The South Programme V "Protecting human rights, rule of law and democracy through shared standards in the Southern Mediterranean" is a joint initiative between the European Union and the Council of Europe over the period 2022 - 2025 with the objective to continue the support to democratic reforms in the Southern Mediterranean through the establishment of a common legal space between Europe and this region.
Since 2012, the successive phases of the South Programme (I, II,III and IV) have provided institutional support to beneficiaries of the Southern Mediterranean region, which have benefited from the added value of the Council of Europe’s standards, its independent monitoring mechanisms, and the support of independent experts and advisory opinion bodies. Regional actions address common interests and facilitate knowledge sharing and lessons learned at a collective level on a range of topics while the flexibility and demand-driven approach of the programme respond to the partners’ specific needs and requests for assistance.