UfM ministers commit to strengthen blue economy sector

UfM ministers commit to strengthen blue economy sector

AMMAN “” Six years after the first Union for Mediterranean (UfM) Ministerial Declaration on Blue Economy, ministers from the 42 UfM countries on Tuesday adopted a new declaration, committing to cooperate closely and address joint challenges in key blue economy sectors. 

The ministers agreed 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, according to a UfM statement.

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 took place virtually, under the co-presidency of the European Union and Jordan, in the presence of Nasser Kamel, UfM secretary general.

The Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, said: "Today, countries of the Union for the Mediterranean have recognised the importance of transitioning 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. The declaration adopted today will pave the road towards sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean, our common sea, and contribute to the ambitions of the EU