Italy-news Archives

2025 project awards winners on stage at the WestMED 2025 Conference

Tunis hosts the 5th WestMED Stakeholder Conference: Driving Blue Economy Action Across the Western Mediterranean

1 décembre 2025/dans Actualités /par Communication team

On 28 November 2025, over 200 stakeholders from both shores of the Mediterranean gathered in Tunis, Tunisia, for the 5^th WestMED Stakeholder Conference – a flagship event of the WestMED Initiative.

Building on previous editions in Barcelona, Algiers, Rome, and Malta, this year’s conference highlighted the role of maritime clusters, blue skills, ocean literacy, energy transition, and maritime spatial planning in promoting a more competitive, sustainable, and resilient blue economy across the Western Mediterranean sea basin.

The conference was hosted by the Tunisian co-presidency of the WestMED and organized by the WestMED Assistance Mechanism, with the support of the European Commission.

Recognizing Excellence: WestMED Project Awards 2025

A highlight of the conference was the announcement of the WestMED Project Awards, now in their third edition. These awards honor outstanding projects aligned with the WestMED priorities, providing winners with visibility and recognition across the Mediterranean blue economy community.

Award winners showcased innovation in marine protected areas management, energy transition in fisheries and aquaculture, blue skills and maritime clusters, demonstrating how local initiatives can have a regional impact.
This recognition not only boosts the projects’ visibility but also strengthens cross‑border cooperation, encouraging replication of similar initiatives in other sea basins.

This edition showed a record number of 71 applications. The award winners were:

BLUEPSOL: developing solar-powered solutions for sustainable fishing and aquaculture,
reducing emissions and costs (also voted by participants as the ‘best-of-the-best’).
YEP MED: connecting training centres, ports, and companies across the Mediterranean to align education with real labour market needs
MPA4Change: empowering Mediterranean MPAs to adapt, build resilience, and combat climate change.
BCThubs: building technology excellence hubs, advancing underwater cultural heritage and sustainable blue economy
CallmeBlue: strengthening Mediterranean clusters, fostering cooperation, empowering communities and enhancing skills inclusively.

European Ocean Pact & new Pact for the Mediterranean

Two major policy frameworks were discussed during the conference:

EU Ocean Pact: presented as a unifying framework to safeguard Europe’s seas, it emphasizes sustainability, resilience, and innovation. The conference explored how WestMED priorities support this broader EU agenda.
Pact for the Mediterranean: recently launched, this pact aims to align Mediterranean countries around shared commitments for a resilient and sustainable sea basin. The WestMED Assistance Mechanism was highlighted as a bridge between the pact’s ambitions and concrete project implementation.

Together, these pacts signal a new era of Mediterranean maritime cooperation, linking regional action to European strategies.

Launch of the Blue Skills Technical Stakeholder Group
Recognizing that skills gaps are among the biggest barriers to a thriving blue economy, the conference announced the creation of a new technical stakeholder group on Blue Skills.

This group will bring together experts from the different Western Mediterranean countries to map skill needs, organise training programs, and promote ocean literacy.
It will serve as a platform for universities, training centers, industry, and policymakers to coordinate efforts.
By focusing on capacity building, the group aims to ensure that the Western Mediterranean workforce is equipped to drive the energy transition, innovation, digitalization and maritime spatial planning.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 WestMED Stakeholder Conference delivered three clear outcomes:

Celebration of award‑winning projects that exemplify innovation and cooperation.
Integration of the EU Ocean Pact and the Pact for the Mediterranean into WestMED’s operational agenda.
Launch of a technical stakeholder group on Blue Skills, setting the stage for long‑term workforce development.

Together, these outcomes reinforce the WestMED Initiative’s role as a catalyst for sustainable growth, resilience, and collaboration across the Western Mediterranean and beyond. Next year’s co-presidency will be taken over by Spain and Tunisia, in line with the rotating governance structure of the WestMED Initiative.

