Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR)

The Mediterranean Cooperation Alliance aims to ensure that Mediterranean priorities are reflected in European policies. To this end, we fully welcome the appointment of #Commissioner for the #Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica, reflecting the importance of this region strategically, economically and socially, as a bridge to many of the #EuropeanUnion's closest neighbours.   In our new Mediterranean Cooperation Alliance Statement, we call for the following to be a focus of this Commission’s work and the New Pact for the Mediterranean: ➡️ integrated territorial development, a cross-sectorial approach, and the subsidiarity principle to ensure that decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen; ➡️ robust multi-level governance that ensures place-based policies and empowers local and regional authorities to translate Euro-Mediterranean priorities into tangible results; ➡️ coordination between funding mechanisms and policy instruments to ensure more efficiency; ➡️ a specific focus on climate change and environmental issues, the Mediterranean being a hotspot for both and territories being the first impacted when such events occur. In addition, the Alliance advocates strongly for the creation of a Mediterranean Macro Regional Strategy which could strengthen cooperation and integration in the basin, while enhancing regional and local diplomacy.   Read our full statement here: https://lnkd.in/eBvyWris For the attention of, and thanks to: Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) Roberto Occhiuto Davide Strangis Élodie Nunes MedCities / MedCités Josep Canals-Molina Eurorégion Pyrénées Méditerranée - Euroregió Pirineus Mediterrània Xavier Bernard Sans Adriatic Ionian Euroregion Andrea Di Girolamo Generalitat de Catalunya Gerard Vives Núria Bedós European Commission Ana Pires Fulvio Capurso Tena Misetic

Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) warmly welcomes the new #President of the European Committee of the Regions & Juanma Moreno, newly elected 1st Vice-President. Wishing them success in their mandate as they represent Europe’s #regions & #cities. Also taking this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank Vasco Alves Cordeiro & Apostolos Tzitzikostas for the dedication & leadership shown throughout this last mandate. #regions #TerritoriesMatter #EUcohesion #competitiveness

🆕 Another dynamic week for Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) as we move forwards with positive policy discussions 🇪🇺 Last week we joined a number of meetings in Brussels to advance #regionalinterests #multilevelgovernance & #Europeancohesion ♾️   📌 High-Level Roundtable on the European Ocean Pact 🌊 Our President joined @Commissioner Costas Kadis & other high-level representatives to discuss the future of #EUmaritime policies. The #EuropeanOceanPact must become a permanent framework beyond 2025 to ensure coherence across EU policies ➕ reinforce the role of regions in ocean governance. 📌 Strengthening Democracy & Multilevel Governance 🏛️ Our Acting Secretary General Davide Strangis met with Mathieu Mori, Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe to enhance synergies on #localdemocracy #multilevelgovernance #territorialcohesion #supportUkraine & #youth involvement. We are grateful for this collaboration & look forward to a deepening cooperation! 📌 164th Plenary Session of the European Committee of the Regions 🎉 The CPMR joined the 164th Plenary that focused on key topics of common interest for its members. We warmly congratulate Kata Tüttő newly elected #President of the European Committee of the Regions & Juanma Moreno newly elected 1st Vice-President. We wish them success in their mandate, representing Europe’s #regions & #cities. At the same time, we warmly thank Vasco Alves Cordeiro & Apostolos Tzitzikostas for their dedication & leadership through this last mandate.   🙏 A big thank you to all our #regions and partners for their commitment. The CPMR remains fully engaged in fostering #strongerterritories for a more #cohesive, more #competitive & more #sustainable Europe!   #TerritoriesMatter #MultilevelGovernance #EuropeanOceanPact #CoRplenary #LocalDemocracy Filip Reinhag Davide Strangis Mathieu Mori Juanma Moreno

Achieving prosperity, security and sustainability across all territories of the Union requires coherent policies at all levels - and an EU budget that takes both territorial competitiveness and cohesion seriously, says CPMR Presiden Filip Reinhag, Regional Councilor Gotland Read CPMR's assessment of the European Commission's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) here: https://lnkd.in/ePJ7vYdj ⚡ Spoiler alert: ➕ It outlines challenges faced and the increased demands on the budget ➖ But lacks clarity or the assurances needed on critical issues #MFF #EUbudget #cohesion #competitiveness #CohesionPolicy #CompetitivenessFund #eupolicy

