The Interreg NEXT MED Programme has concluded its second call for proposals, focused on the green transition, with an unprecedented level of participation: 814 project proposals were submitted, involving 5,294 organisations from the 15 participating Mediterranean countries. Applicants requested a total of €1.9 billion in European Union’s funding, more than 22 times the available budget of €83.7 million, highlighting strong regional momentum for climate action and cooperation. The total value of the submitted proposals amounts to a record €2.2 billion.

This overwhelming response reflects the commitment of Mediterranean stakeholders to tackling climate change not through isolated efforts, but thanks to collaborative, transnational solutions. In a region warming 20% faster than the global average, the proposals put forward a wide range of innovative and transformative approaches to advance low-carbon development and build climate resilience. Project proposals target strategic areas such as energy efficiency, circular economy, water management, climate disaster preparedness, decarbonisation of SMEs, the adaptation of health systems to climate stress, climate innovation and green skills development.

Several proposals also focus on the active involvement of young people, the group most exposed to the long-term consequences of climate change, an issue that is rapidly becoming a major concern for youth and shaping the way they perceive their future. With the support of the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, youth-oriented and ideally youth-led projects should serve as a platform for young people to become protagonists of climate action in the Mediterranean. These projects are designed to equip new generations with the tools and resources needed to deliver sustainable solutions and help shape a greener, low-carbon future for the Mediterranean region. The call has mobilised a wide range of actors – from national and local public authorities, research institutions and universities to private enterprises and civil society – committed to working together for a more sustainable and climate-adaptive Mediterranean.