The European Institute of the Mediterranean

The European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) is a leading think tank and policy institution dedicated to promoting dialogue, cooperation, and research on Euro-Mediterranean relations. Its activities focus on fostering mutual understanding and collaboration among the countries and societies of the Mediterranean basin, supporting initiatives aligned with the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, European Neighbourhood Policy, and the Union for the Mediterranean (European Institute of the Mediterranean, n.d.-a).

Location

IEMed is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, with its main office located at Girona, 20, 5th floor – 08010 Barcelona (European Institute of the Mediterranean, n.d.-b).

History

Founded in 1989, IEMed was established in response to the growing need for comprehensive and multidisciplinary engagement with Euro-Mediterranean issues. Over the years, it has become a key hub for policy research, dialogue, and advocacy, contributing to major regional initiatives and networks such as EuroMeSCo (European Institute of the Mediterranean, n.d.-a; EuroMeSCo, n.d.).

Establishment and Founders

IEMed was created as a consortium by the Government of Catalonia, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and Barcelona City Council. Its governance structure also includes a Board of Trustees and an Advisory Council, which bring together Mediterranean universities, organizations, and notable individuals to ensure broad representation and expertise (European Institute of the Mediterranean, n.d.-a).

Financial Sponsors

The institute's primary financial sponsors are its founding partners: the Government of Catalonia, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and Barcelona City Council. IEMed also secures funding for specific projects from the European Union and other international organizations (European Institute of the Mediterranean, n.d.-a; European Institute of the Mediterranean, n.d.-b).

Website and Contact Information

• Website: www.iemed.org
• Address: Girona, 20, 5th floor – 08010 Barcelona, Spain
• Telephone: +34 93 244 98 50
• Email contacts: gaubareII@iemed.org, csc@iemed.org, redespanolafal@iemed.org (European Institute of the Mediterranean, n.d.-b).

Prominent Research Figures

The European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) collaborates with a broad network of Mediterranean and Euro-Mediterranean experts. While specific individual names at IEMed are not extensively publicized, the institute works closely with leading scholars across the region through networks such as EuroMeSCo and the Euro-Mediterranean Research Network on Migration (EuroMedMig-ReNet). Notable researchers involved in related Mediterranean migration and social research include Ricard Zapata-Barrero (Pompeu Fabra University, Spain), Ibrahim Awad (American University in Cairo, Egypt), Tamirace Fakhoury (Lebanese American University), and Ahmet İçduygu (Koç University, Turkey) (UfM, 2018).

Key Fields of Concentration (Research)

IEMed’s research primarily focuses on:

• Euro-Mediterranean political, economic, and social relations
• Migration and diversity management in the Mediterranean
• Intercultural dialogue and conflict resolution
• Sustainable development, climate change, renewable energies, and health in the Mediterranean region
• Mediterranean policy and human development
• Civil society engagement and Mediterranean cultural cooperation (European Institute of the Mediterranean, n.d.; UfM, 2018; European Commission, 2025).

Relations to the Islamic World

IEMed maintains strong relations with countries in the Islamic world, particularly those in North Africa and the Middle East, through its inclusive Mediterranean framework. It promotes dialogue and cooperation with Islamic societies on issues such as migration, intercultural understanding, and socio-economic development. The institute has organized major conferences such as the World Congress on Middle Eastern Studies (WOCMES) and the Anna Lindh Forum for Intercultural Dialogue, which included participation from numerous Islamic countries and experts (European Institute of the Mediterranean, n.d.-b).

Publishing / Significant Reports

IEMed produces several key publications that contribute to knowledge and policy in the Mediterranean region:

• Mediterranean Yearbook – an annual comprehensive report on Mediterranean affairs
• Quaderns de la Mediterrània – a semi-annual magazine covering socio-political topics
• Afkar/ideas – a quarterly magazine addressing ideas and debates relevant to the Mediterranean
• Papers IEMed – a collection of research papers on Mediterranean issues

Additionally, IEMed participates in and supports reports and roadmaps on migration, climate change, and innovation in the Mediterranean, such as those developed under the Union for the Mediterranean and the European Commission’s research strategies (European Institute of the Mediterranean, n.d.-b; European Commission, 2025).

Impacts and Partnerships from Iran’s Perspective

From Iran’s perspective, IEMed represents a valuable platform for engaging with Mediterranean countries, including North African and Middle Eastern Islamic states, on shared challenges like migration, security, and sustainable development. Its partnerships with regional universities, research centers, and international organizations facilitate knowledge exchange and policy dialogue that can complement Iran’s interests in regional stability and cooperation.

IEMed’s involvement in networks such as EuroMedMig-ReNet, which promotes research on migration and diversity involving countries from both shores of the Mediterranean, aligns with Iran’s strategic interest in migration dynamics and intercultural relations in the broader Mediterranean and Middle Eastern region (UfM, 2018).

Furthermore, IEMed’s collaboration with the Union for the Mediterranean and European research initiatives on climate change, renewable energy, and health offers Iran opportunities for scientific cooperation and participation in regional innovation agendas (European Commission, 2025).

Critiques of the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed):

1. Perceived Western Alignment and Distrust

Iran often views European institutions, including those like IEMed, as aligned with broader Western policies that are skeptical or critical of Iran’s regional role and security concerns. Tehran perceives Europe as part of a Western camp that, despite diplomatic engagement, remains critical of Iran’s human rights record, ballistic missile program, and regional influence, particularly in the Middle East and Mediterranean (PODEM, 2018). This skepticism extends to European-led Mediterranean initiatives, which Iran may see as indirectly supporting Western strategic interests rather than fully appreciating Iranian security concerns (PODEM, 2018).

2. Limited Iranian Influence and Association Rather than Direct Intervention

IEMed’s own analysis notes that Iran’s presence in the Euro-Mediterranean region has been based more on association than direct intervention (IEMed, 2021). From Iran’s viewpoint, this could reflect a critique that European Mediterranean frameworks, including IEMed, underestimate or marginalize Iran’s strategic depth and influence, especially in countries like Syria and Lebanon, where Iran plays a critical role (ECFR, 2024).

3. Hidden Objectives Related to Regional Power Dynamics

Some analyses suggest that European Mediterranean institutions may implicitly support a regional order that counters Iran’s ambitions. For example, Iran’s strategic efforts to lead Shia and Islamic movements in the Eastern Mediterranean are viewed as attempts to rebalance geopolitical power, a move that European actors may perceive as destabilizing (MedReset, 2017). Thus, from Iran’s perspective, IEMed and similar organizations might be seen as part of a broader Euro-Mediterranean strategy that seeks to contain or dilute Iranian influence under the guise of promoting stability and dialogue.

4. Criticism of European Policy Effectiveness

Iranian critiques also highlight what they see as Europe’s inconsistent or subordinate role in the Mediterranean and Middle East, often overshadowed by US policies. This perceived lack of an independent and coherent European approach, including within Mediterranean institutions, is seen as limiting meaningful engagement with Iran and failing to address core Iranian security and political concerns (PODEM, 2018; Euromesco, 2024).

5. Potential for Instrumentalization in Western Security Frameworks

European efforts to counter Iran’s influence in Lebanon and Syria, where Iran’s role is deeply embedded, are sometimes viewed by Iran as attempts to instrumentalize Mediterranean platforms to isolate Tehran politically and economically. This dynamic is seen as contributing to regional instability rather than genuine conflict resolution (ECFR, 2024).