16/01/2023 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission adopted, on 5 January a report on the results of the ‘Western Mediterranean’ Initiative (WestMED), which has been in place for five years. Since 2017, five EU Member States (France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Malta) and five southern partner countries (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia) have worked together around three goals: increase maritime safety and security, promote sustainable blue economy, growth and jobs, and preserve ecosystems and biodiversity. The WestMED initiative has proven to be a useful intergovernmental platform for promoting sustainable blue economy sectors throughout the Western Mediterranean. The Covid-19 pandemic challenged the functioning and governance of the initiative, as most meetings had to be virtual. Nevertheless, great progress was made, justifying its continuation. More info at: https://aeur.eu/f/4wa (LC)