The YEP MED project (Youth Employment in Ports of the Mediterranean) is a transformative initiative designed to bridge the widening gap between the rapidly evolving needs of the port‑logistics sector and the skills available in the regional labor market.
Launched in 2020 and co‑financed by the European Union under the ENI CBC Med Programme, the €2.9 million project set out to strengthen “Blue Skills” across seven Mediterranean countries: Spain, Italy, France, Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan.
Bridging the Skills Gap
At its core, YEP MED responds to youth unemployment in the region by focusing on NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and women – groups often underrepresented in maritime and logistics careers. Despite the sector’s rapid growth, a clear mismatch persists between traditional vocational training and the digital, sustainable, and interconnected demands of modern maritime ports.
To address this, the project is built on three strategic pillars:
- Dual Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Curricula: Developing vocational training pathways that combine classroom instruction with hands‑on apprenticeships in real port environments.
- Sustainability & Digitalization: Preparing participants for the future of logistics through training in green port operations, environmental regulations, and digital tools used in port community systems.
- Public‑Private Partnerships: Creating a collaborative ecosystem linking port authorities, training centers, and SMEs to ensure training remains aligned with industry needs.
Impact and Innovation
One of YEP MED’s most innovative achievements is the Port Virtual Lab (PVL), a digital simulation platform that immerses students in realistic port‑logistics scenarios. Through the PVL, learners can manage trade routes, coordinate terminal operations, and understand complex supply‑chain interactions in a risk‑free environment.
The project’s measurable results reflect its transformative impact:
- More than 3,600 students trained in specialized port‑logistics skills
- Over 1,000 job placements and internships facilitated
- A regional network of 500+ companies established to support ongoing training and employment
A Lasting Blue Skills Ecosystem
Although YEP MED’s official 30‑month timeline has concluded, the initiative has evolved into a permanent, self‑sustaining ecosystem. Its long‑term relevance was recognized internationally when it received the WestMED Project Award 2025, confirming its status as a benchmark for blue skills development and regional cooperation.
Watch the project pitch recording by YEP MED at the WestMED Conference
Scaling beyond the Mediterranean
The Port Virtual Lab has grown far beyond its initial scope. Developed by the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport, It is actively used across the Mediterranean and is reaching new regions like the Americas. This expansion reflects YEP MED’s shift from a regional project to a global training model.To ensure sustainability, YEP MED prioritizes a Training of Trainers (ToT) approach, equipping educators with digital and experiential teaching methods. This is supported by CHIRON, a collaborative space where educators can exchange experiences, co-develop case studies, discuss pedagogical approaches, and jointly innovate teaching practices with peers from other institutions.
Sustaining the Community through PLIKA
To maintain momentum, the project launched PLIKA (Port Logistics International Knowledge Academy) as its structural legacy. PLIKA connects training centers, ports, and professionals through continuous capacity building, innovation challenges, and hackathons. Its reach is expanding through the OPEN TRADE MED project, which is bringing YEP MED methodologies to Algeria and Lebanon.
This evolution coincides with a major milestone for the project’s lead coordinator: the 20th anniversary of the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport in 2026. Rather than looking back, the Escola is using this moment to shape the next two decades. New initiatives, such as the “Education Beyond Intelligence” course on human skills in the age of AI and the creation of Arete Plazas in key Mediterranean ports ( physical spaces dedicated to excellence, ethics, and human development), ensure that the spirit of YEP MED remains active, adaptive, and ready to guide the future of global port logistics.
(More on how YEP MED expanded after the project’s official ending – pdf)
EU’s support for Blue Skills
The European Union has become a central driver of Blue Skills development, investing in training, innovation, and workforce transformation to help coastal regions adapt to the digital and sustainable transition of the blue economy. The newly launched European Ocean Pact identifies “advancing ocean research, knowledge, skills and innovation” as one of its six overarching priorities and announces flagship actions to foster blue innovation, literacy, and skills development. The Pact introduces a Blue Generational Renewal Strategy (by 2027) aimed at nurturing a new generation of ocean professionals in marine science, ocean technologies and sustainable fisheries. It highlights the importance of upskilling, digital and entrepreneurial competences, female and youth participation, and appropriate working conditions, as essential drivers for a prosperous and attractive blue economy.
Furthermore, the newly adopted Pact for the Mediterranean, a major EU initiative establishing a new strategic partnership framework between the EU and Southern Mediterranean countries, also acknowledges skills, education and research as foundational pillars for a resilient and integrated Common Mediterranean Space. Within its first pillar, “People: driving force for change, connections and innovation”, the Pact calls for investments in education, skills, circular migration and livelihoods, and announces the creation of a Mediterranean platform on higher education as well as a T-MED Skills Agenda to address workforce and gender gaps, aligning training with the needs of industry and the green and digital transitions.
Through funding programmes such as ENI CBC Med, Interreg, Erasmums+, EMFAF and regional initiatives under the WestMED Framework, the EU, its Member States and partner countries support vocational training, port‑logistics upskilling, digital simulation tools, and stronger cooperation between education providers and industry.
A recent major EU study on Blue Skills resulted in a Blue Competency Framework for education providers, policy makers, employers and people seeking a career in the maritime sector.
This coordinated effort ensures that young people, women, and professionals gain the competencies needed for emerging maritime sectors -from green shipping to marine renewable energy.
Building on this momentum, WestMED will launch a dedicated Blue Skills Technical Group in 2026, creating a permanent platform for countries, experts, and training institutions to jointly advance skills development across the Mediterranean.
YEP MED Project Executive Summary
