Union for the Mediterranean and the Blue Economy - Karmenu Vella and Ayman Hatahet - Main contents

We have become used to regular news on the Mediterranean for the worst of reasons, driven by the tragic stories of conflict, crisis, terrorism and the mass movements of people. But behind the front page stories lies a more hopeful tale, of the efforts of the European Union and its Mediterranean partners to build a better common future together.

On Tuesday, 17 November, Ministers from both regions meet under the umbrella of the Union for the Mediterranean to sign a joint declaration on the blue economy. Why does this matter? Because behind these dry words lies a big promise of thriving coastal communities, of bustling harbours and ports, of clean seas and beaches, and of new jobs for young people desperately seeking work.

The Mediterranean Sea has been called a superhighway of transport, trade and cultural exchange. All in all, the region boasts 450 ports and terminals. 30 per cent of the global sea-borne trade by volume goes through these terminals, as does a quarter of worldwide sea-borne oil traffic. Tourism is big business here: the Mediterranean region is the world's second-largest destination for cruise tourism, and the coastal population of 150 million people more than doubles during the tourist season. And, beyond economics, Mediterranean people can also take pride in their environmental and cultural heritage, safeguarded in 236 marine protected areas and 400 UNESCO world heritage sites.

These assets are impressive, and so are the contributions of maritime sectors to the economy, but there is potential for more. In the EU alone, the blue economy could unlock an additional two million jobs by 2020. So, how many more jobs would we create together in the whole region, thus giving a real perspective to our young people?

Unfortunately, much of this potential remains difficult to access. Economic growth has too often had structural weaknesses, on both shores of the Mediterranean. All too often, we see people eager to work, but with little prospect of a job. We see small companies struggle to find financing for their bright ideas.

It does not have to be like this. We believe that the maritime economy can give job-seekers and businesses a chance: in aquaculture and fisheries, tourism and shipping, blue biotechnologies and marine renewable energy - to name just a few of the “blue” sectors, prone to growth and sustainable development. This week’s declaration reaffirms our willingness to provide a helping hand and encourage sustainable blue growth as best we can.

Actions speak louder than words. That is why our declaration is not just a declaration of intent, but contains concrete actions. For instance, we will open the EU's BLUEMED initiative on research and development to all partner countries, allowing us to build together new industrial and research partnerships. And we are launching a Forum on Blue Economy for the whole region. It will bring together all countries of this region once a year to follow up on this week's declaration and assess the progress made.

Crucially, we are also putting money where it is needed. The European Union will make over €40 million available to this cause, for example to help set up a regional network of maritime clusters. It will help create a more business-friendly environment by promoting entrepreneurship and supporting small and medium-sized businesses that form the backbone of our economies.

We invite international donors and private investors to join us in this endeavour, and, by focusing investments and projects on the blue economy and cross-sectoral initiatives, we can jointly tap into the huge maritime possibilities and harvest the benefits for our populations.

Healthy, clean and productive seas are drivers for healthy national and regional economies. At the same time, investing in blue growth is not just about investing in our economies. It’s also about investing in sustainability and, most importantly, in people.

All our 43 countries forming the Union for the Mediterranean are united by the sea. Through our strategic cooperation and development let’s try to put in place the building blocks for a more stable and economically successful future. Let’s aim that in 2018, when Ministers will meet again, a foundation for strong blue growth will have been built for and by the people of the region.

by Karmenu Vella - Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and Ayman Hatahet - Jordanian Minister for Transport