This area includes economic activities related to oceans, seas, and coasts, such as aquaculture, fisheries, blue biotechnologies, and marine renewable energy. The Mediterranean Sea offers diverse biological, mineral, and energy resources but suffers from overfishing, ocean acidification, and inadequate marine spatial planning. These issues are driven by intense human activity and unsustainable resource management.

This area encompasses all activities from farm to table, including the entire food value chain. Mediterranean agri-food systems are rich, featuring permanent crops, legumes, fresh vegetables, cereals, and livestock. However, they face frequent extreme weather, land degradation, and coastal soil salinization.

This area aims to support the EU’s goal of climate neutrality and digital advancement, focusing on innovation and economic adaptability. Promoting the competitiveness of SMEs is central to this effort. The industrial transition in the Mediterranean encourages sustainable consumption and production, integrating sustainability into public and private investment decisions. Challenges include socio-economic inequalities, high resource consumption, and ineffective fiscal policies.