WestMED Steering Committee Meeting: Ocean Governance in the Western Mediterranean Region

On 26 June 2025, The WestMED Steering Committee convened its 2nd meeting in 2025 with national coordinators, EU delegates, and representatives from the Assistance Mechanism to discuss progress and alignment with the European Ocean Pact, and to set the course for the second half of 2025.

The meeting opened with remarks from DG MARE, and the Portuguese and Tunisian Co-Presidencies, who reaffirmed their joint commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring the effective integration of Pact priorities into the WestMED framework.

A central topic was the European Ocean Pact, introduced by DG MARE, who presented its six priority areas — including ocean health, sustainable blue economy, and international governance — alongside planned governance tools such as the Ocean Board and Ocean Pact Dashboard. Countries welcomed the Pact as a strategic opportunity to reinforce national efforts and strengthen Mediterranean cooperation.

During the exchange of views, countries including Tunisia, Spain, France, Morocco, and Portugal showcased how their national strategies are aligning with the Pact, highlighting actions in marine spatial planning (MSP), decarbonisation, marine conservation, and offshore renewables. Tunisia also proposed a stronger role for the WestMED Assistance Mechanism in supporting Pact implementation, particularly through technical guidance and project facilitation.

The Assistance Mechanism presented updates from recent relevant events, including the High-Level Panel on Sea Basin Synergies during European Maritime Day in Cork, and the UNOC workshop on Blue Skills and Ocean Literacy in Nice. These events confirmed the growing convergence of regional strategies and underlined the need for cross-basin coordination and inclusive skills development.

Looking ahead, the meeting focused on two major upcoming events:

The EU Macro-Regional and Sea Basin Strategy Days (24–25 September, Brussels), where WestMED will actively contribute to shaping the future of regional ocean governance.
The WestMED Stakeholder Conference (27–28 November, Tunis), set to be a milestone event for Mediterranean cooperation, with sessions on Pact implementation, stakeholder engagement, and a new edition of the WestMED Project Awards.

The meeting concluded with closing remarks from the co-presidencies and DG MARE, who commended the collective efforts and reaffirmed the importance of sustained dialogue, cross-basin cooperation, and local ownership in building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable blue Mediterranean.