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Announcement poster Salo Halieutis 2023 for WestMED presence

Meet the WestMED Assistance Mechanism at the Salon Halieutis 2023 in Agadir

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The salon Halieutis is the international meeting place for the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

The WestMED Assistance Mechanism will be present at the stand of the European Union where you can meet the WestMED Hub representatives from Morocco and Mauritania.

It will offer a unique opportunity to learn about this Initiative that is funded by the European Commission and aims to strengthen a sustainable blue economy in the Western Mediterranean.

Inquire about matchmaking and funding opportunities for sustainable maritime related projects or talk about the latest policy developments that might affect you.

 

Join our Workshop:
“L’initiative WestMED  : Opportunités pour renforcer l’économie bleue durable en Méditerranée occidentale”

On Thursday 2 February, the WestMED Initiative will organize a workshop to give you an overview of the WestMED activities and how this could benefit you.

Agenda

16:00 – 16:20 WestMED Initiative – Sustainable Blue Economy in the western Mediterranean

16:20 – 16:30 Community of Practice for Maritime Spatial Planning for the MED

16:30 – 16:40 EMFAF calls for flagships projects (DG MARE)

16:40 – 17:00 Pitch session Blue Economy projects funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and other EU funding calls

  1. REBOOT MED – Recovering, Experiencing and Boosting eco-tourism in the WestMed
  2. AFRIMED: Algal Forest Restoration In the MEDiterranean Sea
  3. E-FishMed project: virtual academy on fisheries inspection and control

17:00 – 17:30 Networking session and bilateral meetings

 

There is no need to make a reservation, but be early as seats are limited.

Location: Salon Halieutis 2023, Agadir |  Pole International | Union Européenne | Stand B51 B54

For more information contact: Lahbib Latrach (WestMED Hub Morocco) or Mohamed Lemine abdel Hamid

For more information on the salon visit the event website

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MSP community of practic kick-off meeting with participants seated around a rectangular table

The Community of Practice on Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) for the Mediterranean has been launched!

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Brussels, January 26, 2022. During the Hackathon organised by the WestMED Assistance Mechanism in Malta on June 30th 2022 and a couple of meetings under MSPMED project, the relevant stakeholders discussed about the creation of an open Community of Practice for exchange on MSP in the framework of the WestMED Initiative and supported by CINEA and DG MARE.

In the Mediterranean, there are many policy drivers for the implementation of Maritime/Marine Spatial Planning at regional, sub-regional and national levels. These include the MSP Directive implementation for the European Union Member States, the Ministerial declaration on Blue Economy of the Union for the Mediterranean and the Conceptual Framework for MSP developed by UNEP/MAP promoting a common approach to MSP as a key process for planning and managing the marine space in line with the provisions of the ICZM Protocol. Still, the MSPglobal pilot project in the Western Mediterranean Sea promoted by UNESCO-IOC and the European Commission allowed the creation of a network of experts and the publication of specific technical reports and recommendations.

Given the existing policy framework and the broader political will to commonly work on MSP, there is a shared interest to set an MSP Community of Practice in the Mediterranean, in the framework of the WestMED Initiative. The MED-MSP-CoP will be initially focused on the Western Mediterranean, being however open to experts and observers from the whole Mediterranean..

The main objective of the MED-MSP-CoP is to establish a permanent communication and dialogue across borders between experts on MSP (i.e. planners, technical experts, researchers), and to exchange knowledge and relevant experiences in the region, so as to reach a shared perspective on topics of common interest on MSP and enhance the cooperation between the north and the south of the Mediterranean.

On January 26, 2023, CINEA and DG MARE officially launched the Community of Practice during the kick-off meeting in Brussels where the experts discussed the structure and the action plan for the next year.

Thanos Smanis, WestMED expert and member of the MSP Assistance Mechanism, highlights “the instant willingness by MSP experts to mobilise and establish a Community of Practice on MSP for the MED, for joint dialogue and cooperation, demonstrates the shared perception that this will significantly support the creation of a regional framework and vision whereby all stakeholders will be needed.”

Next to the the Community of Practice on MSP, three technical-/ work groups have been formed under the WestMED Initiative;  Sustainable Transport-Green Shipping, the AquaWEST technical group on aquaculture and the Maritime Clusters Alliance.

