Circle the Med
The Mediterranean Forum 9th edition

Tue 19 May - Thu 21 May 2026
All times are based on Athens (EEST)

Circle the Med Forum Opening

13:00 - 14:00
Registration
14:00 - 15:00
Circle the MED Opening Ceremony

Forging a Common Mediterranean Space: A New Pact for Our Shared Future

The official opening of the Forum sets the strategic tone, introducing the vision of a renewed Mediterranean partnership rooted in cooperation, resilience, and shared responsibility

Welcome:
 George Papandreou
George Papandreou
Former Prime Minister of Greece, President of Circle the Med
Opening Keynote Address by:
 H.E. