Cooperation is key for the Mediterranean policy-making in particular since it is bordered by over twenty countries and a large part of the Mediterranean Sea remains outside of national jurisdiction. As a result, consensus needs to be reached on how best to manage maritime activities, protect the marine environment and maritime heritage, prevent and fight pollution in the Mediterranean Sea region, or ensure a safer and more secure maritime space.

The Mediterranean dimension of the Integrated Maritime Policy focuses on improved cooperation and governance in the Mediterranean, to foster sustainable growth in the region. The implementation of the strategy is facilitated by the following actions:

• Working Group for the Integrated Maritime Policy in the Mediterranean, to develop common approaches to the maritime policy in the Mediterranean.
  • Working Group for the Integrated Maritime Policy in the Mediterranean (Maritime Forum)
• Awareness-raising on maritime affairs, EU funding opportunities, and the benefits of integrated policy-making under the European Neighbourhood Policy South programme.
  • Project on Integrated Maritime Policy for the Mediterranean (IMP-MED)
• Tripartite cooperation initiative together with the European Investment Bank and the International Maritime Organisation.
  • Project of the European Commission, European Investment Bank, and International Maritime OrganisationAll available translations.
• Defining a maritime strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region in cooperation with the concerned coastal States.
  • Adriatic-Ionian macro-region workshops

Key documents

• Commission communication "Towards an EU Integrated Maritime Policy and better maritime governance in the Mediterranean" (COM (2009) 466)

Other sources of information

• Mediterranean section on the Maritime Forum   
  • Background information
  • Workshop or working group documents
  • Events 
• Mediterranean on the European Atlas of the Seas

Related content

• Statistics for the Mediterranean Region
• Press releases
• Speeches
• Studies
• Recommended links