AZA4ICE actively contributed to the 24th Meeting of the Contracting Parties (COP24) to the UNEP/MAP–Barcelona Convention, held from 2 to 5 December 2025 in Cairo, Egypt, as part of the Interreg Euro-MED Innovative Sustainable Economy (ISE) Mission.
COP24 marked a milestone year, celebrating 50 years of UNEP/MAP and 30 years of the post-Rio Barcelona Convention, under the theme “Mediterranean Blue Growth: Towards a Resilient and Sustainable Future”. The conference brought together around 600 participants, including representatives from governments, international organisations, research institutions, civil society and youth groups, reaffirming strong regional commitment to climate action, pollution reduction, marine protection and the transition to a sustainable Mediterranean Blue Economy.
AZA4ICE at the ISE Mission Side Event
A key moment for AZA4ICE was its participation in the official side event
“Pathways to a Thriving Mediterranean Blue Economy: Resilience, Innovation, and Sustainability”, held on 4 December 2025. The event gathered approximately 50 policymakers, practitioners and researchers to discuss governance, innovation and nature-based solutions as drivers of a sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean.
The high-level panel, moderated by Jeremie Fosse (eco-union), featured speakers from the World Bank, IDDRI, IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, Plan Bleu and national authorities. Discussions focused on blue governance, sustainable tourism, nature-based solutions, blue jobs and inclusive growth across Mediterranean coastal regions.
Within this session, AZA4ICE was presented by Yorgos Stephanedes (University of Patras) as one of the ISE Mission’s Marine Resources Thematic Projects. The presentation highlighted AZA4ICE’s work on circular and regenerative aquaculture, demonstrating how innovative practices can contribute to sustainable food systems, reduced environmental impacts and more resilient coastal economies. Alongside AZA4ICE, the 2B-BLUE project showcased advances in blue biotechnology, underlining the added value of Interreg Euro-MED cooperation.
Contributing to COP24 Outcomes
AZA4ICE’s presence at COP24 directly aligns with the conference’s key outcomes, including the Cairo Ministerial Declaration, which commits Mediterranean countries to:
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Accelerating climate action
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Expanding marine protected areas towards 30% of the Mediterranean by 2030
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Reducing pollution, including eliminating harmful single-use plastics
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Supporting a sustainable, low-carbon blue economy
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Strengthening inclusive regional cooperation, with an enhanced role for youth and women
By showcasing its results at COP24, AZA4ICE demonstrated how research-driven innovation and territorial cooperation can support Mediterranean policy priorities and the UNEP/MAP framework.
AZA4ICE will continue to engage with regional and international processes, contributing concrete solutions that place sustainability, circularity and socio-economic resilience at the heart of the Mediterranean blue transition.
