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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

12 juillet 2024/dans Actualités, Non classifié(e) /par Communication team

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’.

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.

e-FishMed s’engage dans l’économie bleue et la lutte contre la pêche INN

11 juillet 2024/dans Actualités /par Communication team

l’Agence européenne de contrôle des pêches (AECP) soutient et met en œuvre le projet de l’Union européenne (UE) intitulé « Académie de formation régionale virtuelle méditerranéenne sur le contrôle et l’inspection des pêches (e-FishMed) », initié par la Commission européenne et financé par le Fonds européen pour les affaires maritimes, la pêche et l’aquaculture (FEAMPA, EMFAF en anglais).

Ce projet lancé en 2022 fait suite au projet « FIUUFRA » qui avait été mené dans le cade de l’initiative « WESTMED » et permis de préparer le projet eFishMed.

L’Algérie, la Libye, la Mauritanie, le Maroc et la Tunisie sont les pays bénéficiaires du projet, et l’initiative est soutenue par la France, l’Italie, Malte, le Portugal et l’Espagne.

L’académie virtuelle est essentielle pour harmoniser les activités de contrôle et d’inspection de la pêche et favoriser la coopération et l’échange de bonnes pratiques entre les pays du nord et du sud de la Méditerranée.

Depuis février 2022, l’AECP et les pays participants ont beaucoup travaillé pour que le projet soit couronné de succès.

Un référentiel de formation commun
Premier résultat tangible, un référentiel de formation commun pour les inspecteurs des pêches et les opérateurs des centres de surveillance des pêches (CSP) a été défini par l’AECP et approuvé par les pays participants. L’objectif est d’améliorer les activités de suivi, de contrôle et de surveillance en Méditerranée et dans l’Atlantique Est grâce à une meilleure compréhension commune des règles à appliquer aux activités de contrôle et d’inspection de la pêche.

Une plateforme d’apprentissage en ligne
Parallèlement, afin d’atteindre le deuxième résultat, l’AECP a conçu une plateforme d’apprentissage en ligne, destinée aux agents participant au contrôle et à l’inspection de la pêche des pays bénéficiaires d’e-FishMed. La plateforme héberge des modules d’apprentissage en ligne et d’autres supports de formation tels que des tutoriels vidéo, des manuels et des législations internationales, régionales et nationales. Grâce à cet outil, les inspecteurs des pêches et les opérateurs des CSP peuvent se former à tout moment et de n’importe où ! Actuellement, 159 agents des pays bénéficiaires utilisent déjà la plateforme et l’ambition est de continuer à croître.

Sessions de formation présentielles
À partir de septembre 2023, le projet a complété l’expérience d’apprentissage en ligne par des sessions de formation présentielles. Une session régionale de « formation des formateurs » a été organisée par l’AECP, avec le soutien de Malte et de la France. Cette formation visait à renforcer les capacités, les aptitudes et les compétences des inspecteurs des pêches participant à des activités de formation pour leurs pairs.

Deux sessions nationales de formation sur la méthodologie de gestion des risques ont également été organisées : l’une au Maroc conjointement avec le département marocain de la pêche maritime et l’autre en Tunisie conjointement avec la direction générale de la pêche et de l’aquaculture. Cette dernière a bénéficié du soutien de la France.

En juillet 2024, une autre formation régionale pour les opérateurs de CSP a eu lieu dans les locaux de l’AECP à Vigo. Au cours de cette formation, les participants ont eu l’occasion de partager leurs expériences et leurs bonnes pratiques et de visiter le centre de coordination de l’AECP.

Un programme d’échange pour les responsables de la pêche
Troisième résultat, le projet a permis la mise en place d’un programme d’échange pour les responsables de la pêche, au partage d’expertise et à la mise en réseau entre les pays du nord et du sud de la Méditerranée et de l’Atlantique Est. Une première édition du programme d’échange, soutenue par l’Espagne, a eu lieu à Madrid et à Malaga en avril 2024 et la deuxième édition, soutenue par la France, aura lieu à Etel et à Lorient en septembre 2024.

