CALL for Experts: WestMED Technical Group on Sustainable Tourism | Deadline 15 September 2024 (EOB)

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Deadline to register for this 1st Call for experts: 15th of September 2024 (EOB). Only applications submitted within the deadline will be accepted.

About the Technical Group on Sustainable Tourism

Given the fact that tourism plays such a significant role in the Western Mediterranean as one of the key contributors to both the upside gains as well as the downside risks of the blue economy, there is an urgent need for enhancing eco-tourism in the region. To address the challenges of the sector in the Mediterranean, we should enhance EU and external territorial cooperation (including non-EU WestMED countries as partners such as Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia) and promote active knowledge sharing amongst stakeholders from both the northern and southern shore, to multiply results.

Addressing these needs will lead to the rapid development and transformation of the tourism industry particularly  to a more modern sector by adopting digital platforms, digital marketing and information technologies such as the internet of things, augmented reality and virtual reality.

The overall objective of the Sustainable Tourism TG within the WestMED Initiative is to serve as a technical forum to discuss trends and opportunities towards sustainable tourism within the region and to provide support to participants to develop project ideas around the topics already set at EU level with regards to the tourism-related topics of green transition, digitalization, promotion of social inclusion, governance, and skills.

With this information, we would like to officially launch the TG on Sustainable Tourism and this call for experts to partake and engaged in an active role in this TG!

We are looking for technical stakeholders of tourism initiatives including: partners of the Interreg Euro MED Sustainable Tourism Mission; partners from previous EU tourism projects; Mediterranean Tourism Stakeholders from the public and private sector; Non-EU Associated Partners; Travel Foundation; Associations; Networks; Tourism businesses; research and innovation centers; technological centers; universities; ports and their representatives; townhalls; yachting/small cruising; nautical sector, etc.

 

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU

Role: This expert group will suggest project proposals and be the main contact point for establishing consortia and projects for future EU funding opportunities around sustainable tourism. The expert group will also serve as the main forum to discuss specific topics of interest to the group.

Requested involvement: This group will also gather periodically to be informed about opportunities, recent developments and discuss on specific topics of their choice. We envision to have 3-4 online meetings with the expert group per year.

 

Sign up form (opening soon)
coastline Mediterranean with sea and olive tree on the rocks

A new WestMED Technical group on Sustainable Tourism

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Towards a more sustainable tourism model

The popularity of the Mediterranean Sea and its coastal regions amongst tourists remains at an all-time high. After a temporary covid dip, the latest figures show that numbers of tourists have already reached pre-pandemic levels and are further on the rise. Traditional ‘sun, sea, and sand’ tourism has boosted livelihoods and constitutes 11.5% of total employment in Mediterranean countries, making it a key economic sector.

However, it exerts significant environmental pressure, causing pollution, uncontrolled coastal development, and increased demand for water, food, and energy. Combined with rising temperatures, this makes the current model unsustainable in the long term. Additionally, these same pressures might, in the medium-long run, have the paradoxical effect of lowering the attractiveness of tourist destinations in the Mediterranean.

For the Western Mediterranean, as stated in the WestMED Malta Ministerial Declaration (2023), one of the key goals of the WestMED Initiative is to ‘strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the coastal and maritime tourism sector, as part of a smart and resilient blue economy. This, by preserving the marine and coastal environment as well as marine cultural heritage and contributing to the attractiveness of coastal areas by means of ecotourism, digitalization and mobilizing private-public investments.’

Given the fact that tourism plays such a significant role in the Western Mediterranean as one of the key contributors to both the upside gains as well as the downside risks of the blue economy, there is an urgent need for enhancing eco-tourism in the region.

Launching a new technical group on sustainable tourism in the western Mediterranean and beyond

The new technical group has been officially approved by the members of the WestMED Steering Committee in July 2024. The overall objective of the Sustainable Tourism TG within the WestMED Initiative is to serve as a technical forum to discuss trends and opportunities towards sustainable tourism within the region and to provide support to participants to develop project ideas around the topics already set at EU level with regards to the tourism-related topics of green transition, digitalization, promotion of social inclusion, governance, and skills.

The technical group, led by the Spanish and Maltese National Hubs, are planning a series of webinars after the Summer of 2024, while the official launch of the technical group will take place during the Sun&Blue Congress (20-22 November 2024, Almería, Spain).

The technical group will be constituted by 3 subgroups:

1) A core group, with national members assigned by the WestMED National Coordinators

2) An advisory group, with relevant stakeholders that are also involved in steering various tourism initiatives, networks, funding opportunities, etc.

3) An expert group, where all other remaining stakeholders from the tourism industry will be invited to take part to develop project ideas and concrete proposals.

A call for experts will be launched soon so stay tuned and follow us on X (Twitter) for the latest updates!

Check the Call for Experts

The role of the WestMED Technical Groups on supporting blue economy in the Mediterranean

Since 2020, four additional technical/thematic groups have been established within the WestMED Initiative. Current and future maritime developments and challenges are being discussed with lead stakeholders and high-level representatives from the participating countries under the guidance of WestMED Assistance Mechanism, with a focus on concrete actions and projects development.

  • Technical Group on Green Shipping in 2020, to support the adaptation of vessels and their transitioning towards fully sustainable sources of fuel/energy, and the transformation of green ports into “circular hubs” for sustainable energy production and consumption.
  • Technical Group on aquaculture – Aquawest – in 2021, to support the adoption of innovative, eco-compatible sustainable and restorative aquaculture practices, and the needs and opportunities of the Southern countries to benefit from it.
  • Alliance of Maritime Clusters, in 2021, to accelerate cooperation and joint actions under intersectoral dialogue, to boost the development of southern clusters, to upgrade management skills, and to provide a platform for investments in innovative SMEs.
  • A Community of Practice on Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in the MED, in 2023, to establish a permanent dialogue across borders between experts on MSP, and  exchange knowledge and relevant experiences in the region.

More information can be found at: https://westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu/assistance-mechanism/#thematic-groups

WestMED Success Story. Sustainable aquaculture. Meet NewTechAqua – the European aquaculture innovators

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Aquaculture, one of the most dynamic blue economy sectors in the EU

The EU is the eighth largest producer of fishery and aquaculture products, accounting for around 2% of global production. In the Mediterranean, fisheries and aquaculture are essential drivers for the blue economy.

Over the years, aquaculture has become more efficient and economically significant, growing steadily since 2011 despite a decline during 2019-2021 due to COVID-19 impacts. It now contributes significantly to food security, employment, and economic development in the region. In the Mediterranean, the aquaculture sector has reached a total production of over 675.000 tonnes, generating revenues of around EUR 10.5 and supporting over 250 thousand jobs along the full value chain

According to the latest BlueInvest report, the aquaculture sector is one of the most dynamic sectors of the Blue Economy. It generated a relatively high number of deals (i.e. investment actions) and receives more growth-stage investments aligned with the recognised growth potential of SMEs in this high-profile sector. It also gathers the second highest number of investors. Due to its strong potential, the sector is seeing an encouraging influx of young companies, which is reflected in the growing share of early-stage financing.

European Commission promoting sustainable aquaculture
The European Commission actively stimulates a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture in a way that contributes to the European Green Deal and economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2021 the EU Strategic Aquaculture Guidelines were created feeding into Farm-to-Fork strategy with the aim to accelerate the transition to a sustainable EU food system. The main objective of these Guidelines are to

  • build resilience and competitiveness of the EU aquaculture sector
  • ensure the participation of the EU aquaculture sector in the green transition
  • foster social acceptance and improved consumer information on EU aquaculture activities and products
  • increase knowledge and innovation in the EU aquaculture sector

EU countries have reviewed their national aquaculture strategies in light of the guidelines, which will also structure the use of relevant EU funding, in particular the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (2021-2027).

The EU also supports research and innovation on key aspects of European aquaculture. From its interactions with the environment and health and nutrition of farmed fish, to reproduction and breeding. Research and innovation on sustainable aquaculture is a priority under Horizon Europe, the EU framework programme for research and innovation.

In 2023, the European Commission established the EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism that supports the EU Member States, the EU aquaculture industry, and other relevant stakeholders in implementing the “Strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture”.

Accelerating Sustainable Aquaculture in the western Mediterranean

Aquaculture is a rapidly expanding activity in the western Mediterranean. Particularly in the countries of the Southern rim who have embarked on very ambitious policies and strategies for its development.

In 2021, the WestMED Initiative established a technical group on sustainable aquaculture, AquaWest, to support the adoption of innovative, eco-compatible sustainable and restorative aquaculture practices, and the needs and opportunities of the Southern countries to benefit from existing innovative practices in the region. This Technical Group consist of a number of high-level policymakers and stakeholders from the aquaculture sector within the Western Mediterranean and beyond.

