The Commission has adopted a report on the outcomes of the Western Mediterranean (WestMED) initiative which has been in place for 5 years. Since 2017, five EU Member States: France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Malta, and five southern partner countries: Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, have worked together on their shared interest for the Mediterranean around three goals: increase maritime safety and security, promote sustainable blue economy, growth and jobs, and preserve ecosystems and biodiversity. The WestMED initiative has proved to be a useful intergovernmental platform for promoting sustainable blue economy sectors across the Western Mediterranean. The COVID-19 pandemic challenged the functioning and governance of the initiative, as most meetings had to be virtual. Nevertheless, great progress was made, justifying its continuation.
Key outcomes of the WestMED initiative
The WestMED initiative has demonstrated progress and success since its creation. Although certain aspects of the initiative can be improved under its current governance, no major changes will be required, as it has been deemed a successful initiative that has:
- Served as a forum for dialogue and soft diplomacy
- Led to an increase in cooperation and partnerships
- Provided its members with project support (especially when applying for funding)
- Enabled knowledge sharing and exchanges
- Set-up technical working groups and alliances (on green shipping, sustainable aquaculture and clusters) and
- Broadened its cooperation with other Mediterranean countries.
Three recommendations for the future
- The initiative and its accompanying framework for action should remain as they are.
- The WestMED Assistance Mechanism (operational, logistical and administrative support financed through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund) should address issues such as increasing visibility; better use of project branding and improved metrics for evaluating the implementation of the initiative.
- The priorities in relation to
regional/international policies should be reviewed, taking account of the
second
Union for Mediterranean Ministerial Declaration on a sustainable blue economy.
Next steps
Following the presentation to the Council and European Parliament, this report will 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.