Progress report for
Supporting the WestMed Initiative
Achievement at a glance
The WestMED Initiative is progressing well, with a strong emphasis on environmental conservation, economic development. It aligns with global sustainable developmentcommitments and EU priorities, particularly the European Green Deal. Its key objectives include decarbonising the blue economy, advancing marine renewable energy, addressing air and marine pollution, preserving marine biodiversity, fostering coastal resilience, and ensuring maritime security. The initiative operates through thematic and technical groups, backed by a robust governance structure comprising a Steering Committee, central management team, and national hubs across 10 participating countries.
The Assistance Mechanism (AM) has supported more than 115 project ideas, from which 45 proposals have been approved for funding worth EUR 78.1 million of investment in the SBE. It has facilitated numerous events, collaborations and contributed to tangible outcomes such as creating a maritime cluster in Libya and promoting
sustainable aquaculture and green shipping. It has also enhanced cross-sea basin cooperation by integrating with the Atlantic Action Plan and Black Sea initiatives. With streamlined priorities for 2023, including skills development, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable tourism, WestMED fosters partnerships and provides tools to stakeholders for project development and funding access. Overall, the initiative has made significant strides in creating a resilient, secure, and eco-friendly maritime space in the region.
115 projects supported by the WestMED AM, 45 of them funded worth EUR 78.1 million.
3 countries have been directly supported with their national maritime / blue economy
strategies (Algeria, Italy, Tunisia - with Libya ongoing)
2 National maritime clusters created in Mauritania and Libya, with others being developed
in southern partner countries
New Ministerial Declaration approved in June 2023, including new priorities such as:
o Decarbonisation of the blue economy, and importantly boosting the marine renewable
energy sectors
o Stepping up efforts to tackle air and marine pollution
o Increasing ambition for preserving marine and coastal biodiversity in the Mediterranean
o Promote training and technology transfer
o Developing coastal resilience solutions and early warning systems
o Maritime security and surveillance as a pre-condition for a prosperous and sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean
10 National Hubs fully established in each of the WestMED countries, including Libya
(since 2024).
Joint EU Sea basin assistance mechanism: in November 2022, the WestMED AM became part of a joint Assistance Mechanism, together with the Atlantic Action Plan and the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea. This strengthens cross-sea basin synergies and enables more coordinated policy feedback.
Support to stakeholders and technical expertise provided through the five technical groups: AquaWest, Cluster Alliance, Green Shipping and Ports Technical Group and two new thematic groups: the Community of Practice on Maritime Spatial Planning established in 2023 and the new technical group on Sustainable Tourism, launched in 2024.
Strengthening cooperation with key partners such as ASCAME (MoU signed in 202) and the World Ocean Council (2023).
Launch of S3 Thematic partnership "Shipbuilding Propulsion Systems Alliance” with 30 partners from 3 EU sea basins supported by the WestMED Technical Group on Green Shipping (2024).
Challenges faced in implementation
The changes in governments and political parties within the WestMED participating countries have led to some delays in the development of roadmaps and the organisation of national activities.Next Steps
Benedicte CaremierBeneficiaries
SMEs, research centres, universities, NGOs, clusters, international institutions and other
types of associations.
Local, national and regional governments.
Society.
Actions
Organisation of more than 140 events in 2024 where the WestMED Initiative has been presented (including national events, events organized by third-parties, conferences, fairs,etc.)
Organisation of a WestMED Hackathon in 2024 with nearly 100 participants from 15 countries, 5 key blue economy sectors tackled and generation of 16 clear project ideas.
Development of Successful Stories to provide examples of inspiring projects supported by WestMED (six stories published in 2023 and 2024).
2nd edition of the WestMED Awards in 2023: five winners under four categories have been supported by the WestMED AM (visibility for the project, guidance and mentoring,
etc).