Ensuring the sustainable development of aquaculture involves innovation, digitalisation, ecosystem-based approaches, circular business models and diversification in production, management, and supply chains to enhance its contribution to sustainable food systems and economic value while reducing environmental impact.

 

NewTechAqua logo

NewTechAqua is is a pioneering research project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program that embarked on a mission to revolutionize aquaculture.

During this 4-year initiative, the NewTechAqua partners identified, tested, and evaluated the effectiveness of new tools that improve the production and, at the same time, sustainability of the sector.

The NewTechAqua consortium was made up of 26 partners from 9 countries. 11 partners are universities and R&D institutions, 12 are private companies, and three are international organisations specialised in industrial governance, innovation, and knowledge transfer.

Objectives
The project focused on solutions to:

  • Improve fish and mollusc health and disease resistance: prediction models for specific diseases, kits for disease’ detection, new breeding programmes, and new diets.
  • Increase the efficiency of aquaculture production systems via real-time management systems, satellite systems, and recommendations.
  • Make the aquaculture sector more sustainable and circular through different rearing systems (RAS, biofloc technology, aquaponics) as well as new diets and feed products using fish by products, fish processing wastewaters, and microalgae, new organic diets using plant proteins to produce more organic fish.
  • Support diversification of fish species by studying the reproductive cycle of emerging fish species to re-create the best conditions for raising these new species in aquaculture production systems.
  • Develop new eco-friendly fish and molluscs products with high nutritional value.
  • Raise awareness and train professionals from the aquaculture sector by creating training programmes and conducting studies on consumers’ preferences.

Results
14 innovations and 9 breeding protocols were generated, covering aquaculture species such as seabream, seabass, greater amberjack, grey mullet, meagre, salmon, mussel, oyster, and microalgae.

The use of novel ingredients for aquafeeds, the valorisation of fish co-products into innovative ingredients, and new approaches for enhancing reproduction and maturation are some examples of the innovations presented during the final conference that took place on 15 November in Brussels, Belgium.

Several of these innovations are already on the market and used on a commercial scale. Others are in early development and will make further progress with future projects by the partner companies concerned.

More than 80% of the activities and innovations have been applicable to the Mediterranean aquaculture sector.

Beyond the Lab
NewTechAqua’s impact extended beyond research alone. It has influenced policy decisions with recommendations for the EU Aquaculture Strategic Guidelines.

For aquaculture professionals a specialised training programme was created to provide the necessary skills for a sustainable, resilient, and innovative European Aquaculture. This training programme consisted of 2 advanced courses, 2 multi-day workshops, 2 e-learning modules and a series of 6 webinars.

To safeguard the future of the aquaculture sector, NewTechAqua also started a pan-european awareness campaign specifically  targeting secondary and  (high) school students to inform on sustainable aquaculture practices in Europe, the benefits of fish consumption for human health and job opportunities. For this, an extensive school kit was developed with education materials ranging from an aquaponic kit and a board game to testimonials from professionals.

Professor Alessio Bonaldo from the University of Bologna and NewTechAqua coordinator, summarised this wide ranging aquaculture project as follows:
“The advances achieved mark a significant step toward a more sustainable future in European aquaculture, contributing to food security and the conservation of natural resources.” (Source)

 Recognition
The work done was recognised with two awards:  WestMED’s Best Project award 2023 in the category Sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and coastal community development, and the MedFish4Ever award on innovative practices in aquaculture for the work carried out on salt water aquaponic systems (By IRTA).

 

The NewTechAqua team at the annual meeting in la Rapità, Spain – May 2023

 

More info about NewTechAqua
Budget Total: €6.723.843

EU contribution: €5.990.173
Partners •                    Coordinator / lead: Universtita di Bologna – UNIBO

•                    University of Venzia -Unive (Italy)

•                    Irta (Spain)

•                    Hellenic Centre for Marine Research – HCMR (Greece)

•                    Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro -UNIBA (Italy)

•                    Nofima (Norway)

•                    Veronesi/ Agricola Italiana Alimentare (IT)

•                    AQUICULTURA BALEAR SA (ES)

•                    Cromaris (Croatia)

•                    Mowi Genetics (Norway)

•                    Irida (Greece)

•                    RARA Avis Biotec (Spain)

•                    Aquanetix (United Kingdom)

•                    FEAP (FR)

