Alicante to Host the Med-9 Summit for Southern European Leaders
Alicante is set to host an important gathering tomorrow, September 30, when the Euro-Mediterranean Group, known as the MED-9, convenes. The capital city of Alicante has been chosen by the Spanish government to host talks that will bring together the heads of state and government from nine southern European nations: Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Malta, Cyprus, Croatia, and Slovenia.
The discussions will take place at the Mediterranean House and the City of Light facilities. An additional event is planned at the headquarters of the European Union Intellectual Property Office, with official sources confirming this arrangement to the press.
Among the attendees will be Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain; Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis; French President Emmanuel Macron; Slovenian President Janez Janša; Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiades; Croatian President Zoran Milanović; Maltese President George Vella; Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa; and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who is participating even as Italy continues to form its new government. Also present will be Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
Alicante, the Mediterranean Capital Behind the Med-9 Presidential Summit
In Alicante, the summit’s focus will center on reinforcing energy cooperation within the EU. The nine Euro-Mediterranean leaders will stress the importance of energy interconnections as a crucial part of European resilience. The final communique, to be issued after the meeting, will likely underscore interconnections and energy-saving measures as central themes in EU policy discussions, reflecting ongoing efforts to secure energy supply amid regional tensions. This topic will be addressed in the opening session and remains a visible priority in the provisional agenda.
Alicante Summit to Emphasize Gas Interconnections in the EU
All nine leaders will highlight the pivotal role of gas interconnections for the European Union. The overview of the meeting, to be reflected in the closing statement, points to ensuring reliable energy links and reducing dependence through coordinated projects. The agenda suggests continued progress on interconnections and efficiency measures, with the final document signaling this emphasis in a broad, collective context.
Elche Street Closure Marks the Southern European Summit in Alicante
Official sources note that traffic restrictions around the summit are intended to facilitate the high-level discussions. The Midcat interconnection project, a bridge between France and the Iberian Peninsula, remains a focal point. Despite years of debate, Spain will push to advance this initiative, arguing its strategic importance for European energy solidarity and crisis response through shared infrastructure and efficiency improvements.
Both Spanish and French sources confirmed ongoing talks as of this week, with advances occurring at technical levels. The aim is to keep momentum on the project, stressing that Europe needs robust interconnections and effective energy-saving measures during times of strain. It is anticipated that the topic will be part of discussions in Alicante, with hopes for political consensus among Med-9 members. A separate EU Energy Ministers meeting scheduled for Friday will also explore these technical and policy aspects in depth. The overall purpose of the gathering is to highlight common interests across Southern Europe rather than create divisions, with ministers handling the technical details while Med-9 negotiators seek broader political agreement across the group.