Indépendamment des résultats requis et obtenus par le projet, la valeur ajoutée du projet e-FishMed réside dans sa capacité à promouvoir davantage une coopération renforcée en matière de contrôle des pêches dans le bassin de la mer Méditerranée, à créer des réseaux, à renforcer la confiance et à être un forum d’échange d’expériences et de bonnes pratiques.

La valeur ajoutée d’e-FishMed a également été récemment reconnue dans la déclaration ministérielle WestMed du 23 juin 2023, qui a salué le partage de l’expertise et des meilleures pratiques dans le cadre du projet e-FishMed.

En outre, jusqu’à sa fin, prévue en janvier 2025, le projet continuera de produire et d’obtenir des résultats contribuant à une économie bleue durable et à la lutte contre la pêche INN.

Pour plus d’informations, contactez efishmed@efca.europa.eu

Atelier régional de formation des formateurs e-FishMed à Malte | 26 – 28 septembre 2023

Formation nationale e-FishMed au Maroc | 12-14 décembre 2023

Programme d’échange e-FishMed en Espagne | 15-19 avril 2024

Formation nationale e-FishMed en Tunisie | 7-9 mai 2024

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

2 juillet 2024/dans Actualités /par Communication team

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)

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

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

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

screenshot from the explainer video on EU sea basin strategies with a geograhical map showing the logos of all three initiatives

Explainer video Sea Basins Strategies and the Assistance Mechanism

15 juin 2024/dans Actualités /par Communication team

This video showcases how the European Commission is propelling the blue economy forward through targeted Sea Basin Strategies in the Atlantic, Black Sea, and Western Mediterranean.

Witness how these strategies foster innovation, competitiveness, and inclusivity within the sector, supported by essential enablers like blue skills and sustainable investments.

EMD 2024 workshop maximising synergies with moderator Matteo Bocci and panellists posing

EU Sea Basin Asistance Mechanism explores synergies between cross-cutting EU Blue Initiatives at EMD 2024

13 juin 2024/dans Actualités /par Communication team

This workshop that took place on May 30, 2024 during the European Maritime Day in Svendborg Denmark, was aimed at exploring how the EU Sea Basins Assistance Mechanism can further enhance effective cooperation with strategic blue economy initiatives promoted by the EU in the ‘cross-cutting’ areas of research and innovation, ocean literacy and green energy transition.

Moderation was done by Matteo Bocci, from the Sea Basins Assistance Mechanism and contributions were made by:

Margherita Zorgno, Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership
Olga Mashkina, EU4Ocean Coalition
Ana Peralta, EU Energy Transition Partnership
Gaetan Coatanroch, Mission Oceans and Waters Implementation Platform

The workshop allowed the different initiatives to share the main activities and results achieved so far in their areas of intervention, and then look ahead to identify concrete actions for further cooperation– also by building upon the results of the High-Level Panel 1 held on the same day.

Key Highlights and Outcomes of the workshop:

As concrete outcomes of this workshop, the different initiatives involved agreed to establish concrete roadmaps for cooperation in the year ahead, particularly in the area of Ocean literacy and blue skills, which emerged as a cross-cutting topic of interest to all the initiatives involved.

The Sea Basins Assistance Mechanism (with a concrete Pillar on the Atlantic sea basin focused on this topic) is exploring the possibility of creating a cross-sea basin working group on blue skills and ocean literacy. In this sense, it is encouraging other “blue” initiatives to feed it with practices and relevant experiences.
From the R&I point of view, SBEP incorporates blue skills as a cross-cutting theme within its scope of work, and has supported projects focused on, e.g., “upskilling” in the tourism sector. Moreover, the foreseen Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) on marine/water is expected to have a focus on education and skills.
From the angle of energy transition and decarbonisation in different maritime sectors, as highlighted by the Energy Transition Partnership, the development of a new set of “blue skills” is crucial. The blue economy is challenged by an ageing workforce (this is particularly true for the fisheries sector), and a lack of workers for many related economic activities, including in more “emerging” sectors (i.e. blue biotechnologies, marine renewable energies, etc.) In this sense, the initiative ‘Fishers of the Future’ was launched as a EU-wide participatory project to examine the future role of fishers in society up to 2050.
The issue of ocean literacy is the main axis of activity for the EU4OCEAN coalition, and particularly when it comes to involving the younger generations and “training the trainers”. As such, this initiative is supporting integrated outreach actions with the aim to attract and engage such groups to the vast opportunities of the Blue Economy job market. In this sense, the project “Blue Generation” has the goal to inspire and engage young people between 15 and 29 years to pursue a sustainable career in a Blue Economy sector.

