Heads of Networks Meeting & EuroMed Civil Society Conference – Barcelona

In November 2025, Barcelona became a focal point for Euro-Mediterranean civil society cooperation, hosting the Heads of Networks (HoN) Meeting alongside the Euro-Mediterranean Civil Society Conference 2025. Together, these events brought civil society networks, institutions and partners into a shared space for reflection, coordination and forward-looking action.

The Heads of Networks Meeting (24–25 November) gathered national coordinators of the Anna Lindh Foundation to discuss key strategic priorities, including the ALF budget framework for 2025–2028, cross-network collaboration, and preparations for AGORALF 2026. Sessions explored how to strengthen cooperation between national networks, improve resource sharing, and enhance civil society resilience in the face of polarisation, misinformation and shrinking civic space—particularly among young people and in digital environments.

On 26 November, the Euro-Mediterranean Civil Society Conference 2025 took place at Palau Macaya, marking the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process. Organised by IEMed and the Union for the Mediterranean, the conference focused on reinforcing civil society engagement in Euro-Mediterranean governance, with a clear emphasis on moving from consultation towards co-creation and co-implementation. Discussions aligned closely with the EU’s New Pact for the Mediterranean and the UfM’s Strategic Vision 2025.

Within the parallel sessions hosted by different networks, the Albanian Network invited the Dutch and Egyptian Networks to contribute as speakers. Dr. Maged Hosney and Romana Moussa shared perspectives on governance, participation and people-to-people cooperation, highlighting the value of cross-regional exchange and partnership.

Together, the meetings in Barcelona reaffirmed a shared ambition: to strengthen civil society’s role as a strategic partner in shaping a more inclusive, resilient and connected Euro-Mediterranean region.