•                    CIHEAM (France)

•                    Il Vignetto Soc Aricola ARl (IT)

•                    Greenovate! Europe (Belgium)

•                    IFREMER (France)

•                    SYSAAF (France)

•                    Argosaronikos Fishfarms (Greece)

•                    Ministry of Agriculture, rural development and the Environment of Cyprus – DFMR (Cyprus)

•                    Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – ULGPC (Spain)

•                    The Seafood Innovation Cluster (Norway)

•                    Galaxidi Marine Farm (Greece)

•                    Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche – CNR (Italy)

•                    Ecopesce (Italy)

•                    Veronesi for  for aquaculture/ Agricola Italiana Alimentare  (Italy)

•                    Economia del Mare (Italy)
Follow Website

X (Twitter)

LinkedIn
Duration 01 january 2020 – 31 December 2023

NewTechAqua Final Conference video

NewTechAqua Final Conference wrap-up

WestMED project fiche – NewTechAqua

European Commission (2024) The EU Blue Economy Report 2024

FAO/GFCM (2023) State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries

Blue Invest (2024) Investor Report Unlocking the potential of the Blue Economy

AquaWest: https://westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu/aquawest/

Stephanie Vella at MEdaLogistics 2024 with group of experts on stage

WestMED Malta discusses current and future challenges of the Mediterranean Logistics sector at MedaLogistics Week Barcelona 2024

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The Mediterranean Logistics and Transport summit (Medalogistics Week) took place in Barcelona on 5-6 June 2024. This annual event, already in its 20th year, was  held in the framework of SIL Barcelona, the leading Exhibition for Logistics, Transport, Intralogistics and Supply Chain in Southern Europe, and now the most established conference of its sort held in the Mediterranean region. It was jointly organized by ASCAME and Consorci Zona Franca Barcelona.

 Discussing the challenges of the Mediterranean logistics sector

Building on the collaboration Between the WestMED Assistance Mechanism and ASCAME, representatives of WestMED’s Technical Group on Green Shipping and Alternative Fuels have been involved in the workshop “The present and the future of Mediterranean Logistics Sector” on June 5th. This workshop, consisting of an expert panel,  focused on an in-depth analysis of present and future challenges of the Mediterranean logistics sector, such as the impact of geopolitical developments, smart operations & integrated logistics, sustainability and new working practices within the supply chain.

Stephanie Vella, WestMED National Hub Malta and one of the coordinators of the Technical Group described its objectives, priorities and results. She outlined four main projects that have been supported in this context and, as a resilt been approved for funding within the EU EMFAF 2023 call. These projects are GREEN MED, GREEN MARINE MED, POWER4MED and BLUE PORTS.

She also highlighted the synergies and exchanges with other initiatives that are focused on promoting and facilitating green shipping such as the relevant Pillar 1 (ports) of the Atlantic Strategy, Mediterranean regional agencies, Mediterranean stakeholder platforms and other multilateral institutions on both sides of the Mediterranean sea basin

An updated presentation of the initiative was presented with results achieved , including an open invitation to join next sessions of the Technical Group on Green Shipping which will open the door to networking opportunities and project partnerships, as well as representing a common “space” to work for a more uniform ecosystem of Sustainable Maritime Transport in the Mediterranean and beyond.

The National hub reiterated the uniqueness, diversity and the strategic location of the Mediterranean, highlighting the importance of stakeholder collaboration in order to address common challenges. This importance is amplified within the context that risks, be they short or medium term, affect the entire region.  Fragmentation within the region cannot be afforded, meaning that stakeholders from the private sector, governments and NGOs need to be brought together for joint action and a focused voice.

Reinforcing synergies between WestMED and ASCAME

The Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) and the WestMED signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2021, aimed at working together to foster the promotion of blue economy, a safer maritime space and the improvement of governance in the Mediterranean. This MoU served to establish a strong institutional relationship and a mechanism for dialogue and cooperation in the Mediterranean.

More information: ASCAME brochure MedaLogistics Week Barcelona

 

WestMED Steering Committee meeting in Brussels with representatives sitting at a round table on June 26 2024

Members and observers of the WestMED Steering Committee gather in Brussels to discuss latest developments

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The primary objective of this WestMED Steering Committee meeting that took place on June 26 in Brussels, was to assemble the representatives of the 10 WestMED countries and observers in-person to provide them with an overview of the latest advancements on the implementation of the WestMED Initiative, the latest funding opportunities, and to approve the establishment of the new Technical Group on Sustainable Tourism.

