Inside ASCAME’s Vision for the Mediterranean Economy

The Mediterranean economy is at an inflection point—but its institutions may not be moving fast enough. From fragmented markets and geopolitical tensions to missed opportunities in regional integration, the gap between potential and reality remains striking. Yet few organizations sit closer to this divide than ASCAME, the network representing more than 300 chambers of commerce and associated partners across 16 countries.

In this interview, ASCAME’s President Dr. Josep Santacreu, doesn’t shy away from the hard truths: why deeper economic integration is still out of reach, what’s really holding businesses back across the region, and why chambers themselves must undergo an uncomfortable transformation to stay relevant. At the same time, he lays out a more ambitious vision—one where the Mediterranean becomes a competitive economic hub, powered by stronger private sector leadership, cross-border cooperation, and a decisive shift toward green, digital, and inclusive growth.

1.What is ASCAME’s mission statement?

ASCAME is the leading Mediterranean Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, serving as the unified voice of the region’s business community. Our mission is to bring together the key economic actors of the Mediterranean to foster regional economic development, strengthen Euro Mediterranean cooperation, and promote deeper regional integration through the essential role of the private sector.

As a representative body of Mediterranean Chambers, ASCAME acts as a strategic bridge between the two shores of the region and across three continents. Over the years, we have become the natural business partner for major international and regional institutions, including the European Union, the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) by championing the interests of the private sector. We collaborate with a large ecosystem of regional and multilateral partners to strengthen the Mediterranean business ecosystem and support the emergence of innovative, future oriented companies.

While we honor our long-standing heritage, our focus is firmly on the future: advancing sustainable growth, promoting human centered innovation, and embracing digital transformation to build a more resilient and competitive Mediterranean region. We are committed to accelerating the transition toward a new development model centered on the green, blue, digital economies, and equity through women empowerment.

Chambers of Commerce and companies are pivotal in shaping this future. By working together, we can turn the region’s challenges into opportunities. Chambers are uniquely positioned to lead the way. Environmental, social, and governance principles will increasingly define business strategy and competitiveness, and ASCAME remains firmly committed to accompanying our members through this evolution for the benefit of our businesses, our communities, and the Mediterranean as a whole.

2. ASCAME gathers more than 300 members, among Chambers of Commerce and Industry and associated partners from 16 countries around the Mediterranean. How do you facilitate cooperation between chambers on opposite shores of the Mediterranean?

ASCAME brings together more than 300 members, among Chambers of Commerce and Industry and associated partners from 16 Mediterranean countries, and my priority as President is to ensure that this vast network becomes a true engine of cooperation and shared prosperity. My commitment is to mobilize public and private institutions to advance economic integration and guarantee equal opportunities on both shores of the Mediterranean and for ASCAME to consolidate itself as the leading Mediterranean business platform with more strategic presence in the region and beyond, greater visibility, and stronger partnerships.

To this end, I have already initiated an inclusive dialogue with ASCAME’s members to develop the new strategic priorities, collaboratively built with all our members designed to reflect the shared interests of our business community. I am confident that, together, we can bring these priorities to life through a united, inclusive, and forward-looking approach ensuring that no member is left behind.

The challenges we face, which range from energy transition to digital innovation, as well as the resilience of supply chains and social peace, require more multilateral cooperation. We need stronger collaboration between countries, between public and private sectors, and especially between Chambers of Commerce. I am convinced that by working together, we can turn these challenges into powerful opportunities for growth and innovation.

We just entered a decisive moment for Mediterranean cooperation. The new Pact for the Mediterranean, approved last year by the European Commission, marks a major step forward in strengthening economic connectivity across the region. Building on the legacy of the Barcelona Process - launched 30 years ago to promote political dialogue, economic integration, and cultural exchange - the Pact aims to create a Mediterranean space that is more connected, prosperous, resilient, and secure. Its priorities include clean energy production, unlocking private investment, and mobilizing large‑scale regional projects that generate opportunities for youth, women, and small enterprises. ASCAME is the natural partner of the EU that connects the private sector ecosystem from both shores of the Mediterranean.

