Blue Skills
A WestMED supported Technical Group
Identify emerging Skills
Identify emerging skills needs linked to digitalisation, decarbonisation and new blue‑economy sectors
To strengthen regional cooperation and capacity building on blue skills, education, and employment across countries in the Western Mediterranean, to support a sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven blue economy.
Blue Skills
In early 2026, the WestMED countries launched a new Technical Group on Blue Skills to strengthen regional cooperation and capacity building on blue skills, education, and employment across countries in the Western Mediterranean, in order to support a sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven blue economy.
The initiative follows the 2023 Malta Ministerial Declaration, where ten countries identified “Blue Skills and Jobs” as a top regional priority for a sustainable and competitive blue economy.
This renewed emphasis on blue skills and employment reflects the growing recognition that human capital development is a fundamental enabler for achieving the broader objectives of a sustainable, resilient and inclusive blue economy. The declaration also underlines the importance of training, technology transfer, and capacity building as cross-cutting enablers to support blue sectors’ competitiveness and to accelerate the green and digital transitions.
Why Blue Skills Matter
Skills shortages and mismatches have repeatedly been highlighted in WestMED Steering Committee meetings, regional conferences and hackathons as major barriers to innovation, job creation and blue‑economy growth – especially in Southern Mediterranean countries.
The new group aligns with major EU frameworks such as the European Ocean Pact, the Pact for the Mediterranean and the BlueComp competence framework, all of which emphasise the need for modern training systems, digital and green skills, and stronger links between education and industry.
A step toward a skilled and resilient Mediterranean blue economy
By creating a dedicated Technical Group on Blue Skills, WestMED countries are investing in the people who will drive the region’s green, digital and energy transitions.
The initiative aims to ensure that Mediterranean workers, especially in Southern partner countries, can access new opportunities in emerging blue‑economy sectors while supporting inclusive and sustainable growth across the region.
Objectives
Panel discussion on Blue Skills at the European Ocean Days 2026. With a.o. Celia Murcia (coordinator of the WestMED Assistance Mechanism).
Directors of three leading European maritime academies exchange perspectives on maritime education and training. Moderated by Gonçalo Santos (Fórum Oceano/ WestMED and Atlantic National Hub Portugal). Organised by the European Network of Maritime Clusters (ENMC)
For more information: contact Celia Murcia (WestMED Assistance Mechanism), Imed Zammit (National Hub Tunisia) or Frederico Ferreira (WestMED National Hub Portugal)