WestMed Initiative shifts Focus towards Key Areas
/in News /by Egbert HoogstadAfter extensive discussions with stakeholders and after having studied numerous policy and research papers, it was concluded that a slight change in course is required for this initiative.
Phase I was meant to establish the added value of an overall maritime approach for the Western Mediterranean. And, whether there is enough support from the most relevant stakeholders to move forward.
However, rather than creating an all-encompassing approach, it became clear that most can be gained by identifying and working on specific gaps, overlappings and cooperation opportunities between already existing policies and initiatives.
This has resulted in a focus on a limited number of key areas that, if addressed properly, can benefit most within the context of strengthening a sustainable blue economy for this sea basin and the countries bordering it.
These areas have been identified and are currently being discussed with the parties involved. Once agreed – it will form the basis of Phase II during which these areas will be further explored and laid out in the WestMed Initiative and Action Plan.
Results Phase 1 public
/in News /by Egbert HoogstadWe are pleased to announce that the first two reports that were produced during Phase 1 of the project have been officially approved by the EC and are available online.
Report 1: Non paper based on the context analysis
This non-paper is a discussion document that provides both a context analysis and impact assessment.
The objective was to find concrete areas of cooperation and the level of effect this would have. This served as a first step in the process of assessing the need, opportunities and possible pitfalls for building a maritime strategy. This report also served as a basis for the four stakeholder meetings that were held in March 2016.
Report 2: Findings and Recommendations from stakeholders’ involvement
The second report elaborates on the main challenges and opportunities that (building) a maritime initiative would hold for this sea basin. It reflects the thoughts and ideas that emerged from intensive discussions with a wide variety of stakeholders at four different meetings (i.e. ‘Collaborative Labs’) in Rome, Marseille, Tunis and Barcelona.
This report with its findings and recommendations served as a basis for a discussion with the member states on EC level and the decision to move forward with phase 2 of this initiative.
Green light for phase 2
/in News /by Egbert HoogstadPhase 1 of the project has officially ended in June.
The final reports covering this phase were approved by the European Commission. At the same time it was concluded that there are enough benefits to be gained to move forward into phase 2. Agreement was reached on a, slightly renewed, focus of this initiative and the next steps to be taken.
This means that the Consortium has started preparations to elaborate on the findings of Phase 1 in order to build a Maritime Action Plan for the Western Mediterranean.
Up until now, involvement of local and regional stakeholders have only been limited in scope. This means that the input provided is indicative but cannot be considered representative for all stakeholders across the sea-basin. Therefore, a more elaborate on- and offline Stakeholder consultation will take place in Phase 2.
For example, a number of online thematic discussions are being planned for through this website. Once available we will gladly further welcome your ideas, thoughts and questions.
Please stay tuned for further developments.
WestMedStrat Twitter account activated
/in News /by Communication teamThe WestMed strategy project team that develops a maritime strategy for the Western Mediterranean has activated a dedicated project twitter account.
The objective is to share regular updates on the project’s developments with all those people and organisations who are interested in the future of this sea basin.
Our updates will include topics such as alerts on reports, events to be organised, discussions to be started, major milestones and other related items which may be of interest to our followers.
The account will be actively managed for the entire duration of the project by Ecorys in Brussels in close cooperation with the consortium partners Plan Bleu and Strategies Mer et Littoral.
Be the first to know what is happening: Follow @WestMedStrat
Project website launched
/in News /by Communication teamA new project website has been created and launched in close cooperation with web builders Web Design in Tunis
The website has a different focus at each phase of the project. In phase I (up until April 2016), it will primarily be informative; to provide background information on the project, share the first reports and generate basic interest.
If the decision is made to proceed into Phase II, interactive modules will be added to actively involve the Western- Mediterranean maritime community. People will be invited to share their thoughts and ideas on specific topics in theme-based online forums.
Each forum will build on the outcomes of Phase I where specific opportunities for cooperation have been identified.
The website will remain active for the duration of this project with the option of an extra 3 years after the official end of the project.
Official start of the WestMed Strategy project
/in News /by Communication teamOn Wednesday, December 16 2015, there was a kick-off meeting between the Executive Agency of the European Commission for SMEs (EASME), the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the EC (DG MARE) and an Ecorys led consortium with SML and Plan Bleu.
The meeting was also attended by the Directorate General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission.
A contract was signed which marked the start of a project to develop a maritime strategy for the Western-Mediterranean sea basin. This involves both the South European and Northern African countries bordering that region.
A combination of desk – and field research will result in identifying several concrete options for so-called cooperation corridors that contain structural promising (economic and environmental) potential and support from key stakeholders.
The project will last 20 months and will be divided into two phases.
In the first phase, the consortium will analyse the existing literature regarding economic, social and environmental challenges and propose options for collaboration to be discussed with the most important parties involved.
In the second phase , a more in-depth analysis of the proposed options will be carried out leading to the drafting of a maritime strategy and action plan for this sea basin.
The project is characterised by a strong participatory approach. This means that there will be regular on- and offline consultations with relevant stakeholders.
In this context, focus group meetings and events in different locations around the Mediterranean are planned, an interactive website launched, representatives and institutions consulted and a final conference organised.
During the meeting, Ecorys presented the strengths of the consortium for building the strategy. In particular Ecorys’ experience in project management, blue growth policies, impact assessments, stakeholder consultations and analysis; SML’s experience in maritime strategies and governance and Plan Bleu’s experience in the implementation and monitoring of the Barcelona Process in the Mediterranean.