The meeting was co-chaired by the Portuguese and Mauritanian Co-Presidencies, with the support from DG MARE and the UfM (Union for the Mediterranean).

Significant visibility of the Initiative
In recent months, the WestMED Initiative has achieved significant visibility and dissemination, as highlighted by Iglika Yakova (DG MARE). The WestMED Initiative has actively participated in various events, including the UfM Stakeholders Conference (19-20 February), the WestMED side event at the Our Ocean Conference (15-17 April), Deportibus (11 May) the European Maritime Day (30-31 May), Posidonia (7 June), the Macro-Region and Sea Basins Strategies Days (12-13 June).

National events, such as the national Dialogue in Morocco, the involvement of Libyan representatives in various Technical Groups (TGs), and the consolidation of the Mauritanian maritime cluster, further underscore the Initiative’s visiblity and success.

Another significant step to establish synergies was the participation of WestMED as Observers in the MedLab Annual event organized by Interact, held back-to-back with the WestMED Steering Committee meeting. The MedLab Annual event focused on the Post-2027 debate and regional cooperation.

Establishment of a new WestMED Technical Group on Tourism
Tourism in the Mediterranean region is expanding, making the industry a crucial employment sector. The WestMED Initiative aims to enhance the coastal tourism sector’s competitiveness and sustainability while protecting the environment through eco-tourism, digitalization, and cross-border cooperation.

The establishment of a new Technical Group (TG) by the WestMED Assistance Mechanism addresses a priority identified by the WestMED Initiative and will serve as an informal forum for discussing sustainable tourism needs, focusing on green transition, digitalization, governance, and skills. The TG will comprise a core group, an advisory body, and a technical group. The Steering Committee is currently in the process of approving the Terms of Reference for this new Technical Group

Overview of Funding opportunities
Several funding opportunities were highlighted:

  • EU Mission Ocean, Seas, and Waters: The Work Programme 2024 includes two call topics. Call 1 covers thematic topics aligned with Mission objectives such as restoration and a sustainable blue economy, while Call 2 targets support for actor communities like waterfront cities and islands. The overview also includes several Horizon calls within these Mission calls, focusing on topics like Blue Parks and MPAs, reducing fisheries’ impact in EU sea basins, and community-led ocean and water restoration. Additionally, it highlights opportunities for third parties to join ongoing projects, particularly Calls for Associated Regions, aiming to enhance capacity for implementing innovative solutions in neighboring regions.
  • Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership: Four priority areas have been identified for the transnational call launched in February 2024: regional sea-use management, multi-use marine infrastructures, blue bioresources, and regional-scale Digital Twins of the Ocean (DTOs). To enhance global visibility and foster new collaborations, the call is co-branded by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, coordinated by UNESCO. All Mediterranean countries are eligible for EU contributions, whether they are EU Member States, Associated countries, or low-to-medium-income countries.
  • Interreg NEXTMED: The first call for proposals, closed in May 2024, was divided into nine Specific Objectives. Among 631 proposals, most projects targeted “Growth and competitiveness of SMEs,” “Education and training,” and “Climate Change adaptation.” Projects were categorized into three clusters: Thematic, Youth-oriented, and Governance, with 90% falling under the Thematic cluster. Most participating organizations were from Italy, Greece, and Spain within the EU, and from Turkey and Tunisia outside the EU. Participants included public legal bodies (30%), NGOs (27%), private companies (13%), and regional/local public administrations (10%). A second call for proposals, focusing on Green Transition, is set to launch in November 2024.
  • Interreg EURO-MED: The 1st and 3rd calls focused on Governance projects, selecting 8 projects that began in January 2023. The 2nd call targeted Thematic projects, resulting in 56 projects that started in January 2024. The 4th call, which closed in June 2024, will see 20 Thematic projects begin in spring 2025, addressing the four main thematic areas: sustainable economy, environmental protection, green living, and sustainable tourism. The upcoming 5th call will focus on Thematic Strategic Territorial projects for rural, mountain areas, and islands, emphasizing innovative solutions for waste reduction and water scarcity. The presentation concludes with an overview of the 1st call’s Governance projects in the field of the Sustainable Blue Economy.


Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Regional Platform meeting on Blue Economy
Back-to-back to the WestMED Steering committee this UfM Regional Platform Meeting on Blue Economy took place on June 27, with many of the key players from the day before.