On Monday 17 February, CPMR joined the Global Roundtable on Climate Action in Tourism: Supporting Climate-Resilient Tourism Development 🌍💪 With Flora Leroy Djouadi presenting Tourism as an Integrated Ecosystem ♻️ highlighting the need for: 1️⃣ An ecosystem-based approached to ensure: ✅ Tourism, biodiversity & regional development are interconnected ✅ Blue and green carbon sinks (wetlands, seagrass meadows) contribute to both CO₂ absorption & coastal resilience ✅ Green transport solutions (e.g., hydrogen-powered tourism mobility in Crete and the Balearic Islands) are prioritized 2️⃣ CPMR's integrated approach > i.e. ensuring climate action in tourism aligns with broader policies like #GreenDeal #FF55 #EUClimateLaw Huge thanks to all other speakers!!🎉 Particularly interesting takeaways included: ✴️ Tourism can be a force for climate action: Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director UN Tourism called for resilience at the core of the sector's transformation that supports both tourism SMEs & local communities; *️⃣ Jorge Laguna-Celis (UNEP) & Kanan Gasimov (State Tourism Agency, Azerbaijan): stronger cooperation & harmonized development in the sector can come through frameworks like #COP29 Baku Declaration & Glasgow Declaration but momentum must accelerate; and ✴️ Dirk Glaesser (UN Tourism) outlined how 'Supporting Climate Action Planning in Tourism Destinations' can assist local authorities in the practical implementation of climate action strategies. In summary: 1️⃣ Climate action must integrate SMEs, regional policies & coastal adaptation strategies; 2️⃣ Action is well underway with regions from Scotland to the Mediterranean embedding climate adaptation & decarbonization into regional tourism strategies, but scaling up requires stronger cooperation. 📝 Practical Guidance: To help regional authorities & Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) navigate #climateaction CPMR co-developed the Blueprint for Tourism Climate Action Plans within the Interreg Europe #Community4Tourism project. ➕ CPMR along with Interreg Europe #NaTour4CChange project also developed: 🔄 A step-by-step methodology for climate action planning 📆 A scheduler outlining four key stages (risk assessment, setting objectives, selecting actions, finalizing a plan) 📊 An action planner with scoring criteria & best-practice examples. This toolkit is currently piloted in five Mediterranean regions: #Crete #Andalusia #Sardinia #Herzegovina-NeretvaCanton #JadranskaHrvatska #sustainabletourism #climateresilience #naturebasedsolutions #ecosystems #tourismresilience #GlasgowDeclaration #COP30

Throwback to last week when we had the pleasure of meeting Nicola Zingaretti, a strong advocate for the regions. We discussed the future of the Cohesion Policy, the emerging Mediterranean macro-region and key upcoming initiatives associated with this, including the new EU Ocean Pact, the Clean Industry Deal, and the Maritime Industrial Strategy 🌊♻️🤝 Sincere thanks to Mr Zingaretti for his openness in addressing the priorities of territories. We very much look forward to welcoming him and his team at our next Political Bureau meeting in 📍Bari on 27-28 March. #cohesion #CleanIndustrialDeal #eupolicy #EUOceanPact #maritime #Mediterranean #regions #industry #competitiveness European Parliament 📷 Davide Strangis, Filip Reinhag

The CPMR had the pleasure yesterday of meeting with Commissioner Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice President for Cohesion and Reforms at the European Commission.   Discussion focused on how Cohesion Policy can be modernized and is most effective when developed in close collaboration with regions, with a #multilevelgovernance approach. This combines territorial #cohesion with #competitiveness, thereby generating greater impact on the ground in addition to added value for the EU.   Throughout this #legislativecycle and in view of the post-2027 programming period, the CPMR remains fully committed to partnering with Executive Vice President Fitto and all the European Institutions to represent maritime, peripheral regions, including all territories concerned by art. 174 and 349 TFUE. This is particularly the case on the crucial debate on the Future of Cohesion Policy and EU Budget. #territoriesmatter #cohesion #competitiveness #interreg #macroregions #regions #eubudget   For more information see the most recent CPMR Final Declaration here: https://lnkd.in/ekTuUkDd and the CPRM policy priority paper 'Territories Matter: Investing in Territorial Cohesion for a Brighter Future' here: https://lnkd.in/eQP-72BK Thanks to Filip Reinhag, Davide Strangis, Jorge Nunez Ferrer and Silvia Burzagli  

On Wednesday 4 February we warmly welcomed Christos Stylianides, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Islands Policy for Greece as well as a multi-stakeholder delegation at the CPMR offices including Manolis Koutoulakis from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Athens, Greece, the Permanent Representation of Greece to the European Union | Η Ελλάδα στις Βρυξέλλες and the Επιμελητήριο Κυκλάδων | Cyclades Chamber of Commerce Discussion focused on the opportunities & potential of islands, agreeing to enhance cooperation for an 'insular agenda.' This can ensure the 'island proofing' of relevant policies, in order to have a positive & effective impact on the ground in these regions. The cost of doing business - indeed the cost of living - in insular areas call for multilateral initiatives that emphasize the need for island-sensitive solutions and the importance of EU-policies remaining place-based. In order to mitigate the gap between mainland & islands, attention should focus on future cooperation such as projects to boost clean energy production, connectivity, & the digital transition in shipping. This calls for particular focus on EU Cohesion, Maritime, Energy, & Transport policies. The importance of an emerging & integrated macro-region in the Mediterranean may present a strategic opportunity for example: particularly in relation to the new EU Pact for the Mediterranean. For more information on CPMR's work in our dedicated Islands Commission, see our IC Final Declaration looking at the future of islands through the perspective of this EU legislative cycle: https://lnkd.in/gwR2TXVb In addition, please find here our policy position looking at sustainable tourism on islands: https://lnkd.in/gqWH7UTb Filip Reinhag, Davide Strangis, Karin Smit-Jacobs, MSc., Sarah K. #maritime #islands #islandpolicy #EU_Maritime #EU_competitiveness #mediterranean #cooperation #cleanenergy #sustainabletourism

