1:15–2:45 PM: Presentation of the SHARE4MED project and workshop with representatives of Tunisian municipalities and communes: preparation of the action plan for the coalition of Mediterranean cities

1:15–1:20 PM : Presentation of the SHARE4MED project

Mario Dogliani, President, SDG4MED and Delegate for Italy to the Fundación Philippe Cousteau Unión de los Océanos
Joumana Sweiss, Representative of the Interreg NEXT MED programme

1:20 –1:25 PM: A coastline under pressure: how can we know?

Alessandra Azzola, ETT Project Manager, SHARE4MED

1:25–1:45 PM: Genoa: a proven field-tested method.

Representative of Genoa

1:45–2:05 PM: From one coast to another: a shared model.

Alessandra Azzola, ETT Project Manager, SHARE4MED
Representative of Genoa
Mario Dogliani, President, SDG4MED and Delegate for Italy to the Fundación Philippe Cousteau Unión de los Océanos

2:05–2:20 PM: A tool for coastal decision-makers — Guided demonstration of the prototype through a concrete scenario

Alessandra Azzola, ETT Project Manager, SHARE4MED
Mario Dogliani, President, SDG4MED and Delegate for Italy to the Fundación Philippe Cousteau Unión de los Océanos
Representative of Genoa

2:20–2:45 PM: Interactive session: which indicators for your coastline?

Boumediene Beladjine, Researcher, University of Science and Technology of Oran Mohamed Boudiaf (USTO-MB)
Rym Benzina, President, La Saison Bleue
Tawfik Hassan, Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture — University of Tripoli, Libya
Suzan Kholeif, Professor of Oceanography; senior expert and evaluator on climate change and coastal and marine environment
Fayçal Mechri, Chief Technician, Kerkennah Municipality
Giulia Antidormi, Public Relations, Med Area, SDG4MED

Representatives of the cities (Monastir, Bizerte, Djerba, Greater Tunis Area)

2:45–3:00 PM: Roadmap and continued commitment.

3:00-04:30 PM : Announcement of the launch of the Circe.med Association in the presence of its founding members

Friday, 25 September, 2026

8:30–9:00 AM | Registration and Welcome

9:00–9:20 AM | Opening Session

Rym Benzina, President, La Saison Bleue
Salem Ben Yacoub, Governor of Bizerte
Hamadi Habaieb, Secretary of State to the Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, in charge of Water Resources and Fisheries
Zohra Lili Chabaane, President of the Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education (IRESA), Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries
Mehdi Ben Haj, Acting Director General of the Coastal Protection and Planning Agency (APAL)

9:20–9:30 AM: Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution

Julio Cordano, Chair of the Committee leading the negotiations on the International Treaty to End Plastic Pollution (pre-recorded video) 

9:30–10:40 AM | SESSION 1 – Diagnosis and Outlook: “Horizon 2030”

Panel 1: The State of Science (Data) – 30 min

Morsi Feki, Regional Director of APAL in Sfax, Coastal Protection and Development Agency (APAL)
François Houllier, Chairman and CEO, French Institute for Ocean Science (IFREMER) — Online
Marina Lévy, Director, Ocean Institute, Sorbonne University Alliance
Abeer Ahmed Mounir, President, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF)

Panel 2: Drivers of Change (Solutions) – 50 min

Keynote Speaker: Elyes Guesmi, Environmental Footprint Lead, WWF — 8 min

Leïla Chikhaoui-Mahdaoui, Professor Emerita of Public Law, University of Carthage, Faculty of Legal, Political and Social Sciences of Tunis (FSJPS), Former Minister of the Environment of the Republic of Tunisia (2021–2024)
Mahmoud Elyes Hamza, Director, SPA/RAC
Amr Hamouda, President, Marine Hazard Mitigation Center, and President, Marine Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF)
Antoine Lafitte, Acting Director, Plan Bleu
Carole Martinez, Senior Public Policy Officer, MedPAN
Luna Merino, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Ocean & Climate Platform
Patricia Ricard, President, Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute
Alexis Siéra, Representative of IRD and CIRAD in Tunisia and Algeria Director

