Building on the Foundations of 2023
The first MED Talk, held in December 2023, initiated a much-needed dialogue on sustainable practices between the northern and southern Mediterranean. Building on that success, the 2024 edition expanded the conversation by showcasing tangible progress and emphasising the increasing involvement of non-EU partners, highlighting the region’s commitment to inclusive collaboration.
Key Themes of MED Talks 2024
The 2024 edition explored several critical themes, including:
- Coordination among projects: Enhancing complementarity and cross-fertilisation across the selected Interreg Euro-MED projects.
- Engagement of non-EU partners: Strengthening ties with organisations from the southern Mediterranean to foster mutual learning and innovation.
- Mission-specific achievements: Presenting the progress of the Natural Heritage, Sustainable Tourism, Innovative Sustainable Economy, and Green Living Areas Missions.
Natural Heritage Mission at MED Talks 2024
The Natural Heritage Mission contributed to a focused session on ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean. This session underscored the mission’s alignment with the EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL) and the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), with particular attention to the implementation of Target 2. The mission showcased its ongoing work to bridge policy objectives with practical solutions, reinforcing the value of collaboration across the Mediterranean. Key discussions revolved around:
- Policy Recommendations: Presented by MedCities and with inputs from the Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC) on their transferability and uptake, these recommendations highlighted actionable pathways for achieving restoration goals at different governance levels, focusing on coastal and marine ecosystems.
- Innovative Practices: Two Thematic Projects from the Mission, WE GO COOP and MPA4Change, illustrated how innovative approaches in wetland management and marine protected areas can drive restoration success.
- WE GO COOP presented its virtual collaborative platform, which allows to define a strategy to activate a collaborative governance process around wetland contracts.
- MPA4Change highlighted its toolkits for MPA adaptation action plans, and their #MedAlliance campaign.
A Platform for Regional Cooperation
The MED Talks continue to serve as a cornerstone for fostering dialogue and sharing best practices in the Mediterranean. This year’s discussions underscored the importance of aligning project activities with policy frameworks, bridging the gap between ambition and action. By involving actors at all levels—local, national, and regional—the event highlighted how cross-border cooperation can drive meaningful change.