The UfM Secretariat introduced the most recent advancements on the update of the Blue Economy Roadmap and the activation of the SBE (Sustainable Blue Economy) Monitoring, Reporting, and Evaluation Mechanism; highlighted progress on the multi-partner and multi-donor investment fund ‘Blue Mediterranean Partnership’; and recalled the series of two webinars held during the first semester of 2024 on blue food and sustainable tourism, as well as the  third webinar (July 1 2024) on MRE (Marine Renewable Energy)/licensing/MSP (Maritime Spatial Planning).

The UfM shared an update on the harmonization exercise of UfM Regional Platforms. The UfM operates under a consolidated action-driven methodology creating links between political mandate, multi-stakeholder dialogue, and tangible projects and initiatives. This methodology comprises three pillars: Policies, Platforms, and Projects – the so-called ‘3 Ps’. As part of the ongoing UfM reform efforts to enhance efficiency and in an effort to harmonize the relevant terminology, the ‘UfM Working Group on Blue Economy’ is henceforth renamed as the ‘UfM Regional Platform on Sustainable Blue Economy’.

UfM Blue Economy platform meeting in Brussels-June 27 with a group of people discussiong at a round table

Visit the UfM website for more information on the UfM Regional Platform on Blue Economy

Next meeting
The 16th meeting of the UfM Regional Platform on Sustainable Blue Economy will take place in Algarve, Portugal, in October 2024, back-to-back with the next WestMED Steering Committee and the 3rd WestMED Hackathon.

 

 

screenshot efishmed website

e-FishMed engaged in the Blue Economy and the fight against IUU fishing

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The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) supports and implements the project “Mediterranean virtual regional training academy on fisheries control and inspection (e-FishMed)“, initiated by the European Commission and financed by the European Union under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).

This project was launched in 2022 and is a follow-up to the “FIUUFRA” project which was supported by the WestMED Assistance Mechanism

Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia are beneficiary countries of the project, and the initiative is supported by France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain.

The virtual academy is pivotal to harmonise fisheries control and inspection activities and foster cooperation and exchange of best practices between northern and southern Mediterranean countries.

Since February 2022, EFCA and the participating countries worked hard together to make the project successful.

Common Curriculum
As a first tangible result, a common training curriculum for fisheries inspectors and Fisheries Monitoring Centres (FMCs) operators was defined by EFCA and agreed by participants countries. The goal is to improve monitoring, control, and surveillance activities in the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic through a better common understanding of the rules to be applied to fisheries control and inspection activities.

E-learning platform
In parallel, to achieve the second result, EFCA designed an e-learning platform (registration required), targeted to officials involved in fisheries control and inspection from e-FishMed beneficiary countries. The platform hosts e-learning modules and other training materials such as video tutorials, manuals, and international, regional, and national legislation. Through this tool, fisheries inspectors and FMC operators can train themselves anytime from anywhere! Currently, 159 officials from beneficiary countries are already using the platform and the ambition is to continue to grow.

In-person training
Starting from September 2023, the project complemented the online learning experience with presential training sessions. A regional “train-the-trainers” course was organised by EFCA, with the support of Malta and France. The course aimed to reinforce capacities, skills and competences of fishery inspectors involved in training activities for their peers.

Two national training sessions on risk management methodology were also organised: one in Morocco jointly with the Moroccan Maritime Fisheries Department and another one in Tunisia together with the General Directorate of Fishery and Aquaculture. This latter counted with France support.

In July 2024 another regional training for FMC operators took place in EFCA premises in Vigo. During this training, participants had the opportunity to share experiences and best practices and to visit the EFCA Coordination Centre.

Exchange programme for fisheries officials
As a third result, the project achieved to set up an exchange programme for fisheries officials, sharing of expertise, and networking between northern and southern Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic countries. A first edition of the exchange programme, counting with Spain support, took place in Madrid and Malaga in April 2024 and the second edition, supported by France, will take place in Etel and Lorient in September 2024.

Regardless of the outcomes required and achieved by the project, the added value of the e-FishMed project lies in its capacity to further promote stronger cooperation on fisheries control in the Mediterranean Sea basin, creating networks, reinforcing trust, and being a forum for the exchange of experiences and best practices.

The added value of e-FishMed was also recently recognised in the WestMed Ministerial Declaration dated 23 June 2023 that welcomed the share of expertise and best practices within the e-FishMed project.

