While the political deciders debate the future perspectives for cooperation and union between the Mediterranean countries and the countries of Europe, the RMEI sees its mission as playing a major role in promoting sustainable development and innovation in the Mediterranean region.

The RMEI works to give students a positive image of higher education and research in the Mediterranean countries, which will be a major asset for the Mediterranean in the context of the globalisation of the economy. The network bases its actions on innovation and an awareness of local issues, aspects that have not traditionally been major tendencies in engineering education. We seek to train "ingénieurs-citoyens" : engineers who are fully aware of the major social and political issues facing our societies. By thus promoting the Mediterranean in the minds of students, it may be hoped that they will be less eager to become expatriates and this will reduce the risk of a drain of young talent.

The RMEI can also offer local authorities the advantage of a pool of high level academic researchers capable of playing a key role in identifying, monitoring and assessing policy for research and innovation in the Mediterranean region. The network facilitates contacts between researchers which will help them to be able to respond rapidly and effectively to international calls for projects (programmes such as Med, EPNI, Tempus, etc.).

The RMEI acts as an interface between industry and universities and schools of engineering. It should work to strengthen and develop the network of relations between universities – schools of engineering – research laboratories - companies in the Mediterranean with the aim of providing support for innovation and also for the recruitment of competent engineers and scientists, a key asset for the region's major groups and also for SMEs. The RMEI maintains and develops contacts with other regions of the world through its close links with a wide range of laboratories in universities in China, Japan, Russia, Brazil, the United States and Europe.

The RMEI is a network that favours friendly relations which offers a meeting place for people from countries that otherwise have little opportunity for contact with each other. It can thus contribute, on a very modest scale, to promoting cultural tolerance.

The RMEI undertakes to publicise the results of its actions for the benefit of major international organisations (UN, UNESCO, etc.), during congresses related to sustainable development, regional development, economic development or the Mediterranean.

The RMEI is also committed to publicising its activities locally in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, among school children and local organisations involved in social approaches to sustainable development.

These policies are reflected in the focus of the 13 action groups led by RMEI members :

1 - Network for increasing student mobility in quality and quantity
2 - Network for assessment and quality of education
3 - Network for promotion national policies of sustainable development
4 - Network for research adapted to innovation and sustanaible development
5 - Network for developing Cindynics in the Mediterranean
6 - Network for promotion of micro-technologies in the Mediterranean
7 - Network for wtaer resource management
8 - New energies intelligence network - RESINE
9 - Network for sustainable development by mechanics and materials
10 - Network for urban management and climatic change
11 - Network for promotion of sustainable development by sport and culture
12 - Network for technology transfer in the Mediterranean
13 - Network of Alumnus Associations