More information on the Community of Practice on Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) for the Mediterranean : https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/two-days-key-developments-maritime-spatial-planning-2023-01-25_en

diverse people putting their hands together to sympolise teamwork

The EU Sea Basin Strategies for the Western Mediterranean, Atlantic and Black Sea have joined forces

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The European Commission has been supporting the establishment and implementation of three sea basin strategies in the Atlantic, the Black Sea and the Western Mediterranean.

In May 2021, the European Commission adopted a new approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU that sets out a detailed agenda for the blue economy to play a major role in achieving the European Green Deal objectives.

The European Commission recognises the benefit of sea basins and indicates that the EU will continue supporting cooperation, and developing tailored strategies for each European sea basin.

There are specific conditions, opportunities and challenges for each sea basin, which require a targeted approach.

The optimal development of all sea-related activities in a sustainable manner calls for a coherent policy framework based on the involvement of all stakeholders. Seas are shared among different countries.

Therefore, regional cooperation, including with non-EU countries, is important in achieving the objectives of the sustainable blue economy strategy. Sea basin strategies require joint policy agendas among EU and non-EU countries sharing the same sea, while defining joint priorities and concretely involving stakeholders in the process of identification and implementation of blue economy bankable projects.

A unique Assistance Mechanism has been formed to help support the implementation of the three EU Sea Basin Strategies, namely  Atlantic Strategy, the WestMED Initiative and the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea.

It means that the WestMED Assistance Mechanism has now become part of a larger consortium to better identify and build on the synergies between all three sea basins. It will do so by exchanging best practices and organizing national and regional events with themes that have a clear cross sea basin relevance such as blue skills, blue investments, green shipping, and sustainable aquaculture. This new approach will ensure the specific needs of each sea basin while facilitating synergies and increasing outreach and visibility.

As has been done in the previous years, this new joint Assistance Mechanism will continue its networking expertise to initiate project partnerships and help gain access to funding with proposal development support. However, this time drawing from a much larger database of stakeholders and pool of experts.

The EASME/ CINEA Maritime datahub will be further developed to contain even more projects that contribute to the different sea basin strategies, and cooperation will be intensified with projects like BlueInvest and the Maritime Spatial Planning Assistance Mechanism.

The teams that ran the three previous Assistance Mechanisms, will largely remain in place in this new joint Assistance Mechanism to ensure smooth continuation and consistency.

The National Hubs in Spain, Portugal and France will be at the forefront of this new synergies approach as they will now focus simultaneously on both the WestMED and the Atlantic

This joint sea basin programme is funded by the European Commission and will run from 2022-2024.

 

announcement poster westmed commission report

Commission report on the implementation of the Western Mediterranean initiative

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Source: European commission

 

The Commission has adopted a report on the outcomes of the Western Mediterranean (WestMED) initiativeSearch for available translations of the preceding 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 Commission drafted the report after careful analysis of the feedback received from the involved parties and an independent external review study.

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

Three recommendations were made in the report:

  1. The initiative and its accompanying framework for action should remain as they are.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

Background

In April 2017, the Commission adopted the Communication on the Initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy in the Western MediterraneanSearch for available translations of the preceding link (‘WestMED initiative’ or ‘the initiative’) along with its framework for action. The initiative was formally endorsed in November the same year by the ten participating countries: five EU Member States (France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Malta), and five southern partner countries (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia). A number of priorities and targeted actions were set, including  coastguard functions cooperation, maritime safety and response to marine pollution rescue, strategic research and innovation, maritime clusters development, skills development and circulation, maritime spatial planning, biodiversity and marine habitat conservation, sustainable fisheries and coastal community development.

The initiative is a direct outcome of the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Declaration on the Blue EconomySearch for available translations of the preceding link adopted at the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) conference held in November 2015. The initiative also builds on years of ‘5+5 Dialogue’ between the ten participating countries.

The Commission had an obligation to report on the implementation five years after the launch of the WestMED initiative.

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.

More information

Report on the implementation of the Western Mediterranean initiative in all official EU languages

Synergies to address pollution in the Mediterranean: REMPEC hosts the first Coordination Meeting on the Mediterranean Strategy (2022-2031)

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The Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) is hosting the First Coordination Meeting on the Mediterranean Strategy for the Prevention of, Preparedness, and Response to Marine Pollution from Ships (2022-2031), in its premises in Malta between 29 November and 1 December 2022.

Gathering representatives from Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, as well as representatives from relevant regional and international organisations, this Meeting will mark the beginning of a new era of cooperation for the implementation of the Mediterranean Strategy (2022-2031) by defining the priority actions for the 2024-2025 and beyond.

