Promoting cooperation in research and innovation between all Mediterranean countries by engaging with both public and private stakeholders; prioritising actions with high societal impact; ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources and infrastructures by Member States; developing innovative maritime and marine-related competences. These are some of the key items of the Declaration of Venice on Mediterranean Sea Cooperation, presented last Friday during the event  “The BLUEMED initiative for blue growth and jobs in the Mediterranean” that was held at Aquae Venice 2015, the universal exhibition focused on water.
“We have gathered here to discuss a strategic agenda for the Mediterranean Sea system intended as joint research and planning on the sea. This is the first time that nine European countries, although there are 15 here in Venice, have shared this agenda in an attempt, which has been so far successful, to reduce the fragmentation of initiatives that, if parcelled out, could result in a slowdown as well as a waste of energy and resources” said Stefania Giannini, Minister of Education, University and Research who attended the event and participated in the informal meeting of Ministers from Member States of the BLUEMED initiative.
The strategic agenda was shared by the Ministers from Cyprus, Croatia, France, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain, with Italy at the forefront, and with the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas. “The European commissioner – said Stefania Giannini – plays an active role in this process. BLUEMED – she added – being a pillar of scientific research, is part of the national programming and was included in the National Research Programme , being the sea theme crucial for the sea-related economy in a country with eight thousand kilometres of coasts”.

Click here to download the Venice Declaration document

Publication date 10/19/2015
Source: MIUR