Let’s make the Mediterranean Blue!

September 24, 2021 – 16h00 to 17h30 

Hybrid event

Webstream of the event HERE

The departure port of Let’s Make the Mediterranean Blue is… Malta!

On the stage at the Malta National Aquarium, you will be welcome by an impressive crew including...

Karmenu Vella, former member of the European Commission, in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries between 2014 and 2019

Aaron Farrugia, Malta's Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning

Alan Deidun, Ocean Ambassador for Malta, member of the EU Commission's Ocean Mission Board and partner of the Blue S_Med project

Yacopo Baldacchino, Kunsill Nazzjonali Zgħazagħ (KNŻ)/Malta's National Youth Council

Daniel De'castro, Curator and Manager of the Malta National Aquarium, member of the EU4Ocean platform

Ramona Mercieca, Teacher at the Gozo College Middle School, Victoria, GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) Deputy Country Co-ordinator for Malta

Pierre Strosser from ACTeon, coordinator of the EU4Ocean coalition

They will be supported online by...

Christos Economou, Deputy Director Maritime Policy and Blue Economy, DG MARE, European Commission – that has launched the EU4Ocean coalition initiative

Tatjana Hema, UNEP MAP 

Rym Benzina, Forum de la Mer Bizerte 2021, Saison Bleue (Tunisia)

Jelena Basta, environmental education specialist, president of the Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation, Veli Losinj, Croatia

Evy Copejans, European Marine Science Educators Association

Hady El Hajj, Architect, Exhibition Organizer, European Cultural Center

Valentina Lovat, IOC-UNESCO, Ocean Literacy expert

They will be supported on-site by a group of Maltese Youth that will build the puzzle of the Let’s Make the Mediterranean Blue to illustrate the importance of collective efforts and raise your appetite for participating in all events including events organised during the Mediterranean Ocean Literacy Festival on Med Coast Day. 

The opening event - from A to Z

• 16:00 - Introduction to the opening event - Pierre Strosser, ACTeon (EU4Ocean coalition coordinator)
• 16:05 - First waves and inspirational messages for Let's Make the Mediterranean Blue!

Christos Economou, Deputy Director Maritime Policy and Blue Economy (DG MARE European Commission) 

Karmenu Vella, former member of the European Commission (in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries between 2014 and 2019)

Aaron Farrugia, Malta's Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning

Tatjana Hema, UNEP MAP Coordinator

• 16:37 - Pitches of co-organisers and contributors to the different events supported by a group of Maltese youth building the Let’s Make the Mediterranean Blue puzzle demonstrating the collective effort of the Mediterranean communities in making the event a reality. On the stage...

Daniel De'castro, Curator and Manager of the Malta National Aquarium, member of the EU4Ocean platform

Rym Benzina, co-organiser of the Forum de la Mer Bizerte 2021 from la Saison Bleue (Tunisia)

Yacopo Baldacchino, Kunsill Nazzjonali Zgħazagħ (KNŻ)/Malta's National Youth Council

Jelena Basta, environmental education specialist, president of the Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation, Veli Losinj, Croatia

Ramona Mercieca, Teacher at the Gozo College Middle School, Victoria, GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) Deputy Country Co-ordinator for Malta

Evy Copejans, European Marine Science Educators Association

Alan Deidun, Ocean Ambassador for Malta and member of the EU Commission's Mission Ocean Board and partner of the Blue S_Med project

Hady El Hajj, Architect, Exhibition Organizer, European Cultural Center, co-organiser of the MakeMedPortsBlue photo contest 

Valentina Lovat, IOC-UNESCO, Ocean Literacy expert

• 17:15 - What does the collective puzzle raise as emotions, ideas, reactions…? Featuring...

Tatjana Hema, UNEP MAP Coordinator

Karmenu Vella, former member of the European Commission (in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries between 2014 and 2019)

• 17:25 - Closing: Last waves of the opening

Christos Economou, Deputy Director Maritime Policy and Blue Economy (DG MARE European Commission)

Pierre Strosser, ACTeon (EU4Ocean Coalition Coordinator)

• 17:30 - Sharing #MakeEUBlue pledges of speakers and panelists of the opening event of Let’s Make the Mediterranean  Blue. 

For the participants present in Malta at the Malta National Aquarium

A small get-together organised on the site!

For more information, to contact:

Pierre Strosser, ACTeon/EU4Ocean coordination - p.strosser@acteon-environment.eu

Victoria Dennis, Malta National Aquarium - vdennis@aquarium.com.mt