10:40–11:50 AM| SESSION 2 – Hotspots and Realities on the Ground in Tunisia

Keynote Speaker: Houssem Hamdi, President, Tunisie Clean Up — 8 min

Panel 1: Cities and Tourism (Lessons Learned) – 30 min

Mouna Allani Ben Ali, CEO, La Badira
Rym Azzez, QSSE Manager – Quality and Hygiene Management Expert, Iberostar Group
Nour Chamekh, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis (FST), Plast’île Project
Stefania Campogianni, Regional Project Manager for Plastic Pollution, WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative
Matías Ibáñez, Operations Coordinator, MedWaves
Dora Milad, President, Tunisian Federation of Hotels

Panel 2: Circular Economy and Innovation – 30 min

Lulzim Baumann, Founder & CEO, RecycAl | Circular Economy & Plastic Pollution Expert – Western Balkans – Online
Wassim Chaabane, PhD Engineer, Circular Economy Expert
Asma Chafter, Founder, Another Plastik
Emna Sohlobji, President, Tunisian Maritime Cluster
Imed Zammit, Tunisia National Hub, WestMED

11:50 AM –12:05 PM | Coffee Break

12:05–1:05 PM  | SESSION 3 – Positions of Mediterranean States and the EU

Keynote Speaker: Geneviève Pons, Director-General and President, Europe Jacques Delors — 5 min

Sinan Bacha, Director General of the Bureau of Water Planning and Balances (BPEH), Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries
Catherine Chabaud, Minister Delegate for the Sea and Fisheries, French Ministry
Tatjana Hema, Coordinator, UNEP/MAP, Mediterranean Action Plan, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Pascal Lamy, President, World Sea Forum – Bizerte; Vice-President and Co-Founder, Jacques Delors Institute – Friends of Europe; Vice-President, Paris Peace Forum
Diane Menard, Pollution, Circular Economy and Ozone Project Manager, FFEM — Online
Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Special Envoy of the President of the French Republic for the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference, Presidency of the French Republic

1:05–02:15 PM | Lunch

02:15–04:50 PM | SESSION 4 – Multi-Stakeholder Alliances, Projects and Actions

Keynote Speaker: Nadia Hai, Ambassador, Interministerial Delegate for the Mediterranean, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (France) (8 min)

Keynote Speakers: Shérazade Zaiter, Ambassador & Ramzi Zammeli, CEO, Cap Ecopark — Presentation of the Plastic Credit Exchange concept to self-finance green infrastructure through European funds — 20 min

02:35–03:00 | Cities’ Perspectives: Local Action, Shared Challenges – 25 min

Moderator: Dario Pollicino, Nature Conservation and Food Systems Support Officer, IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation

Mahmoud Banaoues, Municipality of Monastir
Asma Hamza, President, ASCOB-Syrtis
Amjed Khiareddine, Programme Manager, Notre Grand Bleu Association
Representative of Bizerte
Maher Mahjoub, Director, IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
Fayçal Mechri, Chief Technician, Kerkennah Municipality
Arion Sauku, Project Manager, Milieukontakt Albania

03:00–03:25 | Strengthening Partnerships for a Mediterranean Alliance – 25 min

Mario Dogliani, President, SDG4MED and Delegate for Italy to the Philippe Cousteau Union of the Oceans Foundation
Dhekra Gharbi, Head of UGPO
Philippe Masset, Director for Europe and International Affairs, ADEME
Adel Ben Youssef, Lecturer, Researcher and COP26 Negotiator — Online

03:25–03:50 | Plastic Lab Med Presentation

Antoine Cahn, Consultant, Seas (Online)

03:50–04:15 | Innovation

Simon Bernard, President and Co-Founder, Plastic Odyssey
Olivier Camp, CEO, Monomeris (TBC)
Bruno Dumontet, Founder, Expédition MED
Imed Hamdi, Founder and CEO, LoopImpact
Sandra Jimenez & Gilles Cenazandotti, Module ICap/RESEACLEAN

