BlueMissionMed Project takes the stage at POWER4MED Final International Conference – Algeria-Italy Forum

by Selenia Marinelliin Newson Posted on

BlueMissionMed Project takes the stage at POWER4MED Final International Conference – Algeria-Italy Forum

The POWER4MED – Algeria-Italy Forum took place in Oran, a northern Algerian port city, from July 1–3, 2025. The detailed agenda and project information details are available at this link. The event saw participation from representatives of the fishing and industrial sectors, as well as authorities from Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt. The main goal of the Forum was to foster dialogue on the decarbonization of the maritime sector, including fisheries, alternative fuels, and training.

July 1 – Operational Meeting
The operational meeting was held at the local fishermen’s training centre, with over 20 fishermen in attendance, along with the Director of Fisheries for the Oran Governorate, the President of the Algerian National Fishermen’s Association, and other local authorities. The session served as an opportunity to delve deeper into crew training on maritime safety and environmental issues, addressing both SOLAS-compliant fishing vessels and coastal/artisanal fishing boats.

July 2 – Final Conference of the POWER4MED Project
The final conference focused on operators of “small” maritime vessels such as fishing boats, local ferries, and ships used in short-sea Mediterranean shipping. The event attracted over 150 registered participants, including stakeholders from both Mediterranean shores—regulatory authorities, operators, designers, shipyards, maritime equipment suppliers, port representatives, as well as academia and research institutions.

The conference facilitated a productive exchange on challenges related to the implementation of recent IMO regulations on gradual decarbonization, and on potential best practices and suitable solutions for the sector. Outcomes included:

  • Ideas for collaborations between institutions (e.g., CNR and the University of Oran) and between operators (e.g., local shipyards and ports with Italian companies AS LABRUNA, NAVALEGT, and SDG4MED).
  • Identification of topics for possible transnational collaborative projects, for example through the EU NEXT MED program, such as the development of “small” green corridors using LNG and/or bio-LNG. In these areas, Italy’s experience—thanks to its network of refuelling infrastructure and recent guidelines on bunkering larger vessels—could offer added value to southern Mediterranean countries, especially Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt, all of which were well represented at the event.

In this context, the intervention of the Italian Ministry of Transport (MIT) during the institutional opening session (highlighted by the European Commission/WESTMED,) was especially relevant.

July 3 – Forum at the University of Oran
The Forum was hosted by the University of Oran and included in the graduation ceremony for students of the first joint degree program organized by Stellantis and the university, aimed at preparing future managers for the Stellantis manufacturing plant in Oran. After the ceremony, video messages from Deputy Minister Rixi and Councillor Piana (Economic Development – Liguria Region) officially and successfully launched the Forum sessions.

The presentation on port digitalization and the Maritime Single Window, delivered by Commander M.Prantner on behalf of the 7th Division of the Italian Coast Guard Headquarters, was also received with great interest. The event provided opportunities for several private B2B meetings between Italian operators and potential Algerian counterparts, as well as valuable exchanges between Algerian ports and the Italian Coast Guard.

Presentation of the BlueMissionMed Project
The Forum was also a first opportunity to present the BlueMissionMed (BMM) project in Algeria. BMM is a strategic initiative aligned with the EU Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030.” The presentation was a key moment to share the goals and operational strategies of the Mission, helping initiate a structured, multilevel dialogue on maritime sustainability, ecosystem protection, and scientific and technical cooperation between the northern and southern Mediterranean shores

Side Events:

BARBAROUS–SDG4MED Cooperation Agreement
 In line with the Mission’s objectives, the Forum also provided the setting for the signing of a cooperation agreement between the environmental association BARBAROUS and SDG4MED the Secretariat of the Coalition of Mayors for the Mission. The agreement aims to expand the Coalition of Mayors for the Ocean Mission. It tasks BARBAROUS with promoting the Shared Transition Agenda of Mayors for Mission Ocean at the local level as a tool for implementing the Mission’s three main pillars: climate neutrality, marine biodiversity protection, and sustainable economic prosperity. The agreement is intended to strengthen the territorial impact and effectiveness of the Mission by involving municipal authorities and local communities in a shared responsibility approach and a bottom-up implementation of EU environmental policies. The initiative is part of the broader framework outlined by the European Commission’s Communication COM (2021) 609, which set the foundation for the five European Missions. These Missions represent a new intervention model based on collaborative governance, active citizen participation, and the integration of resources and expertise to address global challenges systemically.

The Algerian experience thus stands as a pilot case for extending blue transition dynamics beyond the EU’s borders, promoting an integrated Euro-Mediterranean cooperation vision for safeguarding aquatic ecosystems and enabling truly sustainable development of the region.

This initiative marks a significant step toward building a Mediterranean network for the blue transition, leveraging Euro-Mediterranean cooperation as a key tool for the success of the “Restore Our Ocean and Waters 2030” Mission.

BMM #1 Peer Café
A BMM Peer Café brought together WestMED representatives from Algeria, Egypt, and Italy, alongside Algerian fishermen.
The session presented the BMM Catalogue of Services and underlined new synergies between Southern Mediterranean coastal initiatives and actions to improve energy efficiency.