First call for proposals: 41 projects approved for funding

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During its last meeting which took place for the very first time in Cairo (Egypt) on 29-30 January 2019, the Joint Monitoring Committee (decision-making body of the ENI CBC Med Programme composed of the representatives of 13 participating countries) approved a list of 41 projects recommended for funding by the Projects Selection Committee.

Based on the quality of the proposals assessed, the Joint Monitoring Committee has decided to increase the budget of the call, within the 20% limit set by the EU rules, and finance more projects. Overall, the value of the 41 approved projects is €110 million, of which €100 million of EU contribution. The initial EU contribution to the call was €84,6 million.

More projects lead by organizations from Mediterranean Partner Countries

One the key outcomes of this first call is the substantial increase of projects leaded by organizations from Mediterranean Partner Countries (8 in a single call against 6 during the whole 2007-2013 period): this positive trend highlights a growing ownership of the ENI CBC Med Programme by all 13 participating countries.

Out of 282 organizations involved in the approved projects, 61% are established in Mediterranean Partner Countries.

Special attention to young people and women

Based on the 11 thematic priorities addressed by the call, the 41 approved will implement concerted actions which reflect the most relevant challenges and needs of the 13 participating countries (Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Palestine, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia) in the fields of business development, innovation, social inclusion and fight against poverty as well as environmental sustainability.

Consistently with the objectives of the Programme, the approved projects pay special attention to young people and women in order to foster their participation in community and economic life through actions supporting the access to the job market and the development of professional skills.

Next steps

All 92 applicants involved in the second step of the call for proposals will receive a letter of the Managing Authority containing the results of the evaluation.

Selected beneficiaries will soon start the process towards the signing of the grant contract with the Managing Authority, allowing to start the implementation of the planned activities.

First call for proposals: list of approved projects (01.02.2019)

 

Source: http://www.enpicbcmed.eu/communication/first-call-proposals-41-projects-approved-funding

Source image: https://www.euneighbours.eu/en/south/stay-informed/news/mediterranean-sea-basin-programme-first-call-proposals-41-projects

Le Comité National de l’Economie Bleue (CNEB) s’installe

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Le 04 février 2019, s’est tenue au siège de la Direction Générale de la Pêche et de l’Aquaculture (DGPA), la réunion d’installation du Comité National de l’Economie Bleue (CNEB). Le CNEB Se compose de représentants des représentants des Ministère des Affaires Etrangères, Ministère de la Défense Nationale (Commandement des Forces Navales), de l’Agriculture, du Développement Rural et de la Pêche (Direction Générale de la Pêche et de l’Aquaculture) des Travaux Publics et des Transports (Direction de la Marine Marchande et des Ports), de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique (Direction Générale de la Recherche Scientifique et du Développement technologique), du Tourisme et de l’Artisanat, de l’Industrie et des Mines, de l’Environnement et des Energies Renouvelables, de l’Energie et du Ministère des Postes, de la Télécommunication et des Technologies du Numérique.

Le coordinateur national et le Hub national sur l’économie bleue de l’initiative WestMED ont été officiellement présentés. Les principales attentes vis à vis de la CNEB qui a un rôle à jouer dans le processus WestMED  en cours, mais plus globalement pour les questions relatives à l’économie bleue en Algérie ont été discutées, notamment :

  • Le suivi de la mise en œuvre de la feuille de route « WestMED » en Algérie.
  • L’évaluation, à travers un jeu d’indicateurs, le processus national de développement de l’économie bleue.
  • La contribution à la validation des documents de planification de l’économie bleue et à la communication institutionnelle autour du concept de l’économie bleue.
  • La participation à l’identification et au montage de « consortiums » avec des partenaires de la Méditerranée Occidentale en vue de répondre à des appels à projets relatifs à l’économie bleue.

Il été également rappelé les éléments suivants :

  • Le processus engagé après les deux conférences sur l’économie bleue tenues à Alger les 3-4 décembre 2019 ainsi que des cadres et les opportunités des financements de projets. Les principaux outputs de cette conférence ont été mis en évidence, en particulier,
    • (1) l’identification de 31 projets qui devront faire l’objet d’une analyse en vue de sélectionner les plus « bancables » d’entre eux auprès des bailleurs de fonds.
    • (2) l’identification des sources de financement dans les programmes pouvant soutenir la mise en œuvre de ces projets.
    • (3) l’engagement d’un dialogue entre les parties prenantes des pays en vue de créer des consortiums nord-sud en Méditerranée occidentale.
  • L’importance de travailler sur les idées de projets identifiées lors des laboratoires de la conférence des parties prenantes.
  • La présentation de l’étude d’évaluation du potentiel en économie bleue dans les pays du sud de la Méditerranée.
  • Présentation succincte des quatre premières opérations menées après la conférence des parties prenantes de décembre 2018, notamment la participation à trois consortiums dans le cadre de l’appel à projet de 2018. Les trois projets portent sur les compétences bleues, la résilience des aires marines protégées face aux changements climatiques ainsi que l’écotourisme.

The Maltese National Hub kicks off its activities

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On January 14th, 2019, the Maltese National Hub has held a meeting with the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) which is tasked with coordinating several funding programmes, including the Joint Programme Initiatives (JPI) – Oceans and the Horizon 2020.

