What Blue Economy do we want for the Mediterranean?

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UID

What Blue Economy do we want for the Mediterranean?

A Policy Clarification Exercise

28 September 2021, online

The notion of the blue economy refers to the marine and maritime resources that hold a potential both for the development of economies and for the sustainable use of the ocean, in line with the principles of sustainable development and the constraints of the impending climate emergency.  Sustainable use of the Mediterranean Sea is a priority for coastal countries. However, although the concept is well understood at the international level, its operationalization at the country and regional levels remain beyond reach for many stakeholders.  This event will encourage students to engage with the challenge of designing a sustainable Mediterranean blue economy, through reflection on real-world scenarios.  

The goal of the event is to develop a hierarchy of values and policies for a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Mediterranean. 

Format: The event will take place on 28 September between 10.00 and 15.00 CET.

The event is highly participatory and divided into 2 parts. The plenary sessions are open to an unlimited number of people. The core part of the event will involve 20 selected participants, who will interact with each other and be actively engaged.  These individuals are considered as agents of change and will take forward their insights to a broader community. 

The event will involve a keynote presentation, group work and participants presentations.  The participants will discuss real-world values and policy measures in different parts of the Mediterranean:  West European, North African, Eastern Mediterranean, and Mediterranean Islands (eg., Malta, Sicily, Greek islands, Corsica).  Each part faces a variety of challenges, including economic development, resource management, climate change, cultural identity and geopolitics.  Participants will examine and prioritize these challenges, drawing on and sharing their knowledge of these pressing issues. The event’s platform allows for Group work in parallel rooms, and for observers to join in plenary sessions.

The Application was open until 16 September 2021.  We have selected 20 participants, paying attention to motivation, gender and geographical balance across the region. All active participants will receive a certificate of their attendance.

Agenda

10.00
Welcome and opening remarks (short remarks by each part on the significance of the events for their institution)

Ms Jerneja Penca, Head of affairs, Euro-Mediterranean University

Ms Isabelle Desvignes, director, French Institute of Ljubljana

Mr Jean-Eric Aubert, President, International Ocean University

10.10
Keynote speech

Ms Laura Khatib

10.30
Start of the policy game

Mr David Crookall, Universite Internationale de la Mer

15.00
End of the policy game

Keynote Speaker

Laura Khatib is a soon-to-be graduate of a Masters in Development Economics at the University of Bordeaux. She is a French-Lebanese who has always been passionate about the sea. In 2020, she co-founded the NGO Guardians of the Blue to take action for the preservation of the Mediterranean. Her goals are to spread ocean literacy in Lebanon and to protect the country's marine heritage.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laura-khatib/
Instagram: @guardiansoftheblue