04:15–04:50 | Civil Society

Moderator: Rania Mechergui, Biodiversity Conservation Researcher, National Research Institute for Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry (INRGREF), Tunisia

Neji Ben Aissa, President, Action Nature Méditerranée Association, Galite Project Lead
Yosr Ben Fadhel, Project Manager, Blueseeds
Naoufel Haddad, Secretary-General, Tunisian Association for Sustainable Fisheries
Nathalie Komatitsch, President and Founder, Knowing & Acting
Malek Soussi, Project Coordinator – Programme Officer, Association Kratten du Développement Durable de la Culture et du Loisir (AKDDCL)
Marilou Suc, Co-Founder – Ecosystem Development Director, Recycllux
Gianni Valenti, President and Founder, Gaia First

04:50–05:40 PM  | SESSION 5 – Advocacy and Youth (Passing the Torch)

Ibtihel Aissa, Ambassador
Refka Ben Salah, Ambassador

5:00–5:20 PM: Presentation of the “Educational Marine Area – Tunisia” Initiative

Matthieu Humery, Principal, École George Sand, Nabeul
Bizerte – Lycée Gustave Flaubert

5:20–5:40 PM: Young Ocean Clubs – Morocco–Tunisia (IRD)

05h40-05h55 PM : Présentation de la synthèse du Forum Mondial de la Mer – Bizerte

Rym Benzina, President, La Saison Bleue

05h55-06h30 PM :Closing of the Forum Mondial de la Mer – Bizerte

Salem Ben Yacoub, Governor of Bizerte
Pascal Lamy, President, Forum Mondial de la Mer – Bizerte; Vice-President and Co-Founder, Jacques Delors Institute – Friends of Europe; Vice-President, Paris Peace Forum
H.E. Ms. Anne Guéguen, Ambassador of France to Tunisia
H.E. Mr. Bassem Yahia Hassan, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Tunisia

08:00 PM  | Cocktail Reception (Venue to be confirmed) 

• 9:00 – 9:10: Opening Session

      –Rym Benzina, President of La Saison Bleue

      –Salem Ben Yacoub, Governor of Bizerte

• 9:10-10:10: From Nice to Bizerte, a symbolic handover between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

      –H.E. Ambassador Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Special Envoy of the President of the French Republic for the 3rd UN Ocean Conference

      –Marco Campomenosi, Former Member of the European Parliament

      –Nadia Hai, Ambassador, Interministerial Delegate for the Mediterranean tbc

      –Elisabetta Balzi, Active Senior Advisor at European Commission, DG Research and Innovation

      –Alessandra Sensi, Head of Sector, Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)

      –François Houllier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER), France

      -Mehdi Ben Haj, Acting Director General, Coastal Protection and Development Agency (APAL)

      -Charlina Vitcheva, Director General of Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission (video)

• 10:10-11:10: Presentations

Starfish Barometer 

      –H.E. Ambassador Olivier Poivre d’Arvor

      –Marina Lévy, Ocean Advisor to the IRD Presidency

      –Pierre Bahurel, Director General, Mercator Ocean International

European Ocean Pact 

      –Geneviève Pons, Director General and Vice President for Europe, Jacques Delors

Mediterranean Presentation 

      –Kai Pohlman, Co-founder of the German Ocean Foundation

Presentation of the Coalition of Coastal Regions and Cities (20 min)

      –Gauthier Carle, Deputy Director General, Ocean & Climate Platform 

            –Olivier Bettati, Mission Officer, Ports of Nice

      –Souad Sassi, Executive Director of the FNCT

      –Alexis Sierra, Director, IRD Tunis

      –Oula Amrouni, Researcher and Associate Professor at INSTM

      –Amel Chaouachi, Head of the Urban Unit, AFD Tunis

      –Imen Landoulsi, Architect and Urban Planner

      –Fayçal Mechri, Chief Technician, Municipality of Kerkennah

      –Asma Hamza, President, ASCOB-Syrtis

• 11:10 – 11:30 : Coffee Break
• 11:30 – 13:15 : European Programmes and Mediterranean Projects

EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters 

Outputs from the Blue Mission Med project:

      –Fedra Francocci, Researcher at the National Research Council, Institute of Anthropogenic Impact and Marine Sustainability

      –Irene Alonso, Senior Consultant – Policy and Research, Ecorys

Interreg Next Med Programme: Share4Med Project 
Providing solutions to coastal erosion and protection (partnership between Algeria, Italy, and Tunisia)

      –Giulia Antidormi, Blue Mission Med and the Coalition of Mayors

      –Alessandra Azzola, ETT Project Manager, SHARED4MED

Marine Pollution (35 min)
MedWaves – ML Med Plus Project, SMILO, Remedies: No More Plastic

Regional Solutions to Marine and Plastic Pollution 

      –Ignasi Mateo Rodríguez, Project Manager, MedWaves

      –Dhekra Gharbi ep. Mezlini, Head of UGPO

      –Ambre Badique, Project Manager

      –Stéfania Campogianni, Regional Project Manager, WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative

      –Souhail Baabaa, Independent Consultant for SMILO

Governance, Sustainable Management, and Small Island Resilience 

      –Morsi Feki, Regional Director, APAL Sfax

      –Mahmoud Elyes Hamza, Director SPA/RAC

      –Lobna Ben Nakhla, Head of the Species Conservation Programme, SPA/RAC

      –Fayçal Mechri, Municipality of Kerkennah 

      –Yacine Ait Kaci, Digital Artist, Archipel

      –Adeline Pilon, Co-founder of the ELYX Foundation

      –Neji Ben Aissa, President of the Mediterranean Action Nature Association, leading the Galite project

      –Ahmed Ghedira, Founder of the “Notre Grand Bleu” Association

Keynote Speaker: Patricia Ricard, President of the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute
Presentation of the GALPA Project (10 min)

Mediterranean Strategy Presentation 

      –Robin Degron, Director, Plan Bleu (UNEP/MAP)

      –Domitilla Senni, President of the Italian NGO MedReact

      –Arnaud Comolet, PAMEx/UNEP-MAP

      –Maher Mahjoub, Director, IUCN Mediterranean Cooperation Centre

      –Francesco Camonita, Policy and Projects Officer – Inter-Mediterranean Commission (IMC) & Migration Task Force

      –Sherazade Zaiter, European Climate Pact Ambassador

      –Rania Mechergui, Researcher in Biodiversity Conservation at the National Institute of Research in Agricultural Engineering, Water and Forests (INRGREF Tunisia)

• 13:15 – 14:45: Lunch Break

• 14:45 – 16:15: Regenerative Blue Economy

      –Amel Hamza-Chaffai, Member of the Tunisian Academy of Sciences – Beit al Hikma and Vice-President of the Africa Task Force (IOC-UNESCO)

      –Bechir Béjaoui, Research Professor, National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies, Tunisia

      –Awatef Abiadh, Technical Assistant for North Africa, The MedFund

      –Saloua Sadok, Head of the Director General’s Office at INSTM

Concrete Solutions for Regenerative Economy 

Moderation by Ms. Imen Khanchel, University Professor

      –Cyril Gomez, Deputy Director General, Oceanographic Institute of Monaco (en visio)

      –Jamel Jrijer: Director, WWF

      –Bruno Dumontet, Founder of Expédition MED

      –Manel Ben Ismail, Director of Sustainability for Tunisia and Morocco, Iberostar Group

      –Prof. Jamila Ben Souissi, President of the Tunisian Association of Marine Sciences (ATSMer)

