Italy likes to think of itself as crucial to setting Europe’s agenda on the Mediterranean. In recent years, Russia’s presence in Syria and Libya – not to mention China’s eyeing of ports around the Med – has made the body of water shared by Europe, Africa and the Middle East an increasingly significant space in geopolitics. These realities underpinned the annual Rome Med conference, which took place from 1 to 3 December – as did Italy’s long-standing belief that more co-operation between Europe and its wider Mediterranean neighbourhood is necessary to address their common challenges. The gathering brought together heads of state, foreign ministers, parliamentarians, business leaders, civil society figures, policy wonks and think-tankers from across the Mediterranean region. More than 1,000 participants from at least 50 countries attended this year.