Fórum Oceano assegura ponto focal nacional do Mecanismo de Assistência WestMED

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No âmbito do Mecanismo de Assistência Técnica ao Programa de Cooperação Inter-regional do Mediterrâneo Ocidental (WestMED), a Fórum Oceano assegura o ponto focal (National Hub) do Programa para Portugal, em resultado de um processo concursal lançado pela Comissão Europeia, ganho pelo consórcio liderado pela empresa ECORYS, que a Fórum Oceano integrou.

Nesse sentido, compete à Fórum Oceano assegurar as ligações do Programa com as Autoridades Nacionais, identificar oportunidades de projetos e de financiamentos, monitorizar a aplicação do Programa, organizar e participar em eventos de apresentação e disseminação do mesmo.

Origem: http://www.forumoceano.pt/p254-forum-oceano-assegura-ponto-focal-nacional-do-mecanismo-de-assistencia-westmed-pt

Stakeholder Conference –  Final Report and ‘Declaration of Algiers’

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On Monday 3 December 2018, the ‘Stakeholder conference: Towards concrete ‘blue’ actions in the western Mediterranean’ was held in Algiers, Algeria, organised by the European Commission and the Co-Presidency of the Initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy in the western Mediterranean (WestMED Initiative), with the support of the WestMED Assistance Mechanism.

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WestMED: European Commission makes €1.4 million available for local support

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Meeting on 3 October in Algiers, the governing body of the Western Mediterranean Initiative has launched a €1.4 million assistance mechanism set up by the European Commission.

With this mechanism, the Commission will support the 10 participating countries and their stakeholders to implement this joint effort.

WestMED is a shared initiative between EU and non-EU countries. It supports projects that foster the sustainable development of the blue economy in the Western Mediterranean sea basin. Countries involved are Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia.

The European Commission’s €1.4 million additional funding will help WestMED countries to set up national hubs that can give tailor-made, local support when preparing project proposals. It can also be used to help to further promote the initiative and provide information to maritime stakeholders.

Through the initiative, already eight projects have received a total funding of about 7.6 million euros. The projects are best practice examples of cross-border cooperation targeting safety, environmental protection and sustainable economic development. For example

  • local Tunisian fishing communities are cooperating with Italian and French partners to develop sustainable fisheries in the region
  • maritime training institutes and academies, in collaboration with French, Spanish and Italian companies and partners, work to develop new skills and professions in maritime sectors. This will lead to new jobs and increased mobility of students and workers
  • several West Med countries participate in a new EU-funded project on Maritime Spatial Planning, which will help to better manage maritime activities
  • Morocco is involved in a project about algal forest restoration
  • Algeria participates in a project about preparedness in oils spill response

Further progress is expected in the coming months. A  WestMED stakeholders Conference is scheduled in Algiers on 3 December 2018, back to back with a Ministerial meeting.

The Foreign Ministers of the “5 + 5 Dialogue” welcome the leading role of the Union for the Mediterranean in the region

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At the 14th meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the 5+5 Dialogue in Algiers, the Ministers welcomed the leading role of the UfM, stressing the importance for the General Secretariat to continue promoting practical and structural projects.”

The Ministers are committed to advocating an enhanced role for the UfM, in improving governance, increasing political dialogue within it, and in reinforcing the synergies with the “5+5 Dialogue”, as well as with other Euro-Mediterranean bodies.

The Initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy in the western Mediterranean was incorporated in the Declaration

 

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UfM Conference highlights the key role of the Blue Economy

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The Ministers of Western Mediterranean countries gathered in Naples (Italy), on 30 November 2017, to endorse and launch the Initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy in the Western Mediterranean – a goal-oriented series of joint actions to make the common sea space safer, cleaner and more productive.

Ministers agreed on the Initiative’s system of governance and decided that its steering committee will be co-chaired by Algeria and France in 2018, France and Morocco in 2019 and Morocco and Italy in 2020. The informal meeting culminated with the adoption of a declaration signed by the 10 participating countries (Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia).

 

More information

Declaration (EN) (link removed/ inactive page)

Union for the Mediterranean

WestMed Initiative launched

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Today the European Commission launched a new initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy in the western Mediterranean region.

The region covers economic hubs like Barcelona, Marseille, Naples and Tunis. It also includes tourist destinations like the Balearic Islands, Sicily and Corsica.

The sea’s biodiversity is under severe pressure with a recent report by scientists from the Joint Research Centre indicating that 50% has been lost in the last 50 years. In addition to this are recent security and safety concerns from the increase in migration from the South to the North.

This initiative will allow EU and neighbouring countries to work together to increase maritime safety and security, promote sustainable blue growth and jobs, and preserve ecosystems and biodiversity.

The initiative is the fruit of years’ of dialogue between ten countries of the Western Mediterranean region who are ready and willing to work together on these shared interests for the region: five EU Member States (France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Malta), and five Southern partner countries (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia). It follows up on the Ministerial Declaration on Blue Economy endorsed by the Union for Mediterranean (UfM) on 17 November 2015.

 

Goals and Priorities

  1. A safer and more secure maritime space
    Priorities include cooperation between national coast guards and the response to accidents and oil spills. Specific actions will focus on the upgrade of traffic monitoring infrastructure, data sharing and capacity
  2. A smart and resilient blue economy
    Priorities include new data sourcing, biotechnology and coastal tourism.
  3. Better governance of the sea.
    Priorities include spatial planning, marine knowledge, habitat conservation and sustainable fisheries

Full reports

The initiative is presented in two documents:

The Communication for an Initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy in the western

The Framework for Action

A successful Barcelona Stakeholder Conference

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