Western Mediterranean Sustainable Blue Economy Initiative Overview

This document is a report on the Western Mediterranean Sustainable Blue Economy Initiative (WestMED), which has been operational for eight years. It aims to enhance regional cooperation between Southern Europe and Northern Africa by fostering connections among ten participating countries. The initiative provides technical guidance on funding opportunities and facilitates partnerships to support blue project development. The report outlines the structure of the initiative, including its steering committee and the Assistance Mechanism funded by the European Commission. Over the years, WestMED has supported numerous innovative project ideas, with a significant portion receiving funding, leading to substantial investments in the sustainable blue economy. The initiative also promotes stakeholder dialogue through various technical groups focused on topics such as green shipping and sustainable aquaculture. Additionally, it collaborates with other regional initiatives to improve synergies and enhance the effectiveness of blue economy projects across the Mediterranean region.