6th Ministerial Conference of the 5+5 Dialogue closes two years of Portuguese presidency

The 6th Ministerial Conference of the 5+5 Dialogue on Research, Innovation, and Higher Education was held on December 6, 2024, at the Thalia Theater in Lisbon, marking the end of Portugal's two-year presidency of this international dialogue forum.

The Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, chaired this 5+5 Dialogue Conference, which refers to the Western Mediterranean cooperation process involving five European countries on the northern shore of the Mediterranean (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and Malta) and five countries from the Arab Maghreb, on the southern shore of the Mediterranean (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, and Tunisia). The European Commission, the Union for the Mediterranean, the Arab Maghreb Union, the Mediterranean Universities Union, and the PRIMA Foundation (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area) also participated as observers.

At the end of the Ministerial Conference, the Lisbon Declaration, with the theme "Promoting the Western Mediterranean as an innovative, inclusive, and resilient region. Science diplomacy at the service of youth empowerment and sustainable development." This declaration emphasized key areas such as strengthening cooperation in research, innovation, and higher education, fostering the mobility of researchers, and promoting shared principles and values, establishing guidelines for future cooperation between member countries and reinforcing the role of the 5+5 Dialogue as a crucial forum for regional collaboration in research, innovation, and higher education. The Action Plan 2024–2026, during which Libya will assume the presidency of the 5+5 Dialogue.

Portugal's participation in the 5+5 Dialogue on Research, Innovation, and Higher Education is coordinated by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).

17th Meeting of the Senior Officials Group (SOG)

In preparation for the 6th Ministerial Conference, on December 5, 2024, FCT hosted the 17th Meeting of the Senior Officials Group (SOG) of the 5+5 Dialogue at its headquarters. This meeting was attended by delegates from the ten member countries, as well as observers, and reaffirmed the vital role of the 5+5 Dialogue as a platform for cooperation in the areas of research, innovation, and higher education. One of the highlights of the meeting was the renewed focus on addressing critical challenges for the Mediterranean Region, in line with the Union's roadmaps for the Mediterranean in health, renewable energy, and climate change. Continued support for initiatives such as PRIMA and the Euro-Mediterranean Hub for Research and Innovation was also reiterated.