A Sea of Opportunities. The EU, China and the Mediterranean Connectivity

Abstract

The Mediterranean, a critical hub connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa, plays a vital role in global trade and energy flows. This paper examines the region’s evolving connectivity landscape, focusing on the contrasting strategies of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the EU’s Global Gateway (GG). While China’s approach emphasizes extensive infrastructure investment to expand its influence, the EU advocates for sustainable, rules-based connectivity to address regional challenges and counter Beijing’s dominance.

The paper analyses key aspects of these connectivity initiatives and their Mediterranean projections, including China’s development of maritime infrastructure and the EU’s investments in energy transition and digital technology. It highlights challenges such as geopolitical rivalries, underdeveloped regional integration, and the risk of weaponized interdependencies, while emphasizing the need for a cohesive strategy that boosts Euro-Mediterranean relations—currently stagnant—and  enhance the region’s role as a global connectivity hub.