The Joint MED Position Paper

The Mediterranean is a crossroads. It is the landing place of European strategic energy infrastructures, global east-west maritime routes and migratory flows from the African continent and from Asia. Like other crossroads, the Mediterranean holds together many contradictions: a wealthy region but with high territorial inequalities; an area particularly vulnerable to climate change but with relatively low greenhouse gases emissions.

Now the Mediterranean is at a crossroads. The communities and the institutions of the Mediterranean Member States are called to action in the challenge for a sustainable transition. It is not a simple environmental problem, but it is rather an opportunity to solve the contradictions that characterize this region: economic growth without environmental degradation, new industrial opportunities without overconsumption of natural capital, social wealth without territorial polarization.

To point the right direction in this crossroad, the communities of the Interreg Mediterranean Programme built a compass. The Efficient Buildings Community, the Green Growth Community and the Renewable Energy Community jointly defined a common position for a sustainable development of the Mediterranean region in a cross-thematic way and regardless of country borders. This position is presented in the document "Strategic recommendations for sustainable use of resources in Mediterranean built environment".

The three Interreg MED Communities experienced the challenge of sustainable transition in the territories and the lessons learned on the ground informed seven sectoral recommendations. They jointly provide a common Mediterranean perspective on the current EU sustainable development policy, with a particular focus on Next Generation EU recovery plan and the European Green Deal.

Each recommendation will bring examples from the Mediterranean context and from the projects co-funded by the Interreg Mediterranean Programme.