Pillar Prosperity | TRANSFORMING GEOPOLITICS: NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

Technological advancements, the increasing demand of critical materials, and the spread of digitalisation and electrification are transforming economies across the wider Mediterranean, with impacts that reach into the geopolitical arena. These developments open up substantial opportunities for fostering new regional partnerships and collaborations, reshaping the landscape of Mediterranean geoeconomics. However, technological progress also introduces new challenges, including cybersecurity, global competition on raw materials, supply chain vulnerabilities, the risk of emerging dependencies and monopolies, the high costs of scaling up, and the imperative for efficiency improvements. These trends are particularly relevant in the context of US-China competition, as the Middle East must navigate its role and define its position within this landscape. 

Compounding these issues, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and resulting regional instability further complicate efforts to build cooperative frameworks. What role do new technologies play in the geopolitics of the wider Mediterranean? How to reinforce cooperation on technology between the EU and its Southern Neighbourood? How are countries in the region adapting their societies and industries to major technological changes?