A WestMED steering committee meeting preceded the conference, engaging participating countries and the European Commission in discussions on progress and next steps under the initiative.

Conference report

A comprehensive conference report will be made available in the coming weeks.

man holding phone with checkmark in display - sea in the background.

SURVEY – Help shape the future of Mediterranean initiatives supported by the EU

26 novembre 2025/dans Actualités /par Communication team

As part of the implementation of the WestMED Initiative, we invite project beneficiaries to share insights and experiences through this short survey.

Project beneficiairies are those organizations, institutions, or groups that receive or have received direct support or funding for projects in the Western Mediterranean through funding under EU programmes such as EMFAF, Horizon Europe, INTERREG and others.

Your input is essential to assess the coverage, availability, and ongoing relevance of EU-funded programmes and to improve their design and implementation.

By contributing, you will help us identify lessons learned and shape future sustainable blue economy initiatives in the Mediterranean, ensuring they meet the needs of diverse stakeholders—including participants from both EU and non-EU countries.

About the Survey

Duration: It will take less than 15 minutes to complete.
Confidentiality: All responses will be handled in strict compliance with data protection regulations and used only in aggregated and anonymous form.
Scope: You may base your answers on your experience with one or multiple EU-funded projects.

The questionnaire is structured around 6 Sections:

Introduction
Access to funding
Project results and impact
Networks and consortium building
Understanding the barriers in cross-national and sea basin cooperation
Follow-up and continuation of projects.

Click to access the survey

The survey will remain open from the end of November until mid-January 2026.

On behalf of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), thank you for your time and valuable contribution.

New Study: Climate Change Adaptation in EU Aquaculture

23 novembre 2025/dans Actualités /par Communication team

The European Commission has published a comprehensive study on climate change adaptation in EU aquaculture, providing a timely assessment of the sector’s vulnerabilities, challenges, and opportunities in the face of a changing climate.

Aquaculture is a vital part of Europe’s blue economy, supplying healthy food, supporting coastal communities, and contributing to economic growth. However, the sector is increasingly exposed to climate-related risks such as rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, extreme weather events, and shifting disease patterns.

Adapting EU aquaculture to climate change is essential for safeguarding food security, jobs, and the health of marine and freshwater ecosystems. The report highlights the importance of collaboration between industry, researchers, and policymakers to accelerate the uptake of adaptation measures and ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector.

DTF25 conference sign with cruise ship in background

DTF 2025 Conference hosted in Malta: Driving the Future of Sustainable Maritime Transport

20 octobre 2025/dans Actualités /par Communication team

The 2025 edition of the Decarbonizing the Future (DTF) conference was held in Malta on 16–17 October, bringing together international experts, policymakers, and industry leaders under the theme “Ports. Power. Partnerships.” The conference served as a key platform for advancing dialogue on sustainable transport, digitalisation, and the decarbonisation of maritime operations in particular through the provision of Onshore Power Supply (OPS).

Organised by EOPSA, Transport Malta and Med Ports Association, the two-day event underscored the growing importance of OPS as a pivotal technology to reduce emissions in ports and align with the EU Green Deal, Fit for 55, and TEN-T objectives. Participants explored pathways to achieve cleaner, more efficient port operations and strengthen collaboration among national and regional maritime authorities.

WestMED at DTF
As part of the DTF Conference, the WestMED Initiative hosted a dedicated side event on “Advancing Sustainable Transport through Onshore Power Supply”. Jointly organised by the WestMED National Hubs for Malta and Italy, the session highlighted the Mediterranean region’s pivotal role in advancing OPS as a tool for sustainable maritime transport.

The event brough together a diverse panel of stakeholders — including government and industry representatives, port authorities, NGOs, and cluster organisations — who discussed opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and access to EU and regional funding to scale up OPS implementation.

The discussion focused on:

How to scale up OPS across Mediterranean ports;
The role of EU and regional funding to support OPS implementation;
Cross-border cooperation and knowledge-sharing among ports in the WestMED region;
Addressing the policy, technical and investment challenges of decarbonising port operations.