Start-ups and Youth 
Theme: Blue Innovation and Youth Entrepreneurship

      –Youssef Halaoua, Director, Sciences Po Menton Campus

      –Marilou Suc, Founder Blue Connection, Recycllux

      –Marwen Mokdad, Manager and Founder of POLYCHAETA by Tunisia Baits

      –Wajih El Hadj Youssef, CEO Exypnotech

      –Slim Bouakez, Business Development Manager, WaterSec

      –Arij Mejdi, Head of sales Tunisia, Kumulus Water

      –Sami Guetari, Ingénieur en chef formateur à l’INPFCA de Sidi Thabet

      –Mohamed Ben Ahmed, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aquadeep

• 16:15PM – 16:45: Partnership for the Preservation of Seagrass Meadows

      –Hamadi Mejri, Fisheries Programme Officer, WWF Mediterranean North Africa

      –Jean Burkard, Advocacy Director, WWF France

      –Cécile Couprie, Regional Director for North Africa, Agence française de développement

      –Tunisian Minister of the Environment or Representative (tbc)

• 16:45 – 17:00: Signing Ceremony
  
  France-Tunisia Partnership for the Preservation of Posidonia Seagrass Meadows: WWF North Africa, AFD, and Tunisian Ministry of Environment
•  
• 17:00 – 18:00: Women Actions for the Ocean
  

Screening of the documentary “WAO – Women Actions for the Ocean” (45 min)

An inspiring moment highlighting women’s commitment to the ocean 

      –Rym Benzina, President of La Saison Bleue

      –Patricia Ricard, President of the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute

• 18:00 – 18:30 PM: Closing Session – Forum Summary
  

      –Salem Ben Yacoub, Governor of Bizerte

      –Sofiane Tekaya, Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts

      –Pascal Lamy, President of the Forum Mondial de la Mer – Bizerte, Coordinator of the Jacques Delors Institutes (online)

      –Rym Benzina, President of La Saison Bleue

      –H.E. Mrs. Anne Guéguen, Ambassador of France to Tunisia

      –H.E. Mrs. Olga Anagnostopoulou, Ambassador of Greece to Tunisia

      –Mrs. Johanna Lanitis, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland

      –Luigi Gentile, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Italy

      –Ambassador of the United Kingdom

      –Ambassador of Italy

      –Director of the Institut Français de Tunis

Saturday, 13 September

Boat trip – Venue and timing to be confirme

8:00-8:30 am: Welcome

8:30-9:15 am : Opening and presentation of the implementation of the European Union Mission “Restoring our Ocean and Waters, by 2030 in the Mediterranean region and beyond”

• Welcome by Rym Benzina, President of La Saison Bleue

• Pascal Lamy, President of the Forum Mondial de la Mer – Bizerte

• Karim Amellal, Ambassador, Interministerial Delegate for the Mediterranean, Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs

• Elisabetta Balzi, Head of “Ocean, Seas and Waters” Unit, European Commission

• Review of previous years’ conclusions and the Mediterranean exchanges by Gauthier Carle, Head of Advocacy, Plateforme Océan & Climat

• Fedra Francocci, Researcher at the National Research Council, Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in the Marine Environment, Italy

• Geneviève Pons, DG of Europe Jacques Delors. 

• Guillaume Sainteny, Chairman of Plan Bleu

9:15-11:45 am : Preservation of marine ecosystems: Sustainable solutions for a blue future

9:15-10:30 am : What are the challenges and solutions for restoring Biodiversity of the Mediterranean?

• Bechir Béjaoui, Research Professor at National Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Tunisia

• Giuseppe Di Carlo, Directeur, Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy

• Fedra Francocci, Researcher at the National Research Council, Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in the Marine Environment, Italy

• Mahmoud Elyes Hamza, Director de SPA/RAC

• Clément Lavigne, Director of Ocean Policy at the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, Albert 1st Prince of Monaco Foundation

• Maher Mahjoub, Director, IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation

• Shweta Naik, IOC Member, Ocean Literacy Group of Experts (GoE), India

• Patricia Ricard, President, Institut Océanographique Paul Ricard

• Rania Mechergui, Researcher in Biodiversity Conservation at the National Institute of Rural Engineering, Water, and Forests (INRGREF Tunisia)

10:30-11:00 am : How to address pollution in the Mediterranean?

