Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean

The main objective of PAM is to forge political, economic and social cooperation among the Member States in order to find common solutions to the challenges facing the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf region, and to create a space for peace and prosperity for its peoples. PAM is the centre of excellence for regional parliamentary diplomacy, and a unique forum whose membership is open exclusively to Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf countries, which are represented on equal footing. This is reflected in the composition of the Bureau and the alternating Presidency. The current President of PAM is Enaam Mayara. Each national delegation has up to five members with equal voting rights and decision-making powers. PAM conducts the bulk of its work within three Standing Committees. It convenes annually in a Plenary Session. It may also set up Working Groups, ad-hoc Committees or Special Task Forces to tackle a particular topic (i.e. Counter-Terrorism, Confidence Building, Peace Support, Conflict Resolution, Middle East Peace Process, Mass Migration, Free Trade and Investments, Economic Integration, Climate Change, Energy, Human Rights, Dialogue of Civilizations, Gender issues, etc…). The main operational and coordination instruments of PAM in these fields are Field Missions, Electoral Observation Teams, the Economic Panel on Trade and Investments, the Academic Platform and the Women Parliamentary Forum. Although the reports and resolutions adopted by PAM are not legally binding per se, they are a powerful “soft diplomacy” tool when dealing with parliaments, governments and civil society in the region. ==Secretariat==

The international Secretariat, an autonomous and independent body of the Assembly, assists and advises the PAM President, the PAM Bureau and all members in the execution of their mandate and is responsible for the follow-up on the decisions taken by the Assembly providing coordination, assistance and support to the work of the Committees and all other bodies established under PAM. The Secretariat interacts with national delegations, as well as with regional and international bodies sharing an interest in the PAM region. It has the mandate to stimulate the activities of the Assembly. It also coordinates the awarding of the PAM Prize dedicated to individuals or institutions whose work is considered of great value for the PAM region. The Secretary General, assisted by international and local staff, coordinates the activities of the Assembly The PAM Secretariat is also entrusted with the parliamentary dimension of the 5+5 Western Mediterranean Forum and the MEDCOP. ==Relations with non-Mediterranean countries and international institutions==

The membership criteria and geographical location of its members position PAM as a central actor in the Mediterranean region. The General Assembly of the United Nations granted observer status to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, by the Resolution A/RES/64/124, at its 64th Session on 16 December 2009. An essential link with civil society, parliamentarians are key to any political decision-making process. In order to ensure coherence and coordination in decision processes, including social peace, it is necessary that parliamentarians fully participate in today’s regional debates thereby contributing to the elaboration of policies that bear both an immediate impact and a long-term impact for future generations. Today’s challenges, including mass migration, climate change and most importantly the resurgence of conflicts and the evolution of terrorism, require a collective effort, goodwill and confidence-building measures. The political dialogue established among members of PAM, in particular with respect to the Middle East issues, Syria and Libya crises, and the Russian aggression against Ukraine, are of crucial importance. To further its objectives, PAM encourages the inter-governmental support of the main actors in the region as well as regional institutions. ==Membership==

As of February 2026, there are 31 member parliaments, 3 associate member states, 2 observer states, 59 partner states and organizations, and 13 observer organizations. Member states • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Associate members • • • Observer states • • Candidate members • • (suspended) • Partner states and organizations • • • • • • • • • • • • African Parliamentary Union • Arab IPU • Arab Parliament • Asian Parliamentary Assembly • Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference • Conseil Consultatif de l’UMA • European Parliament • IPA CIS • Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy • Inter-Parliamentary Union • NATO-PA • OSCE-PA • PABSEC • Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe • Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie Pan-African Parliament • PA-UfM • PUIC • Parliamentary Network of the World Bank and IMF • SEECP PA • • CTBTO • EBRD • European Investment Bank • EUROMED • European Court of Human Rights • • European Commission • FEMISE • • • IRENA • • • North-South Centre of the Council of Europe • Organization of the Islamic Cooperation • OECD • Union du Maghreb arabe • UfM • UN System • UNEP • FISPMED • UNCTAD • UNODC • UNOCT • World Bank • • WTO • Anna Lindh Foundation • ASCAME, BUSINESS MED • Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI) • FIDU • Mediterranean Citizens’ Assembly Foundation • MEDREG • MED-TSO • Women Political Leaders Observers • Arab Inter-parliamentary Union • Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization • Euro-Mediterranean University of Slovenia • Fondazione Mediterraneo • • Maghreb Consultative Council of the Arab Maghreb Union • Mediterranean Citizens Assembly Foundation • Mediterranean Energy Regulators (MEDREG) • Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean • Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation • Organization of Islamic Cooperation • • World Meteorological Organisation ==Cooperation with other organizations==

In addition to the above, PAM also cooperates (to various degrees) with other international organizations, including the: • Arab Parliament • Council of Europe • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development • European Investment Bank • Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy • Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States == See also ==