Maritime safety: new proposals to support clean and modern shipping
The Commission last 1st June presented five legislative proposals to modernise EU rules on maritime safety and prevent water pollution from ships. With 75% of the EU’s external trade being seaborne, maritime transport is not only the artery of a globalised economy, but also a lifeline for the EU’s islands, peripheral and remote maritime regions.
Euro-Mediterranean cities can apply to become the 1st Mediterranean Capital of Culture & Dialogue in 2025
The 43 Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) will designate annually two cities as Capitals of Culture & Dialogue. This new regional initiative seeks to broaden the understanding and awareness of citizens on the richness and diversity of cultures in the Euro-Mediterranean region, as well as on the commonalities between these cultures, heritage, and history. The call is open until 23 July 2023 here.
World Oceans Day
Joint Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius
On World Oceans Day, June 8th the European Union reiterates its commitment to ocean protection in a year when we celebrate that the world came together to conclude the landmark Treaty of the High Seas to protect the ocean, tackle environmental degradation, fight climate change, and prevent biodiversity loss – the BBNJ Treaty.
The 20th meeting of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development convenes in Marseille
The Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) will hold its 20th meeting on 14-16 June 2023. The meeting is convened by the Coordinating Unit for the Mediterranean Action Plan of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP/MAP), which is based in Athens, Greece. The meeting is hosted by France.
Three facts about the Mediterranean experience in tackling plastic pollution
At INC-2 in Paris, as negotiators were poring over the preparation of an international legally binding instrument to prevent plastic pollution, a PAMEx side-event held on 31 May 2023 adopted a joint position of 12 countries and five regional organizations calling for the Mediterranean experience in tackling plastic pollution to be considered in the negotiations.
The Low Plastic Zone initiative launches in municipalities of Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina to help reduce plastic pollution
UN Regional Activity Center MedWaves and The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH are happy to announce the launch of the Low Plastic Zone (LPZ) Initiative.
Development of a Catalogue of solutions to improve the resilience of the aquaculture sector to climate change in the Mediterranean
Climate change is expected to have several impacts on the aquaculture sector in the Mediterranean region. The impacts of climate change on the aquaculture sector in the Mediterranean are expected to be largely negative. However, there is some potential for there to be some positive impacts as well.
MedCOP Climate 2023
The driving force behind local and regional climate action in the Mediterranean, and a meeting of Mediterranean territories for climate action.
With the support of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Foundation of the Mediterranean Climate House and the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council (TTA) have decided to organize the MedCOP Climate on June 22-24, 2023, in Tangier, to promote Mediterranean integration. The aim of this event is to provide solutions and answers for the future of a Mediterranean resilient to the challenges of climate change.
Workshop on the Regional Coastal Plan Tangier-Tetouan-Al-Hoceimal/Climagine 4
With the support of the Kingdom of Morocco’s Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, as part of Subproject 2.1 of the Global Environment Facility’s MedProgramme, a workshop on the Water-Energy-Food-Cosystems Nexus and the Schéma Régional du Littoral (SRL) of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (TTA) Region will be held on June 20-21, in Tangier.
The Sixteenth SPA/BD Focal Points Meeting: Advancing Biodiversity Conservation in the Mediterranean
The Sixteenth Meeting of SPA/BD Focal Points, taking place in Malta from 22 to 24 May 2023, is witnessing the active participation of representatives from the Mediterranean countries and relevant regional and international organizations and partners dedicated to preserving marine biodiversity.