The European Commission has unveiled the first-ever EU strategies for islands and coastal communities, creating a coordinated approach to support 17 million island residents and 95 million people living along Europe’s coastlines. The strategies address shared challenges such as isolation, high transport costs, climate vulnerability, demographic decline, biodiversity loss and economic seasonality, while unlocking opportunities for sustainable growth.

For islands, the strategy focuses on economic development, connectivity, innovation, clean energy, climate resilience, public services, and crisis preparedness. For coastal communities, it promotes a diversified blue economy, stronger climate adaptation, and more liveable, inclusive coastal areas, supported by measures such as maritime spatial planning, blue bioeconomy clusters, blue carbon certification and enhanced coastal adaptation tools.

Both strategies aim to integrate local needs into EU policymaking, strengthen resilience, and turn long-standing challenges into long-term opportunities for sustainable, competitive development across Europe’s islands and coasts.

Read the full press release on the Commission website

On 21 May 2026, blue economy stakeholders gathered at European Maritime Day (EMD) 2026 in Limassol for a workshop dedicated to exploring how Sea Basin Strategies can support stronger maritime cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region that currently lacks a dedicated framework for regional cooperation.

The discussion took place against the backdrop of the European Ocean Pact, which highlights the importance of regional cooperation in advancing sustainable blue economy objectives. The Pact calls for the development of a blue economy sea basin strategy for the Eastern Mediterranean, building on the experience of the WestMED Initiative and in cooperation with existing regional bodies.

The workshop provided an opportunity to exchange views on how experiences from existing Sea Basin Strategies in the Western Mediterranean, Black Sea and Atlantic could help shape future cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Participants also discussed the main challenges, needs and priorities that could guide the development of a future regional cooperation framework.

The role of Sea Basin Strategies

The first part of the workshop focused on lessons learned from established cooperation mechanisms, including Sea Basin Strategies, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and EU Macro-Regional Strategies.

Speakers highlighted the value of structured policy coordination, long-term strategic planning and sustained technical dialogue among countries, even in challenging geopolitical contexts. The importance of creating synergies with existing regional and macro-regional frameworks was also underlined.

Representatives from the European Commission (DG MARE), the Union for the Mediterranean, and the Spanish and Bulgarian presidencies of three Sea Basin Strategies (Atlantic, WestMED and Black Sea) shared practical experiences and examples of successful regional cooperation supporting sustainable blue economy development.

Identifying needs and opportunities in the Eastern Mediterranean

The second part of the workshop focused on the specific context of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Participants highlighted persistent gaps in regional cooperation structures, limited coordination mechanisms among national authorities, uneven implementation of maritime and environmental policies, and challenges related to data sharing and governance fragmentation.

At the same time, stakeholders identified significant opportunities to strengthen cooperation by building on existing initiatives and networks, particularly within the framework of the Union for the Mediterranean.

Representatives from countries that could play a key role in a future cooperation framework, including Cyprus and Greece, emphasised the added value of a more structured regional approach to support sustainable blue economy development and foster collaboration across the region.

Looking ahead

The workshop concluded with discussions on possible next steps towards enhanced maritime cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Participants highlighted the importance of building on existing regional mechanisms and ensuring complementarity with ongoing initiatives. Discussions also pointed to the upcoming feasibility study, expected to be launched in the second half of 2026, which will assess options for developing a dedicated cooperation framework for the region.

Overall, the workshop provided a valuable platform for dialogue between stakeholders from across Europe, bringing together experience from established Sea Basin Strategies and perspectives from the Eastern Mediterranean to help shape future cooperation efforts in the region.

Participants

• Christos Economou, European Commission, DG MARE
• Theodoulos Mesimeris, Secretary-General, Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry
• Dr Mohamed Ali Tamimi, Deputy Secretary-General for Sustainable Development, Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)
• Carlos Lorenzo, Deputy Director-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain (representing the Atlantic and WestMED Sea Basin Strategies)
• Tatyana Savova, Head of EU Affairs Unit, Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria (representing the Black Sea Sea Basin Strategy)
• Ioanna Kapelouzou, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece
• Alessandra Sensi, Head of Sector, Environment, Green and Blue Economy, UfM Water, Environment and Blue Economy Division

Moderator

• Javier Fernández, Sea Basins Assistance Mechanism, Ecorys

The CallmeBLUE project has become one of the Mediterranean region’s leading initiatives for strengthening maritime cooperation and advancing the sustainable blue economy.

Supported by the European Union under the WestMED framework and funded through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), it mobilised maritime clusters, public institutions, universities, startups, SMEs and innovation actors from Southern Europe and North Africa to drive a more connected and resilient maritime ecosystem.

The consortium – spanning partners from Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, Tunisia and Algeria, with Egypt, Mauritania and Morocco on the Advisory Board – advanced practical cooperation, capacity‑building and long‑term regional integration, enabling progress well beyond policy discussions.

Running from 2023 to 2026, CallmeBLUE primarily positioned maritime clusters as engines of innovation, sustainability and regional economic growth.

Lidia Rossi, CallmeBLUE project coordinator and Managing Director at ForMare National Shipping Hub, described the role of clusters as follows: “Clusters serve as ecosystem facilitators, connecting key stakeholders of the Blue Economy, and bridging gaps to turn innovation into action through structured cooperation and territorial anchoring.”

Strengthening Emerging Maritime Clusters

A major outcome of the project was support for emerging maritime clusters in North Africa. Through Learning Labs, matchmaking local workshops and matchmaking forums, the project helped stakeholders improve governance, organisational capacity, and innovation ecosystems. Activities addressed maritime digitalisation, decarbonisation, blue skills, entrepreneurship, and sustainable marine industries.

Building Mediterranean Cooperation Networks

CallmeBLUE strengthened North–South and South–South cooperation by connecting businesses, researchers, public authorities, and investors through networking events and regional platforms. By linking fragmented maritime actors, the project contributed to a more integrated Mediterranean blue economy community.

Tools, Training, and Long-Term Cooperation

The project developed transferable training methodologies, cluster management tools, and networking mechanisms that can be replicated across the Mediterranean. Its digital platforms also improved collaboration opportunities for maritime startups and SMEs.

Another key achievement was the roadmap for a Mediterranean Maritime Cluster Alliance, aligned with the WestMED Initiative and Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) priorities. The roadmap aims to sustain cooperation beyond the project’s duration and position maritime clusters as strategic contributors to regional blue economy governance.

Recognition and Legacy

In recognition of its impact, CallmeBLUE received the 2025 WestMED Project Award for its contribution to strengthening maritime cooperation and fostering sustainable blue growth across the Mediterranean.

Today, the project is widely regarded as an important step toward building a permanent Mediterranean maritime cluster alliance – one capable of supporting innovation, sustainability, and regional stability through stronger cooperation across the sea basin.

The future of the CallmeBLUE project lies in its transition from a time-limited EU-funded initiative into a lasting Mediterranean cooperation framework, where its results are carried forward through a proposed Maritime Cluster Alliance aligned with the WestMED Initiative.

Rather than continuing as a standalone project, its tools, training models, and networking platforms are expected to be adopted by regional maritime clusters and institutions, supporting ongoing collaboration, innovation, and capacity-building across the Mediterranean blue economy.

 European Policy and Funding Framework

The work of CallmeBLUE is embedded within a broader European policy architecture supporting the blue economy and regional cooperation. The European Commission has consistently recognised maritime clusters as catalysts for competitiveness, innovation uptake, and SME growth. Through sea-basin strategies such as WestMED and macro-regional cooperation frameworks, the EU promotes structured dialogue, cross-border value chains, and sustainable maritime governance.

Financially, cluster development and cooperation are supported by instruments including the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), as well as complementary programs such as Horizon Europe and Interreg. These mechanisms enable clusters to professionalise their management structures, launch innovation pilots, foster digital and green transitions, and facilitate SME internationalization. CallmeBLUE demonstrates how these policy and funding tools can translate strategic objectives into operational cooperation on the ground.

 

More Info about CallmeBLUE
Budget	Total: € 976.235 EU Contribution:  € 780.988
Partners/Countries	Coordinator/ lead: ForMare – Polo Nazionale per lo Shipping – Italy Cluster Tecnologico Nazionale Blue Italian Growth (BIG) – Italy Federazione del Mare – Italy Clúster Marítimo Marino de Andalucía (CMMA) – Spain Pôle Mer Méditerranée – France ANIMA Investment Network – France Fórum Oceano – Portugal Strategis Maritime ICT Cluster – Greece Leanovator (Leancubator) – Algeria Cluster Maritime Tunisien – Tunisia
Follow	Website Social media: LinkedIn X/ Twitter
Duration	1 October 2023 – 28 February 2026

 

Watch:
CallmeBlue project pitch presentation at the WestMED 2025 Conference in tunis

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVI1j35jzUv/

https://www.facebook.com/100057547274490/videos/-vlog-call-me-blue-celebrating-european-maritime-day-from-malta-with-innovation-/1967163134089268/

