Brussels, 2 February 2021 – Ministers from the 42 Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) countries have agreed to intensify their efforts towards a sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean. Doing so, they want to promote the recovery of the region’s economies from the COVID-19 crisis, and address the environmental and climate challenges.
Six years after the first Union for Mediterranean Ministerial Declaration on Blue Economy, Ministers adopted today a new declaration, firmly committing to cooperate closely and address joint challenges in key blue economy sectors. They agree to promote transformative policies and tools such as maritime clusters or maritime spatial planning, and support the overall shift towards low-emission technologies and circular blue economy. New joint activities and projects will be set up on a wide range of issues, including “blue skills”, marine litter, marine renewable energies and nature-based tourism.
The Ministerial Conference tool place virtually, under the co-presidency of the European Union and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in the presence of Nasser Kamel, UfM Secretary General.
The Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, stated: Today, countries of the Union for the Mediterranean agreed to the transition to a truly sustainable blue economy, as part of our strategy to recover from the Covid-19 crisis and to tackle the serious impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. This is a key step towards sustainable management of the Mediterranean – our common sea – and a contribution to the ambitions of the European Green Deal”…
