Annexes to COM(2023)3 - Implementation of the Western Mediterranean initiative - Main contents

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dossier	COM(2023)3 - Implementation of the Western Mediterranean initiative.
document	COM(2023)3
date	January 5, 2023

agreements and strategies that relate to the sustainable blue economy.

The initiative's 3 overarching goals and 10 priorities align to a certain extent with regional and Mediterranean policies. For example, the WestMED initiative builds on the 2015 UfM Ministerial Declaration on the blue economy. However, WestMED priorities were set prior to the more recent second UfM Ministerial Declaration on a sustainable blue economy (2021).

Since the Declaration of Algiers was adopted in 2018, projects and proposals supported by the initiative have focused mainly on the 6 priorities outlined in the roadmap for action, rather than the 10 in the framework for action. The roadmap does not describe a specific way to implement the remaining priorities ¹⁰ . However, some progress has been made through the projects ¹¹ and the latest hackathon held in June 2022. This hackathon showed a renewed interest in maritime spatial planning and coastal tourism. The WestMED Assistance Mechanism has been supporting networking events on Maritime Spatial Planning (including eastern Mediterranean countries) and will continue to do so, notably through a new group of experts on MSP set up through the MSP-Med project.

Solution: Reconfirm and streamline priorities based on regional and international priorities.

Recalibrating and aligning the initiative’s priorities with the new regional and international policy initiatives would be useful. This could be done by building on the second UfM Ministerial Declaration on a sustainable blue economy. This was endorsed by the 42 UfM members and stresses the need to tackle the environmental and climate-related challenges facing the entire region.

These topics can be discussed in the next WestMED Ministerial meeting, due to be held in 2023.

4.Recommendations

As evidenced in this document, the WestMED initiative has so far been successful and has clearly advanced its goals under its three main priorities. Concrete examples of progress include the creation of technical groups, support for project matchmaking and project development, and the creation of various partnerships. More broadly, the WestMED initiative has noticeably led to improved cooperation and dialogue in the region among its member countries, and also beyond, by including other Mediterranean countries – both EU and non-EU members – in a wide range of projects.

Recommendation 1: Overall, the Commission recommends that the WestMED initiative and its accompanying framework for action remain as they are. The benefits described above prove their suitability. There is therefore no need for changes as potential improvements can be made without amending the current agreement.

Recommendation 2: The Commission recommends that the Assistance Mechanism should address issues such as increasing visibility; better use of project branding (e.g. logo); and improved, more appropriate metrics for evaluating the implementation of the initiative. As requested in the terms of reference, the new Assistance Mechanism should present a new communication strategy, working with EU Delegations in Mediterranean countries, and a new set of indicators to measure progress.

Recommendation 3: Priorities in relation to regional and international policies should be reviewed and streamlined, taking account of the second UfM Ministerial Declaration on a sustainable blue economy. The member countries can discuss this in the next Ministerial meeting, planned for 2023.

4.1.Looking forward

Following the presentation to the Council and European Parliament, this report will also be presented at the Ministerial meeting of the WestMED in 2023, in Malta. During this meeting, the countries can choose to reconfirm or update the priorities included in the current 2017 framework for action. They can also update those highlighted in the 2018 Algiers Declaration and roadmap for action.

The Commission proposes that another review study of the initiative be carried out by 2027. The next Commission report to the Council and European Parliament should also take account of reporting from WestMED countries.

The Commission will publicise and share this report among relevant institutions and interested parties.

(1) COM(2017) 183 final.
(2) https://www.westmed-initiative.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/1.Declaration-of-Algiers-04.12.2018-EN.pdf
(3) 1. Maritime cluster development, 2. Biodiversity and marine habitat conservation and restoration, 3. Sustainable consumption and production, 4. The development of coastal communities and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, 5. Skills development and circulation, and 6. Maritime safety and the fight against marine pollution.
(4) https://ufmsecretariat.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Declaration-UfM-Blue-Economy-EN-1.pdf
(5) Previously the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
(6) European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency.
(7) https://ec.europa.eu/research-and-innovation/sites/default/files/bmr-2022/ec_rtd_bmr-2022-blue-economy-fiche.pdf
(8) Reporting from the Assistance Mechanism.
(9) Full list: https://westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu/publications/#Leaflets
(10) I.e., coastguard functions cooperation, strategic research and innovation, spatial planning and coastal management, and marine/maritime knowledge exchange and synergies
(11) E.g., the FIUFFRA project which promotes cooperation in the fight against IUU fishing