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 and building long-term legacy. 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 and to set-up institutional structures beyond the CSA support, and to position such cooperation within the broder policy Vision for the Mediterranean.

The session’s agenda is structured around several key themes: 

• Discussion amongst Mediterranean territories to identify needs and opportunities for inter-regional cooperation – the session provides a brainstoriming amoings regions with most advances CWAs to discuss their plans in implenemtning the Mission at territorial level and the opportiuities and possible options to foster inter-regional cooperation (e.g. CSA support, S3 partnerships);
  
  
• Showcase of opportunities for policy/funding support to such Mediterranean inter-regional cooperation – the session showcases the support available through relevant policy and funding initiatives, including the S3 Platform presenting the support to Mission inter-regional related partnerships, INTERREG NEXT MED discussing the Mediterranean MultiProgramm Coordination Mechanism, INTERREG EURO MED presenting BlueEcosystem), SBEP and PRIMA offering an overview of relevant support;
  
  
• Territorial cooperation for implementing the Mission as an ingredient for the vision of the Mediterranean – the session offers a state of play in terms of policy cooperation in the Mediterranean in relation to the Mission objectives, the Med Pact as a strategic initiative promoted by the EU for the entire region, the UfM role in supporitng cooperation cross north and southern countries, La Saison Bleu offering an overview of the cooperation on the southern shore, and closing with the Launch of the Mediterranean Blue Living Lab as a valuable platfrom to support regional cooperation.

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 services and regional leading organisations, today’s session aims to lay the foundations for a resilient, connected, and forward-looking Mediterranean legacy. 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.

Session Chairs

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

Program

15.00-15.15 Welcome and opening remarks
Chair:
Fedra Francocci, CNR DSSTTA, BlueMissionMed Coordinator

Opening remarks focusing on Italy’s commitment to the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” and its strategic role in the Mediterranean basin
Michele De Pascale, President of the Emilia Romagna Region
Gianluigi Consoli, Directorate-General for Internationalization and Communication, Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) 
Francesco Petracchini, CNR DSSTTA Director

15.15-15.40 From Strategy to Action: The EU’s Role in the Mediterranean

15.40-16.10 Transferability & Strategic Alignment: potentials for inter-regional coperation

Spotlight Session - Sustainability4BlueMissionMed
Chair:
Matteo Bocci, Ecorys

Cooperation Working Arrangement (CWA) as a tool for strategic and sustainable development 
Irene Priolo, Emilia-Romagna Region Councilor for the Environment, Spatial Planning, Mobility and Transport, and Infrastructure
Giuseppa Savarino, Sicilian Region Councillor for Land and Environment

Presentation of the winners of the Associated Regions Call
IMERMAID (Croatia) and REMEDIES or other EU regions (Tunisia or Turkey - Mersin) reflecting upon the beeds and priorities presented by ER and Sicily and discussing potentials for inter-regiponal cooperation

Coalition of Waterfront Regions, Cities and Islands for the Mission Ocean and Waters
Maria Loloni, Climate KIC, CO-Waters

16.10-16.40 Scaling Innovation: regional and international support opportunities
Chair:
Francesco Camonita, CPMR-IMC

S3 support to Mission inter-regional related partnerships
I. Vecchiato, DG Mare

Mediterranean MultiProgramm Coordination Mechanism
A. Puleio, INTERREG NEXT-MED

Dialogue4Innovation
A. Daraio, INTERREG EURO-MED

Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (Mediterranean Node)
L. Mintoff, Xjenza Malta

Initiative funding for water strategies (TBC)
A. Riccaboni, PRIMA

16.40-17.00 The Mission Shaping a shared Vision for the Mediterranean and Launch of the Mediterranean Blue Living Lab

Union for the Mediterranean 
Alessandra Sensi, Head of Sector Environment, Green and Blue Economy

Blue Africa Summit
Rym Benzina, President of La Saison Bleue

Presentation of the Mediterrenean Blue Living Lab Network 
Fedra Francocci, CNR
Angiolo Boncompagni, MUR