In conclusion, the workshop highlighted the vital role of collaborative efforts in advancing the EU’s blue economy initiatives, particularly through focused areas such as ocean literacy and blue skills development. As a key result, the different initiatives committed to continue working together to further operationalise future joint actions.

Leonardo Manzari from WestMED Italy at Departibus 2024 on the main stage presenting results of Green Shipping technical group

WestMED at DEPORTIBUS 2024: the first European port festival

22 mai 2024/dans Actualités /par Communication team

WestMED was highlighted at DEPORTIBUS 2024 ; the first European festival with 3 days celebrating port-related themes, including maritime exploration, sustainability, smart cities, and more.

Activities ranged from technical summits, guided tours and concerts to author meet-ups, regattas, and film screenings. The festival engaged at various locations across La Spezia-Italy, making it a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the city’s maritime spirit.

This first edition took place from 12-15 May 2024 and attracted more than 3000 participants, including representatives from more than 50 insitutions, more than 80 speakers and more than 10 port authorites from different parts of the world

On Saturday 11 May 2024, Leonardo Manzari from WestMED Italy and WestMED’s Green Shipping Technical Group, presented the Initiative and its activities on the main festival stage in La Spezia, Italy. It was a unique opportuniy to present the Initiative and its activities to other professionals and the public.

The DEPORTIBUS Festival is a dynamic event that travels to different cities each year, celebrating the global connections of ports. It’s like a maritime adventure that unfolds in various locations, Keep an eye out for announcements about next year’s host city—it could be anywhere from bustling coastal hubs to hidden gems!

Visit the DEPORTIBUS website

Contact Leonardo Manzari (WestMED National Hub Italy)

Libya takes a major step towards a national blue economy strategy with African Union support

22 mai 2024/dans Actualités /par Communication team

A National Stakeholders Consultation and Validation workshop for the National Blue Economy Strategy in Libya has been held under the auspices of the African Union from May 13-15, 2024 in Mombasa, Kenya.

Many ministries incl transport and maritime transport, tourism, economy and trade, the oil sector, the Libyan Ports Authority, the General Secretariat, the National Aquaculture Project in Libya, and other sector representatives, participated in this workshop dedicated to the blue economy in Libya.

The workshop was rich with lecturers and many experts from different countries of the world. Leonardo Manzari (WestMED National Hub Italy) and Matteo Bocci (WestMED and EU Sea Basin Assistance Mechanism central team) also participated and shared valuable information on the sustainable blue economy in Africa with a focus on Libya.

Ali Shagrune (Libyan National Coordinator and member of the WestMED Steering Committee) and Masauda Abuarosha (WestMED Centre Libya) both were pivotal for the success of this event.

This workshop is part of an initiative by the African Union aimed at supporting a number of member states in Africa to develop blue economy strategies. This is made possible with funding by the Kingdom of Norway.

Outcomes of the group discussions

Group 1: Draft Strategy

Group 2: Draft Implementation Plan

Group 3: Draft Governance Coordination Mechanism

(for details see report below)

Next steps

The Outline of the National Blue Economy Strategy will be disseminated to all key stakeholders present and not present at the consultative workshop to get broader views, gain the political goodwill, support, and ownership. The National consultant will follow-up and obtain feedback on views and opinions and incorporate into the National Blue Economy Strategy.
The Draft National Blue Economy Strategy will be finalized and validated in a physical meeting to be held in Libya.