10h30-11h  : Grand Ocean vs. Mediterranean: From Cherbourg to Bizerte, are the battles the same? (Duplex with guests from Grand Ocean, Cherbourg)

Animation : 

Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Ambassador for Ocean and Poles, special envoy of the French President for the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference

11h – 11h50 am: What science for the Ocean?

• Opening by Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the IOC, with the rank of Assistant Director-General of UNESCO

Speakers: 

• Ward Appeltans, Program Specialist, in charge of the IOC Ocean Biodiversity Information System

   

• Pierre Bahurel, Managing Director, Mercator Ocean International

• Mehdi Ben Haj, Interim Director General at the Coastal Protection and Development Agency

• Jean Pierre Gattuso, CNRS Research Director, online

• Amel Hamza, Professor at the University of Sfax and Member of the Tunisian Academy of Sciences-Beit al Hikma

• Marina Lévy, IRD Oceans Advisor

• Geneviève Pons, DG of Europe Jacques Delors. 

• Francesco Petracchini, Director of the Department of Earth System Science and Environmental Technologies, National Research Council

   

• Andreea Strachinescu Olteanu, Head of European Union Unit, European Commission, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries 

11:50 – 1:00 pm: Drivers for a sustainable, regenerative blue economy

• Opening by Elyès Ben Rayana, General Manager, Value Tunisia

12:00 – 12h20 am: Fisheries and aquaculture: presentation of challenges and innovative solutions

12:00 – 12:05 am: Key Speaker : 

•  Miguel Bernal,  Executive Secretary, General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean – FAO, pre-recorded video.

Speakers: 

• Lobna Ben Nakhla, Species Conservation Program Manager, SPA/RAC

• Mounir Boulkout, Managing Director, SELT Marine Group

• Othman Jarboui, Program Coordinator of MedSea4Fish

• Mohamed Ben Ahmed, CEO AQUADEEP
  
  

• Stefania Campogianni, Regional Project Manager for Plastic Pollution, Mediterranean Marine Initiative, WWF

12:20 – 12:40 am: Challenges and innovation in maritime and port transport

• Opening by Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), online

Speakers:

• Sarah Amri, Director of Finance and member of the Management Board, Port of Marseille FOS

• Slim Bouakez, Business Manager of  WaterSec
  
  

• Beladjine Boumediene, Company Coordinator at the Laboratory of Maritime and Environmental Engineering (LSIM)

• Salem Miladi, Blue Economy Expert at Ecorys and European Commission

12:40 – 01:00 pm: Sustainable tourism: presentation of challenges and innovative solutions

Speakers:

• Margherita Cappelletto, Coordinator of the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, Ministry of University and Research TBC

• Manel Ben Ismail, Responsable of Alliances de Destination, Tunisie

• Ahmed Ayadi, Co-Founder & Project Manager at Tuniboat 

• Claire Richard, Coordinator BeMed

• Anis Zarrouk, President, Yachting Club Association, Port Director, Marina Gammarth

2:30 pm – 4:30 pm: High-Level Segment, key witnesses, and distinguished speakers

2:30 – 4:00 pm: From Bizerte to Nice: how to address the Mediterranean at UNOC3, Nice 2025? Preparations for the Mediterranean Day (June 10, 2025)

Speakers:

• Mehdi Ben Haj, Interim Director General at the Coastal Protection and Development Agency
• Richard Brisius, CEO The Ocean Race

• Sieglinde Gruber, Senior Advisor to the European Commission

• Pascal Lamy, President of the Bizerte Forum

• Rémi Parmentier, President, The Varda Group

• Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Ambassador for Poles and Maritime Issues, MEAE, Special Envoy of the French President for the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference
  

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Opening

• Welcome by Rym Benzina, President of The Blue Season
• 2023, A Year Unlike Any Other” by Pascal Lamy, President of the Bizerte Forum
• Review of the Bizerte Declaration 2022 and Future Prospects by Gautier Carle, Advocacy Manager, Ocean and Climate Platform.
• Emmanuelle Lachaussée, Deputy Director Climate & Environment, Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, France