On 17 October, Stephanie Vella (WestMED National Hub Malta) took to the main stage, where she spoke about the #MediterraneanPact that had just been launched, its relevance for regional cooperation on port decarbonisation and the supporting role of WestMED through its Technical Group on Green Shipping.

OPS Connection of MSC Explora II to OPS at Valletta’s port facility
A notable practical outcome during the conference was the connection of MSC Explora II to OPS at Valletta’s port facility, demonstrating the OPS connection. The occasion was marked during a high-level event attended by the Prime Minister of Malta and senior government officials.

MoU DTF and TÜRKLİM
Another key milestone of the DTF 2025 Conference was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DTF and TÜRKLİM, the association representing 78 private ports and terminals in Türkiye. TÜRKLİM plays a vital role in shaping container, cruise, and liquid bulk operations.

The MoU marks an important chapter in regional cooperation. It reflects DTF’s commitment to expanding its partnerships across the Mediterranean and strengthening the region’s collective capacity to meet climate and digital transformation goals.

The conference concluded with a call to action: to translate dialogue into implementation through concrete projects and collaborative frameworks. As the maritime sector continues its transition toward a low-carbon future, the partnerships and insights forged in Malta are expected to shape future developments across the Mediterranean and beyond.

Pact for the med poster with people cheering

Pact for the Mediterranean Launched: A New Era of Regional Cooperation

17 octobre 2025/dans Actualités /par Communication team

On 16 October 2025, the European Commission officially launched the Pact for the Mediterranean – an ambitious framework to deepen cooperation between the EU and its Southern Mediterranean partners.

The Pact is the result of an extensive and inclusive consultation process that engaged a broad range of stakeholders, including southern Mediterranean partners, EU Member States and institutions, neighbouring countries in the wider region, as well as representatives from civil society, the private sector, academia, think tanks, and cultural and economic organisations.

Marking 30 years since the Barcelona Process, this initiative aims to build a “Common Mediterranean Space” rooted in co-ownership, co-creation, and joint responsibility.

Structured around three pillars – People, Economy, and Security -the Pact sets out over 100 concrete initiatives to drive inclusive growth, connectivity, and resilience across the region:

People: A flagship Mediterranean University, youth mobility schemes, and cultural exchange programmes will foster intergenerational ties and civil society engagement.
Economy: Projects like StartUp4Med and the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Initiative (T-MED) will boost clean tech, digital infrastructure, and sustainable blue economy development.
Security & Migration: Joint efforts on disaster preparedness, border management, and migration governance aim to enhance regional stability.

The Pact is open for engagement with partners beyond the Southern Mediterranean,including the Gulf, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Western Balkans as well as Türkiye. Stepping up cooperation between the EU, the Middle East and North Africa, and the Gulf region is a key objective.

An action plan is expected in early 2026 following political endorsement in November ’25 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona process. Civil society, youth organizations, and regional bodies will be invited to support its implementation.

Dubravka Šuica, Commissioner for the Mediterranean:

« The Pact is a clear testimony of a renewed focus and commitment of the EU to the Mediterranean region. This Pact is about people: the region’s greatest strength lies in its youth, its creativity, and its talent. The Pact is also about shared prosperity. It will bring new investment opportunities and jobs. We will also invest in security, preparedness and migration management. Close cooperation and co-ownership will make this a success story for our citizens on all shores of the Mare Nostrum. »

Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission

« The geopolitical importance of the Mediterranean cannot be overstated. The region connects three continents and acts as a bridge to the European Union for important exchanges amongst people, our economies and on security. With the new Pact for the Mediterranean we open a new chapter and a chance for more productive cooperation and lasting stability in the region. »

Watch the press statement by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

Watch the press conference opening remarks by Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission

Watch the press Conference opening remarks by Dubravka ŠUICA, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean

More information:
Pact for the Mediterranean – One Sea, One Pact, One Future – a shared ambition for the region – Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf

The Pact for the Mediterranean – Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf

people at an exhibition - seated at a workshop listening to speaker

Water Scarcity in the Mediterranean at the center of attention with AIDARA at the ACCADUEO 2025 Exhibition in Bologna

14 octobre 2025/dans Actualités /par National Hub Italy

The growth of WestMED supported AIDARA (Italian association for desalination and reuse of water) continues in its first year of existence, thanks to the high interest in the challenges of water scarcity.

