On 5 June 2018, more than 130 participants gathered in Paris on the occasion of Plan Bleu’s 40 years anniversary, during the international conference, organized jointly with the Association Serge Antoine. Experts, decision-makers, representatives of national, European and Mediterranean institutions, and members of the civil society discussed the Mediterranean issues and possible futures.
The morning session was dedicated to the creation of Plan Bleu and forty years of reflections and actions in favour of sustainable development in the Mediterranean. Thus, since the end of the 70s’, in the framework of the Barcelona Convention, and despite geopolitical tensions, the Mediterranean countries have worked together to progress on many common environmental challenges. During the afternoon, speakers discussed on such issues as marine ecosystems management, sustainable tourism, rural development, blue economy, biodiversity and talked about possible and desirable futures. The fragility of the Mediterranean region and the multiple pressures that it undergo call for the stakeholders’ mobilization.
On this occasion, Plan Bleu announced the launching of MED 2050, a new foresight study in the horizon 2050, intended to mobilize Southern and Northern decision-makers and stakeholders by overstepping geographic and institutional boundaries. The works that will be carried out for the next four years will be based on dialogue, partnerships and shared visions on transition ways and investments to implement for a Mediterranean Basin
