The reporting period (June 2024 – June 2025) was marked by turbulence across the MENA region. The already extreme humanitarian situation in Gaza continued to deteriorate despite a two-month ceasefire and the exchange of hostages and prisoners in January–March. Direct hostilities between Iran and Israel took place in September 2024 and again over a longer stretch in June 2025. A ceasefire agreement was reached between Lebanon and Israel in November 2024. In December, the Assad regime was overthrown by a coalition of opposition forces led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Since then, Syria’s bumpy road towards a peaceful and inclusive, political and economic transition has become a priority for the international community, culminating in the lifting of sanctions by the US, Europe and others in May–June 2025.
Throughout the year, Saudi Arabia assumed an increasingly prominent role as a mediator and host for regional and international diplomatic efforts on conflicts including Israel–Palestine and Ukraine. Qatar continued to spearhead efforts to secure a sustained ceasefire in Gaza, with active involvement from Egypt.
In parallel, 2025 marks the anniversaries of two landmark UN Security Council resolutions: Women, Peace and Security (30 years) and Youth, Peace and Security (15 years) as well as the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, with ongoing consultations to develop a new Pact for the Mediterranean under the EU’s Neighbourhood Policy. Though offering a shared platform for dialogue on peace and security between our two regions opportunity to deepen the cooperation and implementation of these platform have been overshadowed by the ongoing invasions and wars both Europe and the MENA-region. In general, there was a sense that global and regional actors turned away from rules-based solutions and consistent application of international humanitarian law and human rights.
Against this backdrop, the Swedish Dialogue Institute (SDI) has continued its core work on EU–MENA relations, youth and women’s inclusion in peace and security, and intercultural dialogue. Particular attention has been given to developments in Syria and to initiatives supporting a peaceful and inclusive political and economic transition. SDI has also expanded its engagement with the Arab Gulf states — especially Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE — by conducting visits to Riyadh and Doha to explore future opportunities for cooperation. Given the dire situation in Gaza and the lack of progress in the Israel-Palestine peace process, SDI has also visited Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to connect with potential partners there.
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Two themes prioritised by Sweden and Europe have shaped SDI’s activities during 2024–2025, Green Transition and the Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Peacebuilding. Both areas engage public and private actors alike, offering broad and forward-looking opportunities for dialogue and cooperation between Europe and the MENA region. At the signature event of the year, SDI’s annual conference, with more than 100 participants, the main themes were Peace and Security in the MENA Region, Green Transition and Intercultural Dialogue.
In spring 2025, SDI launched a new initiative: the Mutual Mentorship Programme between Europe and MENA and Across Generations (MMP). Following an open call, around 40 participants—selected from several hundred applicants—are now engaged in a year-long programme that combines online and in-person meetings. The mentorship pairs focus on topics such as EU–MENA relations, peace and security, intergenerational dialogue, green transition, as well as AI and peacebuilding. As a pilot initiative, the programme is under continuous assessment and may be extended beyond 2025 if shown to be an effective tool for strengthening EU–MENA dialogue.
Alongside these initiatives, SDI has carried out a wide range of other activities aligned with Swedish and EU’s interests, particularly in the field of intercultural dialogue. A full account of activities undertaken during 2024–2025 follows below.
For the full list of activitites, please click here.
