On 21 May 2026, the joint EU Sea Basin Strategies Assistance Mechanism will organise a highly informative workshop at EMD 2026, as part of the European Maritime Day 2026 in Limassol Cyprus.

Description
The European Ocean Pact highlighted the need to support maritime regional cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, as part of ongoing sea basin cooperation across the EU.

This workshop aims at fostering discussions on the challenges and opportunities in the potential set-up of a Sea basin Strategy in the Eastern Mediterranean, following similar successful examples in the Atlantic, Western Mediterranean, Black Sea and, more recently, the North Sea (GNSBI).

The core of the discussion is the understanding of current challenges and potentials to be possibly addressed by regional cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean region and the possible role of sea basin cooperation. To facilitate this exchange, successful experiences and critical factors that have emerged throughout years of experience across other sea basins and maritime regions will be showcased – including policy coordination and technical support. In this respect, some lessons learned from across the EU Sea Basins where Sea Basin Strategies have been in place since years will also be presented – WestMED, Atlantic and Black Sea. 

We expect a truly pan-European exchange, with a focus on east Med needs, but reflections from countries and initiatives involved in already existing Sea Basin Strategies. 

Speakers:

• EC DG MARE (Mr Christos Economou) 
• Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry – Secretary-General (Mr Theodoulos Mesimeris) 
• UfM (Dr Tamimi, UfM Deputy Secretary-General for Sustainable development).  
• Spain- Atlantic & West Med (Mr Carlos Lorenzo, Subdirector Adjunto, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation)  
• Bulgaria- Black Sea (Ms Tatyana Savova, Head of EU Affairs Unit, Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria)  
• Greece (Ms Ioanna Kapelouzou, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 
• UfM Secretariat (Ms 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

21 May 2026, time: 16:40-17:55 | EMD 2026 Limassol, Cyprus

Visit the EMD 2026 website for the full programme