The South Programme VI

Strengthening Euro-Mediterranean legal space for shared prosperity and human security

The South Programme VI is a joint initiative between the European Union and the Council of Europe for the period of November 2025 – December 2028, co-financed by the two organisations and implemented by the Council of Europe (EU: 85%, Council of Europe: 15%).

The sixth phase of the South Programme builds on the cooperation established and results achieved during its previous editions. It promotes the progressive enlargement of the common legal space between Europe and the Southern Mediterranean by supporting reforms aligned with international human rights and rule of law standards and contributes to creating more favourable conditions for enhanced human security and sustainable economic prosperity in the region.

The South Programme VI aims at:

  • Aligning national legal and institutional frameworks in the Southern Mediterranean region with international human rights and rule of law standards;
  • Strengthening regional and international cooperation and dialogue, including through Council of Europe’s monitoring and advisory bodies and specialised networks;
  • Enhancing technical skills and capacities of Southern Mediterranean professionals, authorities and civil society to effectively implement international standards.
How South Programme VI is implemented:
  • Demand-driven approach: applied by the Council of Europe to co-operation with non-member-States ensuring that interventions are designed at the request and with the consent of partners to address their priority needs;
  • Flexibility and adaptability: to be able to respond to evolving needs and circumstances in the region;
  • Multi-stakeholder approach: involving government structures, public authorities, and civil society when this brings an added value, whilst targeting notably criminal justice actors;
  • Focus on joint regional action: maintaining a regional emphasis of the action to encourage peer-to-peer learning and to harmonise practice aligned with international human rights and rule of law standards.