Full report/ Communiqué

Read the full report with all outcomes and recommendations of this workshop
See agenda

WestMED and African Union cooperation

The workshop jumpstarted discussions between the WestMED and the African Union with an open invitation to cooperate by Dr Hellen Guebama from the Union’s InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) – which will be followed through – see video below

Press release on the AU-IBAR website: Blueprints for Prosperity: Libya’s Blue Economy Strategy Shaped in Mombasa

Dr Hellen Guebama from the Union’s InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)

Poster announcing EU sea basins strategies presence at EMD 2024

EU Sea Basins Strategies featured at the European Maritime Day 2024

23 avril 2024/dans Actualités /par Communication team

Go straight to EMD 2024 registration | Register before 15 May

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Svendborg, Denmark, this annual event, hosted at the International Maritime Academy (SIMAC), promises to be enlighting for the maritime world.

On May 30-31, EMD 2024 will attract Ocean Leaders from across Europe to converge, deliberate, and establish collaborations focused on addressing pressing challenges and promising opportunities within the blue economy and marine ecosystem.

Kickstarting the festivities on May 30, the High-Level event on the main stage will feature prominent policymakers, including Charlina Vitcheva, Director General at DG MARE, along with representatives from Denmark, France, Portugal, and Moldova. This session, scheduled from 10:30 to 11:45, will spotlight the remarkable success of the EU Sea Basin Strategies as pivotal drivers of the Blue Economy, offering valuable insights into fostering sustainable maritime growth.

Later that day, from 15:00 to 16:15, a workshop led by the Sea Basins Assistance Mechanism (that includes the WestMED, Atlantic and Black Sea) will disclose synergies amongst EU « blue » initiatives. Expert speakers from EU4OCEAN, Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, and the Energy Transition Partnership for EU fisheries and aquaculture will shed light on collaborative pathways for sustainable marine development.

EMD 2024 serves as an interactive in-person conference and exhibition. A place where businesses, governments, NGOs, academia, and EU citizens connect and discover. Through engaging discussions, workshops, and pitch sessions, stakeholders actively help shape the maritime agenda, tackle current challenges, and chart a course for future opportunities.

EU Sea Basin Synergies Workshop info and registration (Registration for the conference required)

EMD2024 info and registration

Leonardo Manzari and Irene Alonso at UfM Stakeholder Conference 2024

WestMED goes full Mediterranean at the UfM stakeholder conference 2024

28 février 2024/dans Actualités /par Communication team

The WestMED Initiative actively participated in the 2nd UfM Blue Economy Stakeholder Conference, which took place in Athens on February 19 and 20, 2024.

Background
The WestMED Initiative follows up on the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Declaration on the Blue Economy endorsed by the Union for Mediterranean (UfM) which took place on the 17 November 2015, inviting the participating countries to explore the added value and feasibility of appropriate maritime strategies at sub-regional level, and build on the experience of the 5+5 Dialogue.

In October 2016, Foreign Affairs Ministers from Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia encouraged further work on an initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy, alongside the UfM Secretariat.

In the UfM Ministerial Declaration on Sustainable Blue Economy (2021), Ministers “welcome the successful completion of the launch of the ‘Initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy in the western Mediterranean’ (WestMED)”, and “recognise both the WestMED initiative as successful examples of cooperation, focused on clear goals, priorities and measurable targets and as a catalyst for the development of sustainable blue economy projects in the region”.

The endorsing countries pursue the same priorities under the UfM Working Group and the WestMED Steering Committee: fostering the promotion of the blue economy, achieving a safer maritime space and improving the maritime governance.

Conference involvement
On the occasion of the 2^nd UfM Blue Economy Stakeholder Conference, the WestMED Initiative assisted the UfM both in terms of organization and participation.

