Boosting private sector engagement and stewardship in the Mediterranean blue economy

April 4, 2023
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In close coordination with the UfM EU (DG MARE) and Jordan Co-Presidency, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the World Ocean Council (WOC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the framework of the 2021 UfM Ministerial Declaration on Sustainable Blue Economy and Roadmap for its implementation, and of the WestMED Initiative, supported by the UfM and by the European Commission. Based on the experience with sea basin and macro-regional strategies, WestMED was further adopted by the European Commission and endorsed by the EU Council in 2017.

 

The MoU details key avenues of collaboration to promote cooperation, strong engagement, stewardship, and corporate responsibility from the business and investment communities in maritime and marine sectors and activities at Mediterranean level. Strategic cooperation will focus on – among other key areas – blue business development and entrepreneurship; blue skills, careers, jobs and employability in the sectors activities of the Mediterranean Blue Economy; sustainable investments in the blue economy; and the blue finance process in the Mediterranean.

 

A driving force in the Mediterranean, the sustainable blue economy holds great potential to boost the sustainable development of traditional and emerging economic maritime sectors; support livelihoods by creating new and quality ‘blue’ jobs across the region; tackle climate change; and ensure the health of marine and coastal ecosystems while protecting the crucial environmental services they provide.

For more information

Countries covered:

  • Algeria
  • Egypt
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Libya
  • Morocco
  • Palestine *
  • Syria *
  • Tunisia