This milestone aligns with the European Commission’s 2024–2029 Agenda, which places the Mediterranean at the center of its strategic vision. A key development is the appointment of the EU’s first Commissioner dedicated exclusively to the Mediterranean, Ms. Dubravka Šuica, who will lead the implementation of the Pact and reinforce partnerships across the Southern Neighbourhood, with a focus on jobs, clean energy, investment, and regional stability in collaboration with other EU actors.

In addition, last November ASCAME, together with leading business organizations from Europe, Africa, and the Arab world, launched the Barcelona Declaration for Mediterranean Economic Development. This declaration outlines 30 initiatives designed to strengthen cooperation, drive innovation, and promote sustainable prosperity across the region. It calls for the private sector to evolve from a passive observer to an active leader, by driving inclusive growth, generating employment, and advancing regional integration. It also emphasizes the need for businesses, Chambers of Commerce, and entrepreneurial networks to work together to build a dynamic ecosystem that connects markets, empowers communities, and accelerates innovation.

Through these efforts, ASCAME is reinforcing its role as a catalyst for cooperation and a bridge between the two shores of the Mediterranean. Our mission is clear: to unite, to lead, and to create opportunities for all.

3. What are the top structural obstacles really holding Mediterranean businesses back today, and what is ASCAME actually doing about them?

The Mediterranean today faces several deep structural obstacles that continue to limit the region’s economic potential. We navigate times of uncertainty and political instability with a devastating war in Gaza, and the current regional conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf countries with direct repercussions in the Mediterranean. To unlock growth, we must rethink the relationship between the EU and the Mediterranean and build a shared project capable of competing in a world dominated by large geographical areas or giant economic unions. The Mediterranean should become a strategic hub, one that offers solutions to global supply‑chain disruptions and reduces the region’s vulnerability to geopolitical tensions. At the same time, Europe must urgently address challenges such as the transition to renewable energy, the refugee and migration crises, the need for greater economic resilience, and the tension between isolation and multilateralism, menacing our bet for a shared future based on common rules and values. A central issue is the management of migration flows. This must be approached not as a burden, but as an opportunity for both shores of the Mediterranean.

Another major obstacle is the lack of true regional economic integration. If the Mediterranean were to integrate its markets more deeply, the region could achieve an additional 2% growth, attract significant international investment, and create tens of thousands of jobs in an area with chronically high unemployment. Each country could see a substantial increase in exports and up to 13% added to GDP.

Today’s challenges require stability, peace, economic development and prosperity that reaches the entire territory. This requires renewed commitment from all actors. It is time to revive the spirit of the Barcelona Process with a collective ambition to build a Mediterranean defined by cooperation, inclusive growth, and solidarity.

ASCAME is uniquely positioned to drive this transformation. With decades of experience creating platforms for dialogue and economic cooperation, ASCAME has become a central actor in connecting Chambers of Commerce, cities, and companies across the region. Our network is one of the few capable of mobilizing both public and private sectors on a scale. Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce are strategically placed to lead this new era, and ASCAME is working to ensure they have the tools, partnerships, and the cooperative vision needed to shape the region’s future.

4. What’s the most uncomfortable change you believe Chambers of Commerce in the Mediterranean must make if they want to stay relevant in the next decade?

Chambers must evolve into strategic, forward‑looking actors - digitally enabled, agile, and deeply connected to the emerging green, blue, and digital economies -while actively fostering opportunities for women’s empowerment. This requires a cultural shift, adopting new technologies, investing in new skills, and building partnerships with universities, innovation hubs, investors, and civil‑society organizations. It also means engaging more actively in regional and European initiatives that shape the future of the Mediterranean economy.

This is precisely where ASCAME is already leading by example. Through our participation in major European programs such as Interreg Euro- MED, Interreg NEXT- MED or PRIMA, we are helping e-Chambers and all the businesses that they represent strengthen cross‑border cooperation and integrate into European value chains. These projects give Chambers access to innovative networks, digital tools, sustainability frameworks, and new business opportunities that would be impossible to achieve alone. They also demonstrate that Mediterranean chambers can play a central role in large‑scale regional strategies.

At ASCAME, we are committed to supporting this transformation by providing platforms, partnerships, and European‑level opportunities that help chambers lead the economic future of the Mediterranean.

💡 Have news, events, publications or opportunities to share? Feel free to email me: [email protected]

Until next time! 👋 

Houssem Touil

Founder, Chamberpad