Addressing the current environmental challenges at sea, the Mediterranean Strategy is based on months of collective coordinated work to present an effective joint Action Plan and a vision for the whole Mediterranean “A clean and healthy Mediterranean marine and coastal environment with a sustainable and pollution free maritime sector, supported by a rigorous enforcement system and strengthened multi-sectoral cooperation, for the benefit of present and future generations”.

The Mediterranean Strategy (2022-2031), at the heart of the meeting, aims to provide guidance to the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention at the horizon 2031, to cooperate on the prevention, preparedness and response to marine pollution from ships.

It sets seven Common Strategic Objectives (CSOs) detailed below apply to the Mediterranean region as a whole, and Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, alongside the various organisations and institutions of the Mediterranean, each having a role to play in achieving these objectives. As a a matter of fact, meeting these objectives required a collective and coordinated effort, which is in the centre of the discussions.

  • CSO 1 – Prevent, prepare for, and respond to operational, illegal and accidental oil and HNS pollution from ships
  • CSO 2 – Promote and support the development and implementation of innovative global solutions to mitigate and respond to climate change
  • CSO 3 – Reduce and monitor air emissions from ships to a level that is not harmful to the marine environment, or the health of the coastal population of the Mediterranean
  • CSO 4 – Prevent and reduce litter (in particular plastic) entering the marine environment from ships, in order to limit the environmental, health, and socio-economic impact of marine litter in the Mediterranean
  • CSO 5 – Eliminate the introduction of non-indigenous species by shipping activities
  • CSO 6 – Achieve a well-managed safe and pollution free Mediterranean, with integrated marine spatial planning and designation of special areas, where shipping activity has a limited impact upon the marine environment
  • CSO 7 – Identify and understand collectively emerging issues related to pollution from ships in the Mediterranean, and define required actions to address issues identified


This Meeting also aims to report and assess the progress made in the  implementation of the Mediterranean Strategy (2022-2031), to define priority actions and propose related activities for 2024-2025, to define roles and responsibilities for the implementation of the proposed activities and  establish operational and strategic synergies, through specific partnership agreements.


This Meeting is the first of a series of five (5) meeting to be organised every two years over the next ten years. In 2027, The Mediterranean Strategy (2022-2031) and its Action Plan will be reviewed in 2027, based on an analysis of the progress of its implementation and on the outcome of discussions on emerging issues.

This mid-term review and evaluation will be supported by a Study on trends and outlook of marine pollution from ships in the Mediterranean compiling knowledge about maritime traffic and its impact on the marine environment focusing on the seven CSOs. Such a Study will becompared to the study published in 2020 to support the elaboration of the Mediterranean Strategy (2022-2031).

 

Full press release

More information visit the REMPEC website or contact Marie Helderle (communication and media officer) vis@rempec.org | +356 21 337 296/7/8

séminira cluster CMT-BIG2(sept-22) - with panel behind a table and screen in the back

Explorer la création d’un cluster maghrébin au Conférence MEDBLUE sur l’économie bleue durable

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Les clusters maritimes tunisien (CMT) et italien (BIG) ont organisés une journée de travail et une journée de visite sur le terrain à Tunis le 29 et 30 septembre 2022.

La première journée organisée en présentiel et avec des invités en ligne a été consacrée au renforcement de la coopération entre les deux clusters, à la présentation des gaps technologiques entre la rive nord et la rive sud de la Méditerranée, à la valorisation et digitalisation des ports de Livourne et Rades comme hubs logistiques stratégiques, les blue skills pour développer l’employabilité, la recherche et l’innovation et la gouvernance pour l’économie bleue dans la région.

Plusieurs autres thèmes ont été discutés et concernent la digitalisation des ports de plaisance, le développement de la ligne triangulaire (Tunisie, Malte, Italie) pour les mini-croisières, le développement du pescatourisme dans les ports de plaisance, le partenariat pour la bio-économie Green § blue et un rapport sur le workshop du 26,27 et 28 septembre à Tunis sur  MSPMED.

Plus de 50 personnes ont assisté à cette journée en plus des connections et interventions en ligne. La présence du Hub National Mauritanie, d’un représentant algérien, marocain et libyen a permis d’examiner l’état d’avancement de la création de cluster dans chaque pays et la création du cluster maritime maghrébin.

La journée du 30 septembre est consacrée à la visite de l’Office de la Marine Marchande se des Ports avec l’état des lieux de l’accord de partenariat de l’office et l’autorité portuaire de Livourne, la visite du port de la Goulette et du port de Rades avec des réunions avec les différents intervenants.

