• English
  • Français
  • العربية
Follow us
Union for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfM     Mediterranean Day
  • Who we are
    • Who we are

      The Union for the Mediterranean is an intergovernmental institution bringing together the European Union Member States and 16 countries from the Southern and Eastern shores of the Mediterranean to promote dialogue and cooperation.

      Overview   

    • Who we are

      • Member States
      • Meet the team
      • Partners
      • History
    • Key documents

      UfM Annual Report 2022 Regional Integration
  • What we do
    • Notre action

      The UfM seeks to enhance regional cooperation, dialogue and the implementation of concrete projects and initiatives with tangible impact on our citizens to address three strategic objectives: human development, stability and integration.

      Overview   

    • Inclusive Development

      • Economic Development and Employment
      • Higher Education & Research
      • Social & Civil Affairs

      Sustainable development

      • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
      • Transport & Urban Development
      • Energy & Climate Action
    • How we work

      • Political Framework
      • Regional Dialogue Platforms
      • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • The UfM Secretariat is the operational platform of the Union for the Mediterranean. The staff of the UfM is made of more than 17 nationalities working in a multicultural environment that fosters cooperation and intercultural communication and exchange.

    • Work with us

      • Vacancies
      • Secondments
      • Internships
      • Procurement
      • Roster of experts
  • Info center
    • Info center

      Find our latest press releases, press invitations, visual identity, key institutional documents, photos and other relevant information


      Download the UfM Visual Identity Guidelines and Logos (zip file)   

    • Info center

      • Media corner
      • News
      • Agenda
      • Publications and key documents
      • Human Stories of the Mediterranean
    • UfM in the Media

      23 July 2023 – Diário de Notícias – União para o Mediterrâneo, 15 anos de cooperação regional
      View article
      21 July 2023 – Al Masry al Youm – جوزيب بوريل وأيمن الصفدى وناصر كامل يكتبون: 15 عامًا من التعاون الإقليمى
      View article
      17 July 2023 – The Jordan Times – Union for the Mediterranean, 15 years of regional cooperation
      View article
      See more
  • Contact

100 entities gathered by the UfM to contribute to the future of the Blue Economy in the Mediterranean

Water Environment & Blue Economy
  • More than 100 experts and representatives from international organisations participated in the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) online consultation on the future of the Blue Economy in the Mediterranean region.
  • Taking into account the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, they provided more than 350 recommendations in key sectors such as governance, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, renewable energies, marine litter, blue jobs and safety and surveillance.
  • Their inputs will help to prepare the upcoming meeting of the UfM ministers in charge of Blue Economy, foreseen in 2020.

20 April 2020. The Mediterranean is in an alarming situation, warming 20% ​​faster than the world average, according to the first-ever scientific report on the impact of climate and environmental change in the Mediterranean, developed by MedECC with the UfM support. It is estimated that about 15 mega port cities are at risk of flooding, unless further adaptation is undertaken. Maritime transport is one of the most important blue economy sectors in the Mediterranean, both in terms of growth and employment. Yet, it accounts for 10% of marine pollution and 3% of air-polluting emissions. On top of that, about 8 million tons of plastic waste enters the ocean every year and one-time use plastics are making a massive come-back during this COVID-19 crisis. To face all these challenges, the UfM, with its co-presidency, conducted a virtual consultation through the participative platform, Med Blue Economy Platform, during March 2020.

The consultation was structured around priority themes identified with the UfM Member States, ranging from maritime governance, sustainable food, tourism, maritime transport to adaptation to climate change, blue skills development and employment. Around 100 entities – including research centres and universities, public administrations, private sector, international organisations and non-governmental organisations – submitted over 350 substantial feedbacks entries, as part of the preparation process of the 2nd UfM Ministerial Meeting on Blue Economy, foreseen in 2020.

The online consultation identified urgent technical assistance needs for the Mediterranean countries, including digitalisation, integration of circular economy and application of sustainable financing.  As the COVID-19 has temporarily held ashore scientific research boats, the lack of up-to-date Mediterranean science data will be especially challenging to preserve marine ecosystems and study the impact of plastic litter.

The consultation also highlighted that the Mediterranean region is among the world’s leading tourist destinations, hosting more than 300 million tourists per year. Representing the first Blue Economy sector for income and job creation in the basin, tourism is also a driving force for young entrepreneurship and SME’s growth. By far this has been one of the most affected sectors by the COVID-19, and upcoming new norms of social distancing have been raised as priority concerned during the consultation. More than ever, UfM countries will need to position the Mediterranean as a truly ‘green’ touristic destination, taking into account aspect key to enable sustainable growth for the sector.

Isidro González, UfM Deputy Secretary General for Water and Environment, said: “The outbreak of the COVID-19 demands a synchronized, coordinated approach to find adequate common responses, to ensure resilience and minimize the socio-economic impacts on the region. The success of the consultation shows a great willingness of the Blue Economy community to further strengthen its potential as a Mediterranean network in contributing to the preparation and implementation of the UfM post-2020 agenda and portfolio of activities.”

The active, dynamic and rapid consultation conducted, is a result of the ongoing collaboration between the UfM Co-Presidency, UfM Secretariat, Member-States and experts’ community making the Blue Economy dossier a best practice example to tackle regional issues.

Twenty-five years after the launch of the Barcelona Process, a Euro-Mediterranean regional approach is more than ever relevant to tackle blue economy challenges. Participants have commended the UfM-managed Med Blue Economy Platform and called to further strengthen it to include and facilitate contacts between existing education networks, foster exchange of information including pedagogic tools, and serve as an interface for the Blue Economy mobility programs.

More information:

  • Inputs and results from the stakeholder consultation available in full
  • UfM actions towards the COVID-19
  • Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Barcelona Process
Share this:

Latest news

UN Food Systems Summit + 2 Stocktaking Moment
27 / 07 / 2023
Which policies for Green Innovation and Employability? UfM explores the status of the art in Jordan, Italy and Tunisia
25 / 07 / 2023
See more

Agenda

EFI Young Leadership Programme – Mediterranean 2023 – Land abandonment and cultural landscapes
02 / 10 / 2023
Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Science Diplomacy
03 / 10 / 2023
See more

Who we are

  • Member States
  • Meet the team
  • Partners
  • History

What we do

  • Economic Development & Employment
  • Higher Education & Research
  • Social & Civil Affairs
  • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
  • Transport & Urban Development
  • Energy & Climate Action

How we work

  • Political Framework
  • Regional Dialogue Platforms
  • Projects and Initiatives

Work with us

  • Vacancies
  • Secondments
  • Internships
  • Procurement
  • Roster of experts

Info centre

  • Media corner
  • News
  • Agenda
  • Publications and key documents
  • Human Stories of the Mediterranean
  • Photo gallery
  • Video gallery
Co-financé par l'Union européenne  -  Cookie Privacy  |  Privacy Privacy  |  Legal notice
  • Who we are
    • Member States
    • Meet the team
    • Partners
    • History
  • What we do
    • Economic Development and Employment
    • Higher Education & Research
    • Social & Civil Affairs
    • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
    • Transport & Urban Development
    • Energy & Climate Action
  • How we work
    • Political Framework
    • Regional Dialogue Platforms
    • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • Vacancies
    • Secondments
    • Internships
    • Procurement
    • Roster of experts
  • Info centre
    • Media center
    • News
    • Agenda
    • Publications and key documents
  • Contact
  • Social media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Linkedin
    • Flickr
  • English
  • Français
  • العربية
Union for the Mediterranean – UfM

 

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in .


3rd Party Cookies

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Cookies Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Read more

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!