9:30 AM – 1:00 PM: The Ocean 2050 as we envision it the Future

The Ocean has never held such a high place on the global political agenda. In just a year, significant progress has been made in biodiversity protection, High Seas governance, combating plastic pollution, and regulating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. However, these advancements reveal the need to go further and faster. Urgencies and future threats require more than goodwill, complex treaties, and a lack of a virtuous economic and financial dynamic. The Ocean needs effective and responsive instruments, a mobilizing and pragmatic agenda, and meeting clauses.

2050 is a long way off, but it is also the horizon that allows us to evaluate risks, opportunities, and consequences for ecosystems and populations, to build these new instruments:

• A scientific assessment dedicated to decision-making.
• A fresh mobilization of economic and financial actors for equitable development
• True co-construction with sea users and citizens.

Moderator: Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Ambassador for Ocean and Polar Affairs, Special Envoy of the President of the Republic for the United Nations Ocean Conference.

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: What Do Scientists Tell Us About Ocean Boiling?

• Opening by Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO.

Speakers:

• Béchir Bejaoui, Researcher at the National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies, Tunisia
• Joachim Claudet, Research Director and Ocean Advisor at CNRS
• Amel Hamza-Chaffai, Professor at the University of Sfax and Member of the Tunisian Academy of Sciences-Beit al Hikma
• François Houllier, CEO of IFREMER
• Marina Lévy, Oceanography Research Director, Deputy Director of the Ocean Department at IRD

10:30 AM – 11:40 AM: Geopolitics of the Ocean: Scenarios for 2050

• Opening by Tiago Pitta e Cunha, Chief Executive Officer of the Oceano Azul Foundation, Lisbon.

Speakers:

• Pierre Bahurel, Chief Executive Officer of Mercator Ocean International
• Elyes Ben Rayana, Chief Executive Officer of Value
• Gilles Kleitz, Executive Director of Sustainable Development, French Development Agency
• Clément Lavigne, Director of Ocean Policy, Oceanographic Institute, Albert 1st Foundation, Monaco
• Mikaa Mered, Lecturer in Hydrogen Geopolitics and Overseas Geopolitics, Sciences Po / Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco
• Patricia Ricard, President of the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute
• Julia Tasse, Co-director of the Defense & Climate Observatory, Research Director at IRIS
• Thomas Puga, Commander, French Navy.

11:40 AM – 12:00 PM: Live Duplex from Marseille with the 6th Edition of “Méditerranée du Futur.”

Speakers:

• Renaud Muselier, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region
• Karim Amellal, Ambassador, Interministerial Delegate for the Mediterranean
• Nasser Kamel, Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean
• Discussion with participants from the Bizerte Sea Forum.

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Europe and the Ocean: The 2050 Agenda

Speakers:

• Catherine Chabaud, Navigator, Member of the European Parliament, Brussels
• Sieglinde Gruber, Senior Advisor for the European Commission
• Claudia Pecoraro, Policy Officer, European Commission-Healthy Oceans & Seas Unit, DG Research & Innovation
• Geneviève Pons, Director General, Vice President, Jacques Delors Institute Europe, Brussels

Discussions.

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Live Duplex from the United Nations, New York, for the Conclusions of the Climate Action Summit

Speaker:

• Ashok Adicéam, International Affairs and Negotiations Manager for the United Nations Ocean Conference, Special Envoy

Discussions and Morning Conclusions.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch at Nour Hotel.

2:00 PM – 6:00 PM: The Mediterranean: A Sea in Boil?

• Opening by Almotaz Abadi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean.