Furthermore, until its end, foreseen in January 2025, the project will continue to deliver and achieve results contributing to a sustainable blue economy and the fight against IUU fishing.

For more information you can contact efishmed@efca.europa.eu

 

efishmed-group picture - train the trainers in Malta

e-FishMed regional train-the-trainer workshop in Malta | 26-28 September 2023

e-FishMed regional train-the-trainer workshop in Malta | 26-28 September 2023

Efishmed National training morocco

e-FishMed national training in Morocco | 12-14 December 2023

Efishmed exchange programme Spain

e-FishMed exchange programme in Spain | 15-19 April 2024

Efishmed National training morocco

e-FishMed national training in Tunisia | 7-9 May 2024

Group of people in a conference room during MedLab annual meeting june 25 2024

WestMED Initiative strengthens synergies with MedLab and the Interreg Managing Authorities

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Back-to-back to the WestMED Steering Committee meeting in Brussels, the MedLab annual meeting took place on 25 – 26 June.

Back-to-back to the WestMED Steering Committee meeting in Brussels, the MedLab annual meeting took place on 25-26 June 2024 and was hosted by Interact and TESIM.

The MedLab is a platform which aims to share and transfer Mediterranean-based knowledge and to improve synergies and complementarities between Interreg programmes and other EU funds active in the area to increase their impact in the region.

The network is particularly focused on developing these implementation synergies, considering the two geographical frameworks currently in the area. These are, the WestMED Sea Basin Initiative and the EUSAIR.

On this occasion, the meeting had a strong focus on the Post-2027 debate and discussions on maritime cooperation for Post-27 in the Mediterranean. Interact and TESIM presented the advancements on synergies from different angles, including synergies in the project assessment phase of several Interreg Programmes as well as complementary synergies between cross-border and transnational programmes and synergies with other EU funds and Initiatives.

Another important point discussed were how Interreg Programmes engage stakeholders and citizen through consultations.

Lastly, the Sustainable Tourism Multi-programme Coordination Mechanism was presented as successful programme of cooperation in the region.

After this 2-day event with fruitful and dynamic sessions, the discussion between Interreg programmes, DG Regio, and DG Mare showed that there are still different definitions and perceptions of what is understood as ‘maritime’ cooperation.

In any case, this concept is very important for Interreg programmes, that already deal with related topics such as biodiversity, climate change, sustainable approach energy (security and new resources), technology transfer, health, and blue economy.

The WestMED Initiative was invited as Observers to contribute to strengthening synergies with EU funding instruments and to align priorities with the Sea Basins strategies.

Matteo Bocci moderating discussion panel on synergies at macro-regional and sea basin strategies days 2024

Synergies between the 7 EU regional cooperation strategies highlighted during joint DG Regio and DG Mare event

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There are four macro-regional strategies in the EU, fostering cooperation in approx 75% of all EU member states. In addition, there are three EU sea basin strategies, which are cooperation structures for protecting the sea basins. These strategies come from different origins but share similar goals and the view that some challenges cannot be solved on the national level alone.

From 12-14 June 2024, all seven EU territorial strategies came together for the first time, to exchange information, thoughts and ideas on regional cooperation in Europe under the slogan ‘Strategies4Cooperation.’

Five parallel interactive workshops were organised to discuss the following themes: Enlargement, Climate Change, Clusters and Innovation, Embedding and Civil Societies engagement.

Amongst the many events, a panel discussion was organised by the EU Sea Basin Assistance Mechanism titled ‘Synergies amongst the strategies; taking stock and looking ahead’ .

This panel was moderated by Matteo Bocci (EU Assistance Mechanism) and consisted of Ms Andra Kuzmina (Latvian Presidency for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region), Ms Mathilde Konstantopoulou (Greek Presidency for the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region), Mr Markku Markkula (Vice Presidente of the Committee of the Regions) and Ms Isabelle Perret (French Presidency of the EU Sea Basin Strategy for the Atlantic)

Some key conclusions from this session:

  • There are as many shared commonalities as well as specificities amongst the strategies as relevant enablers of cooperation (e.g. same targeted stakeholders, different governance models and levels) 
  • There are clear ways to foster more synergies between the strategies (e.g. observer roles in each other’s governance structures) 
  • Shared actions should be explored across key topics/sectors (e.g. skills, pollution, decarbonisation & Marine Renewable Energies, smaller islands) 
  • Stakeholder cooperation could be promoted more across mutual events 
  • Information could be shared and duplication avoided through a better exchange beween the strategies (e.g. build on best practices and good examples) 
  • Good to maximise use of (limited) financial resources – e.g. by making them more impact-oriented

You can find a complete summary of all 29 conclusions in this pdf

The 5th Macro-Regional and Sea Basin Strategies Days 2024, was co-organised by DG REGIO and DG MARE.