 

Pour plus d’infomations: Salem Miladi – Hub National Tunisie

aldo.drago.sharemed.2022

Sharemed presents Framework for Marine Observations in the Mediterranean

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At its flagship internationalisation workshop in Malta on 13/14th September 2022, the MED programme SHAREMED strategic project presented the framework guidelines and proposed actions to organize and synergize the cross-sectoral and cross-border articulation of a marine observation system of systems to assess and address environmental threats in the Mediterranean Sea, connecting marine research to society, and serving the wider interlinked contexts of security and control, monitoring and sustainability, including economic benefits.

Prof. Aldo Drago presented the document and led a dedicated roundtable discussion with expert panelists which included high profile participants from the southern Mediterranean countries.

The discussions dealt with the next steps to engage in collaborative and enduring efforts leading to the co-design and implementation of a regional system for marine observations supported by national endeavours, serving society and seeking a joint and coordinated action plan to address existing challenges and the sustainable use of marine resources in the Mediterranean within the context of the UN Ocean Decade.

SHAREMED is led by Prof. Cosimo Solidoro from the Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS, Trieste).

For more info on the workshop and the Framework Document, you can visit the workshop webpages

 

TICAD8 Conference poster

Le Hub National Tunisie a présenté l’Initiative WestMED à la Conférence Internationale de Tokyo sur le Développement de l’Afrique (TICAD8)

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Le Hub National WestMED Tunisie a été invité le 25 août à présenter le projet Westmed à l’atelier international sur l’économie bleue organisé à l’occasion de la Huitième Conférence Internationale de Tokyo sur le Développement de l’Afrique (TICAD8) qui a été organisée les 27 et 28 août 2022 en Tunisie et qui est dédiée à la coopération entre le Japon et le continent africain.

Initiée par le gouvernement du Japon depuis 1993 cette conférence vise à accélérer les dialogues politiques entre les dirigeants africains et les partenaires de développement sur les défis auxquels le continent est confronté dont notamment le changement climatique, la sécurité alimentaire, le problème de l’eau, l’énergi

Plus de 50 dirigeants et chefs de gouvernement africains et plusieurs institutions financières ont assisté à cette conférence.

L’Ocean Policy Research Institute (Japon), en collaboration avec l’Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer(Tunisie) ont organisé cet atelier dédié exclusivement à l’économie bleue et dont l’objectif est de partager les expériences, d’hiérarchiser les priorités, et aussi inventorier tous les défis afin d’identifier des projets bancables et à forte inclusion sociale dans le domaine maritime.

L’occasion était idéale pour approfondir les échanges entre toutes les parties prenantes et surtout de mieux parvenir à une croissance bleue durable et inclusive. Plusieurs institutions régionales, les partenaires de développement, des universités, la société civile, le secteur privé ont assisté à cet événement pour identifier les défis et hiérarchiser les interventions afin de garantir des solutions efficaces au développement du continent africain.

L’ultime objectif étant de contribuer à une vision de « sociétés en harmonie avec la nature » grâce à des approches intégrées pour la conservation de la biodiversité marine et le développement durable dans les paysages marins de production socio-écologique. Plus de 24 conférences ont été données durant cet événement visant la promotion de l’économie bleue tout en préservant les équilibres écologiques.

conference room filled with people at the WestMED hackathon 22 event in Malta

WestMED Hackathon ’22 – Maritime community gathers in Malta to generate concrete ideas for boosting the blue economy

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On June 30 2022, more than 60 representatives from the WestMED Maritime community gathered in Salina Bay on Malta. It was an occasion to develop and discuss project ideas and learn the outcomes of the ‘WestMED in my country’ events.

Each WestMED National Hub presented the key takeaways from their ‘in-my-country’ event that had been organised in the previous eight weeks. The events covered a wide range of maritime topics; ranging from  diversification for fishers in Spain, cluster formation in Mauritania and Blue Economy opportunities for accelerators in Italy to bridging the Blue Skills gap in Malta.

The hackathons themselves consisted of targeted theme-based discussions focused on some of the  main issues that are currently at the top of the WestMED Initiative agenda: aquaculture, tourism, transport and ports, maritime clusters, blue skills and Maritime Spatial planning.

Each hackathon resulted in a number of concrete ideas with suggestions on how to take these ideas forward – also in light of current and upcoming funding opportunities

These ideas will be carefully studied for feasibility and followed-up by the respective National Hubs

You can already download the slides (pdf) used, containing both the main takeaways from the in-my-country events  as well as the main hackathon ideas.