Read:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-details/43392145/101124967/EMFAF?programmePeriod=2021-2027&programId=43392145&freeKeywords=callmeblue&order=DESC&page=1&pageSize=10

https://westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu/strategic-cooperation-between-callmeblue-and-medban/

https://anima.coop/en/mediterranean-blue-economy-callmeblue-westmed/

https://clusterbig.it/callmeblue-cluster-alliance-med-blue-ha-ricevuto-il-westmed-project-award-2025/

https://westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu/westmed-tunisia-participates-in-the-3rd-transnational-callmeblue-project-meeting/

https://westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu/westmed-support-outlined-at-forum-oceano-webinar-on-portugal-italy-blue-strategic-partnerships/

https://westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu/tunis-hosts-the-5th-westmed-stakeholder-conference-driving-blue-economy-action-across-the-western-mediterranean/

https://westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu/westmed-plays-a-central-role-at-ufms-18th-regional-platform-on-sustainable-blue-economy/

https://westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu/5th-westmed-national-event-of-mauritania-towards-a-national-strategy-for-the-blue-economy/

https://westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu/westmed-tunisia-presents-maritime-cluster-actions-during-callmeblue-event/

https://www.poloformare.it/en/formare-attends-cinea-kick-off-meeting-in-brussels-and-presents-callmeblue-project/

 

 

The ‘Blue Challenge: Interreg Project Development Training Programme’ is a new capacity‑building initiative designed to equip young talent with the skills to develop high‑quality, fundable project proposals that advance the sustainable blue economy.

Aligned with the priorities of the Atlantic Sea Basin Strategy and the WestMED Initiative, the programme supports early‑career students and professionals in gaining the practical tools needed to design, structure and submit strong Interreg proposals, while fostering transnational cooperation across sea basins.

A hands‑on learning journey in Interreg project development
Over four months, participants follow an interactive training pathway covering the full lifecycle of an Interreg project proposal – from programming and project design to budgeting, proposal writing and submission.

The course focuses on key Interreg programmes relevant to the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions, including Interreg Atlantic Area, Interreg MAC (Madeira-Azores-Canary Islands), Interreg NEXT‑MED and Interreg EURO‑MED.

Designed as an introductory‑level course, the Blue Challenge requires no prior experience in EU project development and blends theoretical learning with practical, applied exercises.

Participants will benefit from:

• Interactive online webinars led by experienced practitioners
• Case studies based on real Interreg funded projects
• Group discussions and collaborative exercises
• Individual knowledge tests to support learning progression
• Access to dedicated online platforms and resources

Online training + Blue Challenge Day
The programme uses a blended format: online training from May to mid‑July 2026, followed by the in‑person Blue Challenge Day on 15 September 2026 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.

During the Blue Challenge Day:

• Participants will work in teams on a full Interreg project proposal
• Each team will deliver an 8‑minute pitch to a jury of blue economy and Interreg experts
• Winning proposals will be selected based on quality, relevance and feasibility

An Awards Ceremony will take place on 16 September 2026, back‑to‑back with the Atlantic–WestMED Stakeholder Conference, providing visibility and recognition to the winning teams. 

Who can apply

• The Blue Challenge is open to young adults aged 18–25 from countries eligible under Interreg programmes, including both Atlantic and Mediterranean regions
• A maximum of 100 participants will be selected, with attention to geographical and gender balance
• The working language of the programme is English

Recognition and follow‑up support
Winning teams will receive a formal recognition award and benefit from tailored follow‑up guidance, helping them further develop their proposals into full applications for upcoming Interreg funding calls.

The evaluation process will involve representatives from Interreg programme secretariats and blue economy experts, with the support of the Sea Basin Assistance Mechanism National Hubs.

Full Concept note
Read the full Concept Note  outlining all details.

Application
Apply here to join the training programme: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/BlueChallenge2026

Deadline to apply: 19 May 2026 – deadline extended to 26 May 2026

The WestMED Assistance Mechanism, together with the coordinators of the new Technical Group on Blue Skills, launched the group’s activities with an online meeting on 27 April 2026 – bringing together experts, training bodies and blue‑economy actors from across the Western Mediterranean.

Chaired by the Tunisian and Portuguese national coordinators, participants were warmly welcomed and thanked for their commitment to this new platform, which aims to strengthen cooperation on skills development in support of a resilient and future‑ready blue economy.

During the meeting, country‑appointed practical and policy experts introduced themselves, outlined their areas of expertise, and began mapping key skills gaps and emerging needs across blue‑economy sectors. These first insights will feed directly into the development of the group’s 2026 roadmap. This roadmap will outline priority areas for cooperation, capacity‑building actions, and opportunities for joint initiatives.

The kick‑off marks a strong start for this new Technical Group, setting the foundation for structured collaboration and targeted actions to advance Blue Skills across the WestMED countries and beyond.