The 8th edition of Circle the Med Forum co-organised this year by the Sustainable Tourism Mission (Dialogue4Tourism Project) launches a key platform for dialogue and policy cooperation in the Mediterranean region, bringing together international leaders, ministers, regional governors, mayors, influential policymakers, academics, business representatives and civil society actors in a collective effort to advance a green, just, inclusive and resilient future.
The event which will take place on 3 and 4 June 2025, in Athens (Greece) will address major challenges that the Mediterranean basin is currently facing such as energy transition, climate change mitigation & adaptation, circular economy, blue economy, water security and regional governance in under the lens of sustainable tourism.
Circle the MedForum is a unique multilateral event bridging the 2 shores of the Mediterranean area that connects the policies of the European Green Deal with reality and real economy. The needs of the South and the Mediterranean as a whole and united area will be tackled and a new model of development based on cooperation, innovation and social justice are in the core of this edition. The cross-network dialogue will include the green and just transition, resilience and adaptation of the Mediterranean economies giving digitalization, innovation and youth empowerment a prominent role.
The Forum will host high-level representatives from European and international institutions, ministers from Mediterranean countries and the South basin, leading private sector actors and key voices from civil society and academia as stated by mr. George Papandreou, President of Circle the Med Forum, f.Greek prime minister.
Further details are available on the official website.
The full program can be accessed via the event agenda.
Registrations here.
Sustainable Tourism Policy Labs Promoting Governance and Sustainability in Tourism through the Transfer of Experiences and collaborative approaches
In the context of Circle the MED Forum, the Dialogue4Tourism Project is carrying out its first “Sustainable Tourism Policy Lab-STPL”, with the aim of increasing the coordination level and institutional capacity of public authorities, enabling mainstreaming and sustainable tourism policy transformations, to adopt a shared methodology, to communicate the results of the Sustainable Tourism Mission Thematic Projects and to improve the cooperation and transnational exchanges of public authorities in the Mediterranean.
In the process of building up and testing the methodology for the implementation of the STPLs, the Dialogue4Tourism project partners in collaboration of the Community for Tourism project are organizing a first testing dynamic Policy Lab session in Sustainable Tourism.
Place & Date: This session will take place in the framework of the key Mediterranean event Circle the MED Forum, in Technopolis, in Gazi (Athens, Greece), on the 3rd of June 2025.
Main goals of the session: As the STPL sees to enhace policies relevant for Mediterranean tourism, this first Policy Lab session on Sustainable Tourism will assess participants’ knowledge of sustainable tourism policies to understand the needs in support of sustainable tourism decision and policy-making processes.
Development of the session:
Four key concepts have been identified around: i) Tourism Governance, ii) Climate Change, iii) Tourism Innovation and iv) Circular Economy in Tourism.
Following a brief overview of theoretical knowledge accompanied by a review of selected case studies from the Interreg Thematic projects, these concepts will be at the heart of the practical session.
During the practical session, participants will work in small groups and apply the theoretical knowledge they have learned, including sustainable tourism indicators, circular economy, and innovative solutions.
Using Athens as a case study, participants will prioritize actions and discuss the application of the topics covered to improve sustainability and resilience, reduce climate impacts and foster socio-economic growth.
The session of this first testing Policy Lab on Sustainable Tourism will conclude with a final reflection on the session’s outcomes, providing space for participants’ feedback and questions, and a brief overview of the next steps ahead of the STPLs.
Registrations for the Sustainable Tourism Policy Labs already closed.