ACCADUEO, Italy’s leading international trade fair dedicated exclusively to the civil and industrial water sector, is one of the growing number of organisations that support AIDARA’s development. It allowed AIDARA a stand where visitors had a chance to learn more about its objectives, as well as space to organise two specialized workshops. One on Desalination in the Mediterranean Basin (7 October 2025) and one on the ‘Water Positive’ Concept (8 October 2025).

International speakers from Morocco, Libya, UAE, Spain, France took the floor to describe the evolution of desalination technologies, investment plans and good practices to optimize water management in Industrial processes.

Multinational companies like Philip Morris and TETRAPAK, consulting firms specialized in water management like TEHA, COGEA-BIP, STANTEC, ILF and research & innovation initiatives like Plan Bleue described their experiences and their approaches towards a contest which is often seen as a booming business, while it is first and mainly a way to ensure the necessary resource for life on the planet.

Both sessions welcomed a large audience and the Regional Government of Emilia Romagna, through the competent Councillor Irene Priolo, had the opportunity to illustrate the complexity that local and regional authorities face to tackle the extreme consequences of climate change – from water scarcity to overfloods.

Mark your agenda

AIDARA will hold its next event on 2 December 2025, in collaboration with AQP SpA, focusing on Reuse of Treated Waters.

For more information contact Leonardo Manzari (WestMED National Hub Italy): italy@westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu

Expert panel on stage during WestMED workshop at SeaFuture 2025. Masauda Abuarosha speaking and projected in the back

WestMED’s Maritime Cluster Alliance at SeaFuture 2025

10 octobre 2025/dans Actualités /par National Hub Italy

Within the framework of the 9^th edition of SEAFUTURE in La Spezia, Italy, WestMED once again contributed to the success of the event, with a workshop on 2 October 2025. This workshop was dedicated to the multiple and diversified ways to do clustering and help local ecosystems exploit their potential.

During the workshop many leading experts explored the role of clusters in scaling up sustainable blue economy initiatives across the Mediterranean. Topics ranged from funding programmes and water management to incubation and acceleration – including the role of the EU Sea Basins Technical Assistance.

DG MARE, UfM, the WestMED National Coordinator, and the Ministry of Sea Policies and Civil Protection, also highlighted major maritime developments such as the European Ocean Pact, the new Mediterranean Pact, the Italian engagement to “equip” its Sustainable Blue Economy (SBE) Strategy with a dedicated ministry, a first MSP ICZM plan for Italy and a new national cluster on underwater technologies (Polo Nazionale della Dimensione Subacquea).

This was followed by a series of expert panels – each with a focus on identifying and closing the gaps in the maritime cluster ecosystem – approaching it from different angles: Investment and funding initiatives, cluster incubators and accelerators, water management and desalination/ re-use initiatives, EU Programmes with EU Missions and Horizon Partnerships, and Sustainable business models as illustrated by five innovative start-ups and SMEs.

This workshop provided participants a good overview of the current state of play, new ideas and a good impression of how the WestMED Assistance Mechnism has supported cluster -and project development over the years.

