T-MED: the first Call for Expressions of Interest for European Project Promoters is open

Watch the Webinar of 29 June 2026 — Brussels and online 

On 29 June, the MED-GEM Network brought together in Brussels and online more than 70 public and private actors interested in deploying renewable energy and clean technologies across the Southern Mediterranean. The occasion: the opening of the first Call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) under the T-MED initiative, aimed at European project promoters.

Moderated by Tiziana de Harlez, Project Manager of the MED-GEM Network, the session gave the floor to Nazanin Nejati, Policy Officer at the European Commission (DG MENA), to present the T-MED initiative and its architecture, followed by Frank Wouters, Director of the MED-GEM Network, for a detailed walkthrough of the Call and its criteria.

T-MED, a flagship initiative under the Pact for the Mediterranean

Launched on 9 June during the European Sustainable Energy Week, the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy and Clean-Tech Cooperation initiative (T-MED) is embedded in the Pact for the Mediterranean adopted by the Commission last October, and in the Global Gateway strategy. Its objective: to accelerate investment in renewable energy and clean technologies across the Southern Mediterranean.

The region holds considerable renewable potential, solar and wind, yet less than 1% of this potential is currently used for power generation, while demand is expected to rise sharply in the years ahead. Renewable electricity and hydrogen can be produced here at 25 to 40% lower cost than in the EU.

T-MED aims for a "triple win": for partner countries (investment, jobs, skills, industrial development), for both shores of the Mediterranean (diversified and affordable energy, strengthened competitiveness) and for the climate (accelerated decarbonisation).

An investment platform at the heart of the mechanism

The core of T-MED is its Investment Platform, which brings stakeholders together around a structured pipeline of projects. It is organised around two functions: project identification — sourced from partner countries, financial institutions and project promoters through dedicated calls — and financial structuring, mobilising EU financial instruments, financing from implementing partners, and private capital.

The platform aims to mobilise up to EUR 25 billion in investment by 2035, with an EFSD+ guarantee capacity of more than EUR 5 billion. Around it, a supporting ecosystem brings together four pillars: the regulatory accelerator, infrastructure planning, clean tech industrial collaborations, and skills and training development. The platform's first operational meeting is scheduled for October.

Two pilot projects already illustrate the approach: the modernisation and expansion of the national electricity grid in Egypt (an investment of EUR 1.6 billion) and the Ain Sokhna Green Ammonia Project (EUR 535 million, with nearly 1,000 jobs expected during construction).

The Call for Expressions of Interest in detail

Frank Wouters set out the parameters of the Call for project promoters, open until 15 August 2026.

Projects must be located in one of the nine countries within the target zone: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia. Four families of projects are targeted: renewable energy development, energy transmission and distribution, production of hydrogen and its derivatives, and clean tech manufacturing.

The project promoter — or the lead in the case of a consortium — must have its real legal seat in the EU or the EEA. Non-European companies may take part as members of a consortium led by a European entity. Projects must reach a minimum size of EUR 300 million, with an equity stake of at least 20% of the total investment cost.

The evaluation rests on four pillars: strategic alignment (consistency with the Pact and T-MED, the "Do No Significant Harm" principle, EU added value and technology origin), impact (job creation incorporating youth and gender inclusion, working conditions meeting ILO core standards, integration of local SMEs, training), financial readiness (track record, bankability, capacity to mobilise private capital) and environmental sustainability (EU Taxonomy, ESG standards, efficient land and water use, biodiversity protection).

A matchmaking call, not a funding mechanism

One point was stressed repeatedly: this Call is a formal process, but it carries no financial commitment from the European Commission or its partners. Its purpose is to build a strong pipeline of bankable, high-impact projects, to understand existing constraints and needs, and to broker financial dialogue.

Selected projects may be presented and discussed within the Investment Platform — solely with the promoter's agreement and in line with confidentiality requirements. Following the evaluation, based on the four pillars, eligible applicants will receive feedback within 45 working days, together with potential facilitation with financial institutions.

The Q&A session clarified several points: all maturity stages are accepted, from pre-FEED to the engineering, procurement and construction phase; the envisaged dates for the final investment decision and the start of commercial operation are requested for information purposes and are not selection criteria; and this first Call, limited to European entities in the lead, will be followed by future calls that may directly include companies from partner countries.

Next step: a matchmaking event in December

The MED-GEM Network is preparing a B2B EU-MENA matchmaking event in December, which will be the final event of this phase of the Network, preceded by a virtual session in October. The format, the type of companies and the location are still to be defined, and the Network invites stakeholders to share their suggestions.

Key takeaways

• A Call open until 15 August 2026, aimed at project promoters whose lead has its legal seat in the EU or the EEA; non-European entities may take part within a consortium.
• Nine eligible countries in the Southern Mediterranean: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia.
• Two financial thresholds: a project size of at least EUR 300 million and an equity stake of at least 20%.
• Four families of projects: renewable energy, transmission and distribution, hydrogen and derivatives, clean tech manufacturing.
• Four evaluation pillars: strategic alignment, impact, financial readiness, environmental sustainability.
• A matchmaking and facilitation call, with no financial commitment from the Commission: the aim is to build a pipeline of bankable projects and to facilitate dialogue with financial institutions.
• Feedback within 45 working days after the evaluation, with potential facilitation with financial partners.
• A B2B EU-MENA matchmaking event in December, the final milestone of this phase of the MED-GEM Network.

The webinar presentations are available here: 

• Presentation by Frank Wouters, Director of the MED-GEM Network
• Presentation by Nazanin Nejati, Policy Officer at the European Commission
• Watch on Youtube 

Apply

• Call for Expressions of Interest — European Project Promoters
• Call for Expressions of Interest — European Private Investors

The MED-GEM Network is funded by the European Union and implemented by GIZ International Services.