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S!H^T>'E MXT) SfiarecCJ^wareness ancCD'E-confCiction L in tHe Mediterranean B EU NAVFOR / Med/-♦ i MovemBer 2025,'Rome - ItaCy 99 The MEDITERRANEAN space: a pillar ofglobal security 0 Rome, ) EU Naval Forces Mediterranean Headquarters and NATO Allied Maritime Command co-organise the fourteenth edition of the Shared Awareness and DeconlTction in the Mediterranean (SHADE MED) Conference on 18*'* November 2025 at “Francesco Baracca” Military Airport in Rome. Vice Admiral Mike Utley and I have the great pleasure to invite you to join us as a distinguished participant. SHADE MED brings together senior representatives from nations and organisations operating in or holding strategic interests across the Mediterranean, with the aim of fostering mutual understanding, enhancing shared situational awareness, assessing current and emerging trends, and promoting the exchange of lessons learned and best practices. This year’s edition will also serve as a platform to identify practical ways to further coordinate and deconflict maritime efforts in this highly dynamic region. This year the conference will specifically focus on “The MEDITERRANEAN space: a pillar of global security”, as per the attached agenda. Please let the organisers know if you are available on the aforementioned date by registering yourself by using the link in the email. We sincerely hope you will be able to join us and contribute to the success of this year’s SHADE MED. Marco CASAPIERI __-^ Rear AdmiralJLtaltaifNavy Operhti' uEUNA^^ORMED IRINI deration Corrunander AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Captain (Navy)Ivo VARK Chiefofthe Estonia Navy SHADE MED 2025 SHAred Awareness and DEconfliction in the MEDiterranean ROME, 18th NOVEMBER At the Italian Secretariat General of Defense and National Armaments Directorate “Guidoni” Building” AGENDA THE MEDITERRANEAN SPACE: A PILLAR OF GLOBAL SECURITY1 1 The working language will be English for all the sessions of the conference. (Detailed instructions will be here given with regards to the translation service, if any) DAY 18th of November 08:45 - 09:45 In-processing - welcome coffee 09:45 - 10:00 General Information Briefing 10:00 – 10:40 Joint Welcome Address Key Note Speakers:  Rear Admiral Marco CASAPIERI, Operation Commander of EUNAVFOR MED IRINI  Vice Admiral Ludovic POITOU, French Navy, Deputy Commander, Allied Maritime Command  Alison WESTON, Deputy Director Security and Defence Policy and Senior Coordinator for Coordinated Maritime Presences (EEAS)  NATO Senior Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood Mr Javier COLOMINA 10:40 - 12:00 Panel: Political-military reconfigurations in the East Med : which opportunities & challenges for NATO ? Moderator Pr François-Joseph FÜRRY, Deputy Political Advisor to NATO Allied Maritime Commander, Adjunct Professor at Sciences Po, University of Lille, France Speakers:  Mrs Ariella VIEHE, Director of Current Operations, International Staff, NATO HQ  Pr Katja LINDSKOV-JACOBSEN, Director of the Center for Military Studies, University of Copenhagen, Denmark  Dr Roderick PARKES, NATO Defense College resident researcher TBC  Pr Pierre RAZOUX, Academic director, Foundation for Mediterranean Strategic Studies, Toulon, France, TBC Review and discuss: The past twelve months have seen a widespread political and military reshuffling in the East Mediterranean with the fall of the Assad regime and considerably destabilized riparian countries by the protracted war in Gaza. A consecutive revised Russian posture in the Mediterranean and weakened Iran- supported terror groups both offer opportunities for NATO maritime forces and political arm to bolster freedom of navigation, ensure security of critical infrastructure, and deepen ties with southern partner states. Yet, challenges persist in a key arena where global power dynamics, regional conflicts, and transnational challenges intersect. Political instability, persistent security crises, and socio-economic disparities in the Southern Flank are amplified by climate change, demographic pressures, and the activities of both state and non-state actors seeking to expand their influence. How can NATO leverage in such context its political, military, and training instruments to address instability, strengthen resilience in and interoperability with partner nations, and safeguard the Mediterranean as a stable and secure operating environment ? 12:00 - 12:30 Family Photo for all the distinguished guests 12:30 – 14:30 Buffet Lunch  Panel: Trafficking, Migration, and Crisis Spillover 14:30 – 16:00 Moderator: Francesco Maria TALO’, Senior Diplomat and Special Envoy for the India-Middle East- Europe Corridor (IMEC), former Ambassador of Italy to NATO Speakers:  Alessandro PANARO, Head of the Maritime Economy Department at SRM- Intesa Sanpaolo  Dr Wolfram LACHER, Senior associate at the German Institute sfor International and Security Review and discuss: Illicit trafficking, irregular migration, and the spillover of crises from neighbouring regions remain among the most pressing security challenges in the Mediterranean. The interplay between political instability, weak governance, and economic fragility in North Africa and the Sahel has created fertile ground for transnational criminal networks, human smuggling operations, and terrorist financing schemes. The war in Ukraine and the reassertion of Russian naval activity in the region add further complexity, while the growing presence of non-state armed groups and hybrid actors heightens the risk of multi-domain threats. Climate change, resource scarcity, and demographic pressures act as accelerators of these phenomena, increasing the likelihood of maritime routes being exploited for illicit purposes. Against this backdrop, EUNAVFOR MED IRINI and partners face the challenge of balancing deterrence, interdiction, and humanitarian considerations, while ensuring compliance with international law. How can NATO, the EU, and 16:00 – 16:30 Coffee Break regional stakeholders strengthen coordination, intelligence sharing, and capacity-building to address these 16:30 – 18:00 interconnected threats, Panel: Protecting the while maintainingStrategic Mediterranean freedom Economic of navigation andand safeguarding Energy Gateway critical infrastructure in the Moderator South? Alix Valenti, Speakers:  Dr Valeria TALBOT, Co-Head for Middle East and North Africa Centre / Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) / Università Cattolica di Milano  Dr Andrej ANDROJNA, Chair for Nautical Studies at the Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport, University of Ljubljan  Commander Stanislas FRENZEL, Legal Advisor to NATO Allied Maritime Commander  Dr Silvia Maria COLOMBO, NATO Defense College researcher and GCC/Middle-East specialist TBC / Backup: top executive from the industry and global Ports association Review and discuss: The Mediterranean Sea is not only a geopolitical crossroads but also a vital artery for global commerce and energy flows, with critical sea lanes and chokepoints connecting Europe to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Recent crises have underscored the vulnerability of undersea infrastructure, port facilities, and shipping routes to both state-led coercion and non-state hybrid threats. The EU’s evolving Common Security and Defense Policy has expanded beyond countering illicit trafficking to encompass the protection of strategic maritime assets essential for Europe’s economic resilience and energy security. NATO and the EU have complementary roles in ensuring the security of these lifelines, from safeguarding offshore energy platforms and submarine cables to protecting container traffic and LNG shipments. Rising competition among global and regional powers in the Mediterranean heightens the risk of confrontation and necessitates a more proactive, coordinated maritime presence. How should NATO and EUNAVFOR MED IRINI adapt their operational posture, partnerships, and rules of engagement to deter threats, protect critical infrastructure, and preserve stability in this increasingly contested maritime domain? 18:00 – 18:15 Closing Address  Vice Admiral Ludovic POITOU, French Navy, Deputy Commander, Allied Maritime Command.  Rear Admiral Marco CASAPIERI, Operation Commander of EUNAVFOR MED IRINI