MED9 leaders urge greater EU investment to tackle climate challenges

October 21, 2025 (MLN): Leaders of nine Mediterranean and Southern European Union (MED9) countries have called for greater EU investments to help member states better prepare for the growing challenges of climate change.

At a summit in Slovenia, attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the MED9 group comprising France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Malta, Cyprus, and the host country Slovenia urged the EU to step up adaptation and resilience measures, as reported by APP.

Together, these countries represent about 45% of the EU’s population.

The leaders highlighted the urgent need for stronger responses to extreme weather events, including heatwaves, wildfires, and floods that have severely impacted Southern Europe in recent years. They also pushed for climate considerations to be integrated into the EU’s defense and security strategies.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez proposed that 15 percent of defense spending be directed toward climate emergency and civil protection efforts, arguing that adaptation policies must tackle both immediate and long-term climate threats.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro echoed the call for enhanced preparedness and urged a simplification of EU investment rules, particularly those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The MED9 leaders also backed the creation of a common European energy market and pressed the EU to take stronger action to boost its global competitiveness.

Most EU countries have already pledged to increase defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035 under their commitments to NATO, which includes 23 of the EU’s 27 member states.

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