   The summer of 2023 was the hottest ever recorded in the Mediterranean, with an average sea temperature reaching 28.4°C in July, surpassing the previous record by 0.15°C. This rapid warming of the sea’s surface is due to natural factors such as lack of wind and clouds, with immediate impacts on populations and marine biodiversity in countries like Italy, Greece, Turkey, Algeria, and Tunisia. Corals, gorgonians, sea urchins, and mollusks are suffering from these extreme temperatures, threatening some local species. Furthermore, extreme weather events, drought, and rising sea levels pose risks to populations, agriculture, food security, and natural heritage in the Mediterranean region. A 2019 report indicated that more than half of the world’s cities most exposed to rising sea levels are in the Mediterranean.

   Is the Mediterranean, considered the most threatened basin by global warming and the most polluted sea, now the hot spot of the climate crisis?

Moderator: Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Ambassador for Ocean and Polar Affairs, Special Envoy of the President of the Republic for the United Nations Ocean Conference.

2:15 PM – 3:45 PM: Barcelona: 50 Years and Beyond?

• Opening by Tatjana Hema, Coordinator of the Action Plan for the Mediterranean (PAM) – United Nations Program.

Speakers:

• Giulia Antidormi, The Coalition of Mayors for Mission Ocean
• Khadija Amine, Sustainable Development and foresight Manager, Plan Bleu
• Romy Hentinger, Director of Advocacy and International Cooperation, Tara Ocean Foundation
• Rémi Parmentier, President of the Varda Group, Madrid
• Josep Canals, Secretary General, MedCities
• Jamel Jrijer, Director of WWF North Africa
• Salem Miladi, Expert in Blue Economy, Westmed.

3:45 PM – 5:15 PM: Mediterranean Projects: Experiences and Testimonies

• Opening by Mehdi Ben Haj, Interim Director of the Coastal Protection and Development Agency, Tunisia.

Speakers:

• Mehdi Aissi, Marine Program Manager, WWF, Tunis
• Martial Bardolet, Head of Posidonia Seagrass Monitoring Service, Balearic Islands
• Borhène Daoudi, Architect – Smart & Resilient Cities Coordinator, Mediterranean Development Director – Setec International
• Imed Hamdi, Head of growth
• Ahmed Ghedira, President, Notre Grand Bleu Association, Monastir
• Vesna Kuralt, Project Manager, REMEDIS
• Mohamed Ali Marouani, Representative of IRD-CIRAD, Tunisia
• Bernard Mossé, Head of Education, Training, and Research, Neede, Marseille
• Lina Silveira, Project Manager, REMEDIS
• Christina Zeri, Blue Mission Med project.

5:15 PM – 6:00 PM: Drafting of Conclusions and Recommendations.

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Presentation of Conclusions and Recommendations in the presence of the Tunisian Minister of the Environment, Leïla Chikhaoui, and other guests.

8:30 PM: Dinner at Café le Pacha and “Fêtes de la Mer” Evening, Old Port of Bizerte (transfer from Nour Hotel at 8:20 PM).

8:30: « 2050, welcome, opening forum, presentation of the exercice and “Ocean 2050?” survey results»

Rym Benzina, Chairwoman of La Saison Bleue

Pascal Lamy, President of the Forum Mondial de la Mer-Bizerte

Gauthier Carle, Advocacy Officer of mission POC (Ocean & Climate Platform) (surveyresults presentation)

9:00-10:15 – PANEL 1: « 2050, governance, geopolitics, security ? »

Yann Briand, Head of the Strategy and Policy Office, Office of the Chief of Staff of the French Navy

Catherine Chabaud, Initiator of the appeal for the Ocean as a common good for humanity, sailor, member of the European Parliament Renew Europe (Renaissance list)

Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Ambassador for the poles and maritime issues, Special Envoy of the Presidency of the Republic

Julia Tasse, Researcher, head of the Climate, Energy, Security program at IRIS

10:15-11:30 – PANEL 2:« 2050, climate, biodiversity, effects of populations ?»

Joachim Claudet, Director of Research, CNRS

Rémi Parmentier, President-The Varda Group

Geneviève Pons, Vice Chair, “Europe Jacques Delors” Institute

Romain Troublé, President of the Ocean & Climate Platform, Director General Manager of the Tara Ocean Foundation

Coffee break from 11:30 to 11:45 a.m