For more information on the Macro-regional & Sea Basin Strategies Days 2024 including speeches and outcomes, visit the the event page.

Photo-exhibition
During this event, a photo-exhibition was organised showcasing the two most relevant projects per strategy.

For the WestMED Initiative, photos were displayed from award winners Starfish 4.0/ NEMO (winner 2021) and ‘We are Blue Schools‘ (winner 2023)

Photo exhibition during macro regional and sea basin strategies days 2024 with photo from the project we are blue schools displaying a group of children

We Are Blue Schools | Ocean literacy | Group of children displaying their ocean related artwork on the Balearic Islands | Photo (c) We are blue schools

Photo exhibition at Macro-Regional and Sea basin days 2024 with photo of the NEMO tracking device being tested by a local fisherman

StarFish 2.0  |  Small Scale Fisheries | The Nemo tracking and monitoring device by CLS being tested by local fishermen | Photo (c) George Galanos

 

photo exhibition during the macro-regional and sea basin strategies days 2024 in Brussels

Overview of the photo-exhibition with examples of projects from the seven EU cooperation strategies

 

 

WestMED Spain presents new Technical Group at UfM webinar on Coastal and Maritime Tourism

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On 20 June 2024 a webinar was organised by the Union for the Mediterranean(UfM) titled ‘Scaling up synergies and partnerships for the sustainable maritime and coastal tourism transformation in the Mediterranean’

The coastal and maritime tourism sector is of key strategic importance in the Mediterranean, concentrating 35% of global tourist arrivals, and marked by a steady recovery following the 2019 COVID pandemic.

Despite its strong potential to drive the ‘green and blue’ transition forward in and for the Mediterranean (through tackling climate change, protecting and restoring maritime and coastal ecosystems, and providing opportunities for quality employment), the sector is currently characterized by structural fragilities undermining its future sustainability, including significant impacts on the environment and local populations with high seasonality, and low-offer diversification.

Building on the outcomes and main messages of the 2nd UfM Stakeholder Conference on Sustainable Blue Economy, this webinar aimed at scaling up and showcasing the role of synergies, partnerships, regional collaboration, and innovation towards the ‘green and blue’ transformation of the maritime and coastal tourism sector, in and for the Mediterranean. It highlighted the ongoing coordination efforts among existing programmes and share concrete examples of multi-level and cross-sectoral cooperation, including partnerships between academia, industry, and public authorities.

Marta Pascual from the WestMED national Hub Spain presented the new WestMED  Stakeholder Technical Group on Sustainable Tourism.

The overall objective of the WestMED Sustainable Tourism Technical Group is to serve as a technical stakeholder forum to discuss trends and opportunities towards sustainable tourism within the region, provide support to participants to develop project ideas and form consortia for funding applications focused on tourism related topics set at EU level such as green transition, digitalization, promotion of social inclusion, governance, and skills.

The technical group, led by WestMED’s Spanish and Maltese National Hubs, is planning a series of webinars after the summer of 2024 while the official launch of the technical group will take place during the Sun&Blue Congress (20-22 November 2024, Almeria, Spain).

Download the webinar concept note and agenda

For more information on the WestMED Sustainable Tourism Technical Group visit the news article outlining its background and setup.

You can also contact Marta Pascual (National Hub Spain) or Stephanie Vella (National Hub Malta)

Screenshot of Marta Pascual from the WestMED National Hub presenting at the UfM coastal tourism webinar June 2024

Marta Pascual presenting the new WestMED Technical Group on Sustainable Tourism

Screenshot of cover page IUCN report

IUCN report: Towards a regenerative Blue Economy

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Source: website IUCN

Blue Economy has various definitions, depending on the interpretation and principles in question. There is no one widely accepted definition, nor is there a set of founding principles. This report represents an important first step in mapping the evolution of Blue Economy concepts, proposing a definition and founding principles for all Blue Economy-related work, through the prism of conservation and sustainable development, in all regions across the globe.

Download the report (EN)
Download the report (FR)