The Mediterranean region is a shared space connecting Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, shaped by exceptional cultural and linguistic diversity, rich historical heritage, and longstanding traditions of exchange and dialogue. Its interconnected societies, vibrant media and cultural spheres, and growing digital connectivity provide important foundations for cooperation, mutual understanding and resilience.
Yet these strengths are increasingly being tested. Conflicts, geopolitical tensions, population movements and fragile political transitions are creating fertile ground for disinformation and hate speech campaigns. Fragmented media ecosystems, the growing dominance of social media and unequal access to reliable and verified information can heighten vulnerability to information disorders, erode public trust and deepen social divisions.
These challenges are being accelerated by rapidly evolving technologies. Against this backdrop, information integrity is increasingly becoming a cornerstone of regional resilience, social cohesion and stability.
A shared UNESCO–EU agenda for the Mediterranean
On 22 September, during the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week in New York, UNESCO and the European Union convened a high-level side event to examine how international and regional cooperation can advance information integrity in the Mediterranean while addressing the growing challenges posed by disinformation and hate speech.
The discussion brought together:
- Dubravka Šuica, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean
- Mariya Gabriel, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information
Speakers underlined the essential role of independent journalism, freedom of expression and access to reliable and verified information in building resilient societies, strengthening public trust and fostering regional cooperation.
The discussion also pointed to strong potential synergies between the European Union’s Pact for the Mediterranean, and UNESCO’s normative frameworks and technical expertise in information integrity, digital platform governance and media and information literacy (MIL), notably through UNESCO’s Internet for Trust initiative.
Information integrity is not just a media issue; it is also a matter of peace, security and sustainability. The European Pact for the Mediterranean, which includes southern partners, supports media and information literacy. The shared EU-UNESCO vision for the Mediterranean helps societies remain informed, open and inclusive – this is needed now more than ever.
Dubravka ŠuicaEuropean Commissioner for the Mediterranean
Responses to the challenges to information integrity cannot be designed at the global level alone. Since 2023, thanks to the support from the EU, UNESCO has built coalitions of governments, regulators, media, civil society, academia and citizens to exchange experiences and develop responses grounded in global principles, knowledge and local realities.