At institutional level, the new WestMED Portuguese Co-Presidency represented by Ms. Marisa Lameiras da Silva, Director General for Maritime Policy in Portugal participated as one of the key speakers in the session of marine renewable energy, providing the success case of Portugal developing offshore energy and its potential replicability in the Mediterranean.

From the Commission side, Ms. Delilah Al Khudhairy, Director for Maritime Policy and Blue Economy, Mr. Christos Economou, Head of Unit for Maritime Regional Cooperation and Mr. Manuel Pleguezuelo, policy officer and WestMED coordinator from DG MARE, participated in numerous sessions showing a strong commitment to the sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean. The same for Ms. Anja Detant (CINEA), as project manager of the WestMED Assistance Mechanism contract, who highlighted the WestMED Initiative and the award winning projects during the ‘Spotlights on Projects’ session.

At operational level, the WestMED Assistance Mechanism participated in different workshops as experts, moderators and rapporteurs, providing technical expertise. They also supported the UfM Secretariat behind-the-scenes in the development of the Conference.

The conference served as a crucial milestone to assess progress, discuss challenges, and engage the entire Mediterranean Sustainable Blue Economy Community in shaping further deliberations at political and practical level.

A concrete example of succesful cooperation beyond the western Mediterranean was the MoU signed during the conference among the Tunisian and Greek Maritime Clusters (with groundwork through the WestMED Cluster Alliance) to further boost the blue economy between the western and eastern Mediterranean.

Download the Conference report with main messages and outcomes

Photos: copyright UfM secretariat

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WestMED national event on Green Shipping in Algeria

25 février 2024/dans Actualités /par National Hub Algeria

On February 12, 2024, the Algerian National Hub of the WestMED Initiative, in coordination with the Ministry of Fisheries and Fisheries Production, organized their national event focused on on ‘Green Shipping in Algeria.’ This took place in Oran, Algeria.

The event was embedded in a two day international workshop organised by Power4Med – an EMFAF* funded project that supports operators of smaller ships and marinas on the path towards carbon neutrality

The event brought together over 80 participants and representatives from various sectors, including government bodies, industry experts, academics, students, and international researchers.

It focused on strategies for green shipping and ports in Algeria as well as the Western Mediterranean region as a whole, emphasizing best practices, innovative technologies, and policy frameworks that contribute to a more sustainable and prosperous maritime sector. The event also raised awareness about the WestMED Initiative and its relevance to Algeria, while fostering dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders in developing a sustainable blue economy.

During the event, speakers shared insights and experiences on the advantages and opportunities of green shipping, highlighting the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel for bunkering ships. They also discussed the new regulations of the International Maritime Organization, which have significantly reduced sulfur content in marine fuels, leading to a cleaner and greener maritime environment.

Algeria’s experience in developing green shipping and ports was showcased, emphasizing its potential as a catalyst for the development of the blue economy in the country. The event provided a platform to exchange knowledge and experiences among West Mediterranean countries, including an overview of the work done by the Green Shipping Technical Group created under the WestMED Initiative and coordinated by WestMED’s Italian National Hub.

Financing opportunities and partnerships with the European Union were also explored, underlining the support offered to SMEs, research institutes, academia and authorities by the WestMED Assistance Mechanism and their respective National Hubs. The event encouraged stakeholders to identify financing mechanisms that would match their project idea(s) and to collaborate with regional and international partners to accelerate the transition to a sustainable blue economy.

The event’s outcomes were highly impactful, with increased awareness among stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges of developing a sustainable blue economy in Algeria. The discussions on green shipping and ports provided valuable insights into best practices and innovative technologies, paving the way for enhanced environmental performance and efficiency in the maritime sector.

As we move forward, the event strengthened collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders, both at the national and international levels. The commitment to implement concrete actions and initiatives to promote a sustainable blue economy in Algeria has been reaffirmed, ensuring a brighter and greener future for our maritime industry.

* European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund

Visit the event webpage for the background and the agenda of this event with the respective speakers.

Contact the National Hub Algeria Samir Bachouche for more information or support with your project: algeria@westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu

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