UNIMED head proposes Euro-Mediterranean university alliances to boost integration and cooperation

The head of the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED) has proposed forming Euro-Mediterranean university alliances, similar to the current European university alliance model, to boost Euro-Mediterranean integration and cooperation, he said on 27/01/2026.

Speaking during UNIMED's annual event in Brussels, UNIMED Director Marcello Scalisi suggested establishing 'Med Campuses' inside universities rather than creating a new Euro-Mediterranean University, as well as reinforcing joint master’s pathways by connecting existing institutions of both sides of the Mediterranean basin.

UNIMED is a network of higher education and research institutions working on academic cooperation. It has more than 150 members.

These proposals would be part of the Pact for the Mediterranean, a framework between the EU and countries bordering the Mediterranean, for action which aims to drive meaningful change and unlock new opportunities for growth, stability, and cooperation across the Mediterranean region. It was signed in November 2025 by the EU and Southern Mediterranean partners, to be followed by a…