A New Pact for a Sustainable Mediterranean Future
Date/Time
Date(s) - 19 May 2026 - 21 May 2026
13h00 - 17h00
Join us in Athens on 19, 20 and 21 May for three days of high-level dialogues, knowledge exchange, networking and community building at Piraeus Sailing Club. The Innovative Sustainable Economy (ISE) Mission of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme invites you to our in-person community gathering, hosted by our Greek partners DVISION and MIO-ECSDE, and held within the context of the Circle the Med Forum.
Circle the Med – The Mediterranean Forum is a flagship annual event and community platform dedicated to accelerating the green transition, climate neutrality, and environmental resilience across the Mediterranean region. Over the years, Circle the Med Forum has established itself as a cornerstone of climate and environmental diplomacy in the region.
This 9th edition of the Forum brings together policymakers, innovators, researchers, public authorities, civil society and private sector actors from across the Mediterranean to advance a New Pact for a Sustainable Mediterranean Future, rooted in innovation, circular economy, resilience and cooperative governance.
The Circle the Med Forum will showcase how collaborative efforts under the ISE Mission are driving transformative solutions that strengthen innovation capacities, promote green and blue circular economies, and support systemic territorial transition across the region. The Forum will facilitate exchanges in this direction by hosting two of the main annual gatherings of the ISE Mission: the MED Innovation Summit and the ISE Community of Practice (CoP).
Registration is now open to join us in Athens this May. Please note that registrations are handled through the Circle the Med conference platform. You will need to create an account there and then confirm your attendance.
What to Expect
9th Edition Circle the Med Forum Opening – High-level Dialogues
The 9th edition seeks to articulate a renewed Mediterranean vision, one rooted in cooperation, resilience, and shared responsibility. The Forum will explore how the region can transform vulnerability into strength by building trust, deepening partnerships, and aligning political leadership, economic forces, and societal aspirations around a common purpose.
High-level dialogues will address the Mediterranean’s strategic role in the global climate and energy transition, recognizing energy as both an instrument of sustainability and a pillar of peace and stability. They will also consider the stewardship of the Mediterranean Sea itself; its waters, islands, coastlines, and biodiversity – as a moral and strategic obligation to future generations.
Equally central is the human dimension. The Mediterranean’s living heritage, cultural diversity, and social fabric must remain at the heart of any sustainable future. Models of development, including tourism, maritime activity, and urban growth, must reinforce social cohesion, respect identity, and serve communities, while remaining aligned with environmental limits.
MED Innovation Summit 2026
The 3rd edition brings together the Mediterranean community to share knowledge, foster collaboration and turn innovation into lasting impact.
This year’s approach is rooted in the ISE Mission’s conviction that a sustainable transition requires coordinated action across sectors, governance levels and territories. The 2026 edition focuses on sharing the knowledge and solutions tested within the ISE Community by Thematic Projects (TPs), mentors and partners, while enhancing synergies within and beyond the ISE Mission.
The Summit’s four thematic panels reflect this logic, focusing on the sustainable use of natural resources, climate-smart resilience, regenerative economic models, and Green Living Areas as laboratories for community-led governance. By combining policy dialogue, scientific knowledge and concrete project experience from across the Euro-MED area, the Summit highlights how innovation can be tested, transferred and scaled in diverse Mediterranean contexts, aligning with the Interreg Euro-MED Academy.
5th ISE CoP in-person gathering
Since June 2024, the ISE CoP has been consolidating a dynamic and collaborative network among the ISE Mission’s 23 TPs and two Governance Projects. This year’s in-person gathering comes at a pivotal moment, as the Community reaches peak momentum- marked by tangible project results, emerging innovations, and strengthened partnerships.
To capitalise on this collective energy, the third day of the event will be fully dedicated to deepening thematic collaboration. Participants will engage in four Thematic Working Groups (Marine Resources, Agri-Food Systems, Industrial Transition, and Resources Valorisation) to reflect on the progress, align priorities, and exchange practical insights from the Mentoring & Twinning programme action plans.
Complementing these focused discussions, a Marketplace Village will foster peer learning and cross-fertilisation among recently launched initiatives. Organised around three territorial challenge clusters: islands and coastal areas; agriculture and rural regions; and villages and urban spaces. This interactive format will encourage solution-oriented dialogue and showcase innovative practices.
In the afternoon, a targeted training on regional policies for circular innovation will draw on experiences from the European Circular Economy Innovation Valley, complemented by regional strategy examples, public administration case studies, and an overview of decentralised funding mechanisms anticipated under the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034).
The gathering will conclude with a panel discussion focused on lessons learned and pathways to shift from fragmented initiatives toward collective impact. Voices from ISEC Hub members will contribute perspectives on scaling solutions, strengthening cooperation, and enhancing the long-term effectiveness of the ISE Mission Community.
Find more logistics information to prepare your trip and attendance to the event on our travelling guide.