In a widespread call for European cohesion, forty five organisations from across the European transport sector have written to the Ministers of the General Affairs Council and the Ministers of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council asking for a cohesive approach & dedicated budget at European level for #transport.   Referring to it as a crucial policy priority, the signatories outline that a well-functioning European #transportnetwork is essential to drive #economicgrowth & #jobs as well as social & regional connectivity. The letter emphasis how state-of-the-art transportation #infrastructure can drive Europe's industrial #competitiveness, echoing Ursula von der Leyen's comments on Europe's #innovation abilities & need for cohesion in her recent speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.   The signatories come from diverse areas of the transport sector including - but not limited to - #ports, #shipping, #rail, #road, #logistics, #safety, #navigation, #vehicles & #workers.   The signatories urge both #MemberStates & European Commission to support a centrally coordinated funding instrument that would prioritise investments alongside long-term strategic planning, to achieve results that clearly no individual nation can deliver alone.   In October 2024, the CPMR produced a policy position on the Connecting Europe Facility (#CEF III) that reflects many of the letters points as well as calling for regional authorities to be included in the development of policies. This would ensure accessibility, connectivity of islands & the inclusion of peripheral and maritime regions. These regions often own and operate vital transport infrastructure such as ports, logistic platforms & airports. In addition, CPMR asks that the #CEFIII budget provides for the Trans European Transport Network (#TEN_T) objectives.   Finally, CPMR is working closely with our members for solutions that can resolve, for example, transport issues such as transnational bottlenecks regarding both connectivity & technical standards. These are addressed across our Geographical Commissions on an ongoing basis.   The letter, sent on Tuesday 4 February, is available here on the CPMR website: https://lnkd.in/epXDJXzp   For more information on the CPMR’s position on the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF III) please find our policy paper here: https://lnkd.in/eKP-4yXT   Special thanks to Isabelle Ryckbost at ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation) for the coordination of all parties in the development of this letter, President of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) Filip Reinhag and Vice President for Transport and Accessibility George Alexakis as well as Davide Strangis Karin Smit-Jacobs, MSc. Guillaume Moreno, Guglielmo Migliori

🔄 Cohesion, sustainability & competitiveness: Regional Authorities from around the Atlantic Arc align on priorities 🤝✅💚   Delighted to bring together Irekia EJGV, CCDR Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, Principality of Asturias, Gobierno de Cantabria, Xunta de Galicia, Gobierno de Navarra, CCDR NORTE, I.P., CCDR Alentejo, I.P., Junta de Andalucía, Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government, Northern and Western Regional Assembly These regions share many commonalities. Across Thursday 30 & Friday 31 January they came together in📍Brussels to discuss topics critical to the management & development of the Atlantic area. Challenges include: 🚉 Transport: persistent bottlenecks impacting economic development; 🌊 Offshore Renewable Energy: high costs & lack of funding for widespread marine renewable energy production; ♻️ Ocean pollution: differing sources of pollution from both land & sea 🧭 Innovation: capacities vary despite clear competitive advantages in sectors from maritime transport, maritime energies, agrifood; 🏖️ Sustainable Tourism: an increasingly popular destination, the Atlantic Arc faces higher demands on public services & significant pressure on natural resources in peak seasons.   Despite these we see ongoing progress in: 🤝Atlantic Cooperation: Tackling challenges collectively & at regional level; 🔋Marine Renewable Energies: Understanding how to unlock the full potential & securing EU funding; 🚫Fighting Ocean Pollution: A joint commitment at UN level & proposals to the EU institutions, for example recommendations for the Regulation on Plastic pellets pollution; 🖇️Transport connections: Agreeing joint actions that could resolve bottlenecks; ☀️Sustainable #tourism: Thanks to European Commission & Ramune Genzbigelyte Venturi for advice on steps forward! 🍀Innovative #ecosystems: Empowering the Atlantic to become a global hub for innovative solutions in sectors including #digital, #maritimeindustry, #health, #energy & #agrifood.   We also saw the power of regional collaboration for ✅ sharing best practices & ✅ aligning on strategies. Particularly when facing #complex #challenges that single regions cannot solve alone 💪🫶   Thank you to all participants for their expertise & especially to speakers Shelagh Malham, Geraint Green, Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail, Euroregion NAEN, Ricardo Pinto de Sousa, @Marion Chauveau, Isla Sadran, Ramune Genzbigelyte Venturi, Emer Dennehy PhD, TECNALIA Research & Innovation, CIIMAR, Marisa Fernandez Cañamero and a huge thank you to Eleanor Vaughan, Ivon van Heugten & Gavin Lewis for all the support to host this event! 🌍💙 #Atlantic #Cooperation #Sustainability #Innovation #RegionalDevelopment #CleanIndustrialDeal