The SEAFUTURE exhibition, also offered excellent network opportunities as well as an occasion to mark new developments:

The European Network of Maritime Clusters (ENMC) announced the decision to recognize the status of Observer to the WestMED Maritime Clusters Alliance, thus allowing also southern shore clusters to represent their ecosystem in this contest;
6 maritime clusters of the WestMED Cluster Alliance shared a stand the exhibition;
the Libyan Maritime Cluster and the Tunisian Maritime Cluster took the opportunity to widen their relations beyond their regional dimension
new actors that joined the WestMED community, found an inspiring atmosphere to interact with established stakeholders (TEHA, AIDARA, Suez Italy, etc.).

A final session of the Blue Mission Med – EU Restore Our Ocean and Waters concluded the workshop, as an excellent lane towards the WestMED Stakeholders Conference 2025 in Tunis, on 28 November 2025!

Download the agenda

For more information contact Leonardo Manzari (WestMED National Hub Italy): italy@westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu

About SeaFuture
SeaFuture is a major international exhibition and conference held at the La Spezia Naval Base in Italy, showcasing innovative technologies and solutions in the maritime, defense, and Blue Economy sectors, and serving as a global platform for networking, collaboration, and sustainable growth from September 29 to October 2, 2025

SeaFuture website

Watch the interview with Leonardo Manzari during this workshop:

WestMED’s Maritime Cluster Stand at SeaFuture 2025, hosted by Federazione del Mare, Cluster BIG (Blue Italian Growth), Strategis, Fórum Oceano, Cluster Maritime Tunisien and the Libyan Maritime Cluster

group photo with EU sea basins people in conference room in Brussels during the Macro-Regional and Sea Basin Strategies days in Brussels

EU Sea Basins Assistance Mechanism strengthens Maritime Cooperation

1 octobre 2025/dans Actualités /par Communication team

EU Sea Basin Assistance Mechanism gathers experts from 15 countries to discuss maritime regional cooperation in Europe’s Atlantic facade, the Western Mediterranean and the Black Sea

On 25 September 2025, alongside the Macro-Regional and Sea Basins Strategies Days, a dedicated networking event was held in Brussels for the National Hubs of the Sea Basin Strategies’ Assistance Mechanism. The gathering served as a platform for meaningful dialogue, strategic reflection, and future-oriented discussions aimed at advancing the EU’s Sea Basin Strategies and the Ocean Pact.

The session began with presentations on two key EU policy initiatives: the newly introduced European Ocean Pact and the upcoming budget framework for the blue economy.

The Ocean Pact outlines the EU’s comprehensive vision for ocean governance, consolidating various ocean-related policies under one strategic umbrella. It focuses on six core objectives: safeguarding ocean health, promoting a sustainable and competitive blue economy, empowering coastal and island communities, enhancing maritime security, expanding ocean literacy and research, and strengthening global ocean diplomacy.
The proposed 2028–2034 EU budget aims to offer greater flexibility to Member States and increase support for sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and maritime sectors. It also prioritizes investment in ocean monitoring, innovation, blue economy initiatives, and international marine governance.

Engaging with National Hubs

National Hubs play a central role in implementing sea basin strategies at the national level. They collaborate closely with the European Commission, national authorities, implementing bodies, and regional stakeholders. During the event, representatives from the National Hubs, Sea Basin coordinators, the Assistance Mechanism team, DG MARE, and CINEA shared perspectives on enhancing future cooperation. The open format encouraged candid discussions on current challenges, opportunities, and reaffirmed a collective commitment to the EU’s maritime vision.

Celebrating Success: Photo Exhibition

On the Macro-Regional and Sea Basins Strategies Days, a photo exhibition showcased impactful projects supported by the Sea Basins Assistance Mechanism. The exhibition featured projects from across the Atlantic, Black Sea and WestMED, such as:

Aquawind (Atlantic) – a pioneering project combining offshore renewable energy with finfish aquaculture, offering innovative solutions for sustainable food and energy production.
Black Sea CONNECT (Black Sea) – focused on boosting research collaboration and launching the Black Sea Young Ambassadors Programme.
2B-BLUE (WestMED) – aimed at strengthening the blue biotechnology sector through demonstration sites, public–private partnerships, and knowledge exchange.

