Boosting the implementation of the EU Mission Ocean and Waters: Tools, Strategies, Knowledge and Legacy for the Mediterranean Sea basin

This high-level session will gather key actors from across the Mediterranean to focus on one of the most strategic pillars of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”: scaling up cooperation, building long-term legacy, and embedding sustainability at the core of regional action. Anchored in the achievements and lessons learned from recent years of mobilisation, the session - taking place within the MED Bootcamp - aims to chart the way forward for a resilient, connected and mission-driven Mediterranean community.

In this context, the event is an opportunity to discuss the cooperation of territories across the Mediterranean in support of the Mission Objectives, to set up institutional structures beyond the CSA support, and to position such cooperation within the broader policy Vision for the Mediterranean. A key focus will be on ensuring that these structures and collaborations are designed for long-term sustainability, enabling continued impact beyond the life span of individual projects.

Participants will explore how sectoral coordination, capacity-building, and cross-programme collaboration can be scaled to deliver tangible impact under the frameworks of the Mission Ocean and Waters, the EU Ocean Pact, The New Pact for the Mediterranean and the Barcelona Convention.

With high-level contributions from European Commission and regional leading organisations, today’s session aims to lay the foundations for a resilient, connected, and forward-looking Mediterranean legacy. By integrating sustainability into every dimension of cooperation and innovation, this workshop seeks to foster a Mediterranean ecosystem that is not only mission-driven but also future-proof. Anchored in strong regional leadership and a shared commitment to ocean and water resilience, this event sets the stage for a connected, inclusive, and mission-driven Mediterranean future.

Spotlight Workshop: Sustainability4BlueMissionMed

Session Chairs

Fedra Francocci, CNR DSSTTA, BlueMissionMed Coordinator
Francesco Camonita, CPMR-IMC
Matteo Bocci, Ecorys

Program

15.00-15.30 Building a Sustainable Mediterranean: EU Missions, Partnerships and Regional Cooperation

Moderator:
Fedra Francocci, CNR DSSTTA, BlueMissionMed Coordinator

Speakers:
Angiolo Boncompagni, Senior Policy Officer - Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, Ministry of University and Research (MUR), Italy 
Francesco Petracchini, CNR DSSTTA Director
Pavel Misiga, European Commission, HoU Oceans, Seas and Waters - EU Mission Ocean & Waters
Philippe Tulkens, European Commission, HoU Climate & Planetary Boundaries, Synergies with Mission Climate Adaptation

15.30-16.00 Transferability & Strategic Alignment: Potentials for inter-regional cooperation

Moderator: 
Matteo Bocci, Ecorys

Cooperation Working Arrangement (CWA) as a tool for strategic and sustainable development 
Irene Priolo, Assessora all'Ambiente, Programmazione territoriale, Mobilità e Trasporti, Infrastrutture, Regione Emilia Romagna
Giuseppa Savarino, Assessore del territorio e dell'ambiente, Regione Siciliana

Winners of the Associated Regions call: IMERMAID and REMEDIES reflecting upon the beeds and priorities presented by ER and Sicily and discussing potentials for inter-regional cooperation
Maria Loloni, Climate KIC, CO-Waters - Coalition of Waterfront Regions, Cities and Islands for the Mission Ocean and Waters

16.00-16.40 Scaling Innovation: Powering Mediterranean Impact

Moderator:
Francesco Camonita, CPMR-IMC

Irene Vecchiato, DG Mare, S3 support to Mission inter-regional related partnerships
Aldo Puleo, INTERREG NEXT-MED, Mediterranean MultiProgramm Coordination Mechanism
Alessandro Daraio, INTERREG EURO-MED, Dialogue4Innovation 
Barbara di Piazza, IPA Adrion Interreg IPA ADRION Programme
Lino Mintoff, Xjenza Malta Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (Mediterranean Node)
Angelo Riccaboni, PRIMA Initiative funding for water strategies (TBC)

16.30-17.00 The Mission Shaping a shared Vision for the Mediterranean and Launch of the Mediterranean Blue Living Lab

Moderator: 
Fedra Francocci, CNR BlueMissionMed

Keynote: The Mediterranean Pact - Katerina Wolfova European Commission, HoU Egypt, Pact for the Mediterranean (DG MENA)

Closure roundtable:
Alessandra Sensi, Head of Sector Environment, Green and Blue Economy, Union for the Mediterranean 
Rym Benzina, President of La Saison Bleue Tunisia, Blue Africa Summit 
Fedra Francocci, CNR and Angiolo Boncompagni, MUR, Presentation of the Mediterrenean Blue Living Lab Network