybrid threats.

Later in the meeting, Minister Fajon added that Slovenia views the Pact for the Mediterranean as a framework for fostering a more structured, balanced and forward-looking partnership with its southern neighbourhood, based on mutual trust and shared responsibility. In this context, she emphasised that such a partnership is vital for the region's long-term stability: "Slovenia consistently highlights the importance of strengthening cooperation and mutual support among the MED9 countries, as well as their role in shaping EU policies towards the Mediterranean."

On the sidelines of the meeting, she held talks with the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, regarding the establishment of the Mediterranean University. In this regard, efforts will be made to ensure that it plays a special role in Slovenia.

After the meeting, the ministers adopted a joint statement.

Strengthening cooperation between Slovenia, Croatia and Italy in the Northern Adriatic

Minister Fajon also held separate talks with the Croatian and Italian foreign ministers, reaffirming her commitment to strengthening trilateral cooperation in the Northern Adriatic: "Such cooperation is of exceptional importance given the Adriatic Sea's sensitive ecosystem and the establishment of exclusive economic zones."

She emphasised the need to further strengthen cooperation within this framework with a view to promoting cross-border connectivity, developing the blue economy, protecting the marine environment, ensuring maritime safety and preventing accidents. "People, especially those living along the coast, expect cooperation among all coastal states. Cooperation in semi-enclosed seas, such as the Adriatic, is also stipulated by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and aligns with the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive."

Foreign ministers of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. | Author Ministrstvo za zunanje in evropske zadeve

About MED9

The MED9 group was established in Brussels in 2013 by the foreign ministers of Cyprus and Spain, with the aim of fostering cooperation among EU Member States on Mediterranean-related issues. In addition to Slovenia, which joined the group together with Croatia at the 9th Summit in Athens in 2021, MED9 includes Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain.

The group serves as an important platform for coordinating the EU member states' positions on Mediterranean issues.

In 2026, Croatia assumed the Presidency of MED9 from Slovenia. Further information can be found on the Slovenian Presidency of MED9 website.