These examples illustrate how the Sea Basins Assistance Mechanism is driving innovation, fostering cross-border collaboration, and promoting knowledge-sharing across Europe’s maritime regions. From renewable energy in ports to youth engagement and blue biotech, the showcased projects reflect the Ocean Pact’s goals in action—protecting marine ecosystems, empowering coastal communities, and building a resilient blue economy.

The networking event reaffirmed the essential role of National Hubs in delivering the EU’s Sea Basins Strategies and underscored the importance of ongoing dialogue and cooperation to achieve shared maritime objectives.

panel on stage with speaker during the 2025 paths that last sustainable Tourism Conference in Croatia

WestMED’s Technical Group on Sustainable Tourism participates in the Interreg Tourism Conference ‘Paths that Last’

9 juillet 2025/dans Actualités /par Communication team

200 participants | 8 Programme Organisers | approx 90 Projects | 5 workshops

On 25–26 June 2025, the WestMED’s Technical Group on Sustainable Tourism through the National Hub for Malta (Stephanie Vella), participated in an event held in Split, Croatia, under the Mediterranean Multi-Programme Mechanism titled “Paths That Last – Collaborating for a Sustainable Tourism in the Mediterranean”.

Eight Interreg Programmes working together in the Mediterranean
Next to a wide range of stakeholders. this gathering brought together eight Interreg programmes working across the region including Interreg Euro-MED, Interreg Greece–Cyprus, Interreg Italy–Croatia, Interreg Italy–Slovenia, Interreg Italy–France Maritime, Interreg Italy–Malta, Interreg NEXT Italie–Tunisie, and Interreg NEXT MED.

The goal of the Mediterranean Multi Programme Mechanism is to enhance synergy, coordination, and capitalisation among projects to address common challenges such as sustainable tourism, climate change, and socio-economic development in Mediterranean territories.

The event aimed to foster cross-programme coordination, share good practices, and promote the development of joint project ideas to advance sustainable tourism across the Mediterranean. It created an opportunity for stakeholders to align efforts around shared goals while responding to regional challenges.

Five workshops
Central to the conference were 5 different interactive workshops addressing critical themes for sustainable tourism: Shared and Strategic Governance of the Tourism Offer, Tourism and Green Transition, Inclusive and Accessible Tourism and Innovative Tourism Products

Workshop ‘Shared and Strategic Governance’
The WestMED Technical Group took part in the workshop on Shared and Strategic Governance. Through interactive exercises like the “Imaginary Planet” visioning workshop, the event encouraged creative thinking about future sustainable tourism models, including cross-border governance, local engagement, and sustainable visitor management.

The workshops facilitated the early formation of ideas for joint project proposals, which were later shared during the event’s closing plenary session. Some of the project ideas which were discussed include the application of carrying capacity models particularly in congested areas of tourism, the attraction of tourism in rural areas as a means of spreading the impact of tourism as well as the importance of training to operators in the sectors as well as tourists in order to encourage both the supply and demand of sustainable tourism.

During the workshop, the objectives of the WestMED’s technical group on sustainable tourism were outlined highlighting that the group serves 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.

The importance of capitalisation was also stressed, highlighting the need to build on the results of past and ongoing projects to avoid duplication and maximise the impact of existing knowledge and tools. Also, emphasis was placed on the importance of ensuring access to region-specific funding opportunities, particularly those that include southern shore countries, to guarantee a balanced approach to sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean.

The event offered a valuable networking opportunity for a range of stakeholders. It was instrumental in reinforcing cooperation, sharing innovation, and building a more cohesive approach to sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean—one that lasts.

Check the event announcement (including agenda)

See below for the Conference recording of the 1st day of this conference.

