THE « FORUM MONDIAL DE LA MER – BIZERTE »

Since its creation in 2018 under the presidency of Pascal Lamy, the Forum Mondial de la Mer-Bizerte has established itself as one of the leading international events on the southern shore of the Mediterranean, dedicated to maritime issues.

The Forum has played a pivotal role in Tunisia by promoting the creation of the Secretariat for Maritime Affairs, the Maritime Cluster, and the launch of the Deep Water Port of Enfidha. In 2021, it initiated the formation of a “Coalition of Mediterranean Elected Officials.” Following the 5th edition of the Forum in 2022, the group of international and national experts “OCEAN 2050”, the first forward-thinking maritime policy think tank, drafted the “Bizerte Declaration.” In 2023, the Forum explored the theme “The Ocean and the Mediterranean in the Age of Boiling,” which led to the publication of the Bizerte Synthesis.

The Forum has quickly become a space for diverse voices—those of Mediterranean coastal nations and of the African continent, with Bizerte being its northernmost point. In 2021, the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco and numerous global leaders underscored the growing importance of what we are building together on a regional scale.

For its 8th edition, to be held on September 12, 2025, the Forum Mondial de la Mer-Bizerte aligns with the legacy of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), held in Nice in June 2025. It will be the first major international gathering focused on the sea in the Mediterranean post-Nice.

Under the theme “From Nice to Bizerte: How is the Mediterranean doing?”, this edition offers a critical and collective assessment of the Mediterranean's current state. It will examine the real implications of the commitments made in Nice, and the outcomes of the negotiations around the International Treaty on Plastic Pollution.

As one of the most polluted semi-enclosed seas in the world, the Mediterranean is home to a unique and fragile biodiversity. The Forum will amplify the voices of the most committed countries in the region, alongside researchers, policymakers, and younger generations.

The 2025 edition also marks the 50th anniversary of the Barcelona Convention, adopted by 22 Mediterranean parties. To celebrate this milestone, an ambitious political declaration has been proposed. The Forum will explore its concrete implications for economic stakeholders, citizens, and coastal ecosystems.

Co-organized by La Saison Bleue and the European Blue Mission Med program, the Forum will once again affirm its role as a catalyst for ideas, concrete commitments, and regional cooperation.

📅 Join us in Bizerte on September 12, 2025, to write the next chapter of this ever-evolving maritime odyssey.

Produced by: La Saison Bleue

Pascal Lamy, President

Rym BENZINA, Director

Mehdi BEN HAJ, General Commissioner of the Forum Mondial de la Mer - Bizerte

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