You can also watch the recordings on the hackathon 22 page

For further information, please contact communications@westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu, or your nearest National Hub

panel of speakers sitting at a table during the westmed in my country 22 event in Mauritania

WestMED Evènement de la Mauritanie : Vers la création d’un cluster maritime Mauritanien

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Dans le cadre de l’initiative WestMED, le hub National de la Mauritanie, en étroite coordination avec le Ministère des Pêches et de l’Economie Maritime a organisé le lundi 27 juin 2022, à l’hôtel de Nouakchott, un atelier national dédiée à la discussion de l’opportunité de créer un cluster maritime mauritanien. Cette importante rencontre, présidée par le Secrétaire Général du Ministère des Pêches et de l’Economie Maritime et en présence des secrétaires Généraux du Ministère de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable et du Ministère du Pétrole, des Mines et de l’Energie, fait suite au webinaire organisé le mardi 27 juillet 2021 et s’inscrit dans le cadre de « WestMED in my country ».

Ont pris part à cette conférence, en plus du hub national de la Mauritanie et du coordinateur national de l’initiative WestMed en Mauritanie, des représentants des principales institutions nationales concernées, des représentants du secteur privé, des organisations socio-professionnelles et de la société civile, des représentants des principales institutions de la recherche scientifique au niveau national, Monsieur Matteo Bocci de l’équipe technique de l’initiative WestMED et Mme Amna Soholji, Secrétaire Générale du Cluster Maritime Tunisien.

Lors de cet atelier, les participants ont suivi trois exposés : le premier a été fait par M. Matteo Bocci (expert Ecorys) et a concerné la présentation des types et pratiques existants des clusters maritimes et une analyse de leur potentiel pour stimuler une croissance durable et des emplois dans le bassin méditerranéen. Le deuxième, fait par Mme Amna Sohlobji, Secrétaire Générale du Cluster Maritime Tunisien est relatif à l’expérience du cluster tunisien. En fin, le troisième exposé, fait par Dr. Mohamed Lemine Abdel Hamid du Hub National de la Mauritanie, a été focalisé sur la présentation des principaux éléments de réflexion, issus d’un benchmarking, relatifs à la création du cluster maritime mauritanien.

A l’issue de ces exposés, un débat riche a été ouvert entre les participants. Au cours de ce débat, les participants ont jugé nécessaire le démarrage immédiat du processus de création du cluster maritime mauritanien. Ainsi, un comité technique ad hoc (de 10 personnes), composé des représentants des principales institutions publiques, de la recherche scientifique, des organisations socioprofessionnelles et de la société civile, et des opérateurs économiques a été désigné par les participants et dont la mission est de proposer les modalités pratiques pour la création du cluster (format, composition, aspects juridiques, etc.). Ce comité devra achever son travail d’ici fin octobre 2022. Le deadline pour la création du cluster maritime mauritanien est fixé pour fin 2022. Dans ce cadre, les participants ont souligné la nécessité de l’assistance technique et financière de l’initiative WestMED et des partenaires techniques et financiers de la Mauritanie pour accompagner le processus du cluster maritime.

Notons que la réunion a été marquée par une couverture médiatique très importante, avec la présence de tous les organes de la presse officielle nationale (Agence Mauritanienne d’Information, Télévision Nationale Al Mauritaniya, radio de Mauritanie), des télévisions privées et des plateformes de la presse Internet (Al Minasa, El Moubasher Bi El Hassaniya, Agence Nabaa, Agence Azougui). L’évènement a été présenté parmi les éléments principaux dans le journal d’information des chaines officielles et privées en français, en arabe et en langues nationales, diffusés dans la soirée du 27/06/2022. De même, des extraits des discussions ont été diffusés en direct sur Facebook. Les agences d’information publiques et privées ont également diffusé des interviews en français et en arabe avec le responsable du Hub National (Dr. Mohamed Lemine Abdel Hamid). Lors de ces interviews le responsable du HN a présenté l’initiative WestMED, et les objectifs et les résultats attendus de l’organisation de l’atelier, et a souligné que l’atelier d’aujourd’hui constitue un pas important vers la concrétisation de la création d’un cluster maritime mauritanien.

 

Téléchargez la présentation par Dr. Mohamed Lemine Abdel Hamid : Eléments de réflexion relatifs à la création d’un Cluster maritime mauritanien

Pour plus d’informations contactez: mauritania@westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu