From 18 to 20 June 2025, the Anna Lindh Foundation Forum will bring together around 1,000 participants from the 43 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership in Tirana, Albania, offering a dynamic platform for dialogue, exchange, and joint action. Organised by the Anna Lindh Foundation, an intergovernmental organization committed to intercultural cooperation across the Mediterranean region, the Forum convenes civil society organisations, youth leaders, media, policymakers, and institutional actors to address shared regional challenges through structured discussions and thematic sessions.

As part of this major regional gathering, the Interreg NEXT MED Programme will contribute to the session “Creative Skills for Euro-Med”, taking place on 19 June. The session will explore how to equip Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers with the tools and approaches needed to meet the evolving demands of the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI), a key driver of innovation, employment, and cultural exchange across the Mediterranean.

The session complements the Union for the Mediterranean’s (UfM) Industrial Cooperation Work Programme and Ministerial Declarations, which emphasize integrating CCSI into broader economic strategies and supporting cross-regional value chain development. Speakers from Italy, Egypt, and Jordan will present diverse perspectives on how targeted education and skills-building efforts can strengthen creative economies, particularly in the face of structural challenges such as informal economies, outdated curricula, gender disparities, weak connections between education and the job market, and the underuse of digital and green technologies.

Register via this link to join the Forum.