For more information contact Stephanie Vella: malta@westmed-initiative.eu

Photo Source: ASCAME

Recording of the Concerence: Paths That Last – Collaborating for a sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean

Closing of the POWER4MED Project & Launch of GREENMEDPORT & SHARE4MED projects: A New Milestone Toward Carbon Neutrality in the Mediterranean Maritime Sector

4 juillet 2025/dans Actualités /par Communication team

Based on the press release from the Algerian Press Service

Oran, Algeria-3 July 2025

The WestMED supported POWER4MED project, designed to support the energy transition of small ports and ships in the western Mediterranean, officially came to an end on Wednesday in Oran, at an international conference attended by researchers, decision-makers and economic operators from the maritime sector.

Financed by the European EMFAF Fund, and as part of the WESTMED initiative, the POWER4MED project (Local empowerment of fuel transition for a green Mediterranean) was launched in November 2023 for a period of 20 months, said Professor Beladjine Boumedienne, a research lecturer in the maritime engineering department at the Mohamed Boudiaf University of Science and Technology in Oran (USTO-MB), a partner in the project, who oversaw the organisation of this event at its opening.

The project, that lasted 18 months (November 2023-april 2025) was carried out by a consortium of partners from six Mediterranean countries, namely Algeria, Italy, Egypt, Spain, Libya and Turkey, he added. The project aims to support the transition to clean fuels and sustainable energy technologies for small vessels, in particular fishing boats and local ferries, as well as for marinas and secondary ports, said the representative of the Italian Ministry of Transport, Piero Pineli, in his speech at the opening.

POWER4MED Support Structure: A Governance and Energy Transition Model
Professor Mohamed Smaïl, from the English University in Cairo, who presented the project’s recommendations, pointed out that a virtual support structure, was jointly set up and piloted by Italian, Algerian and Egyptian institutions as part of the project to provide technical, financial and regulatory support to maritime operators wishing to make the transition.

It provides a multidisciplinary support team and technical tools to assist fishing boat and ferry operators, as well as marina managers, in adopting low-carbon fuels in the short term and in charting pathways toward carbon neutrality by 2050

The structure relies on a multidisciplinary team of experts, as well as a set of practical capacity-building tools that have been tested with pilot players.

Core funtions of the support structure:

Analyzing needs and availability of affordable alternative fuels.
Developing toolkits to align with EU legislation and IMO decarbonization strategies.
Facilitating knowledge transfer through training workshops and field visits to marine labs and simulators

Samir Bachouche (WestMED National Hub Algeria), ended the day with an overview of the WestMED Initiative and how the Assistance Mechanism can help other projects who are looking to start or scale up – with possible additional project partners and/ or ways to look for possible funding opportunities. He also pointed to the upcoming WestMED Stakeholder Conference on November 28 in Tunis and the possibility to submit blue projects for the WestMED Project Awards 2025 for extra recognition.

Parallel Event: The Algerian-Italian Maritime Cooperation Forum

A major highlight was the Algerian-Italian Maritime Cooperation Forum, which focused on port digitalization, integrated supply chains, alternative fuels (green hydrogen, LNG, methanol), and carbon footprint tracking for fishing and cargo vessels. The forum aims to strengthen cross-border value chains and attract private investments to support the blue economy.

Transition to a New Project Generation: Launch of GREENMEDPORT & SHARE4MED

Two new strategic projects were launched the next day ,on 5 July 2025: GREENMEDPORT and SHARE4MED, funded by the INTERREG NEXT MED programme. Each initiative is expected to run until 2027 with a budget of approximately €1 million and an EU co-financing rate of 89%

The aim of these new programmes is to strengthen cross-border cooperation in port digitalisation, fleet energy conversion and green maritime regulation and logistics. Specifically:

GREENMEDPORT:

Assessing infrastructure needs for alternative fuels in western Mediterranean ports.
Developing a real-time carbon footprint monitoring platform

SHARE4MED

Sharing environmental and emissions data among ports and research institutions.
Foresight capabilities for short and medium-term adaptation technologies

For more information about this event, check the announcement page

For more information on about the POWER4MED project, visit the Power4Med webpage on the sdg4med website

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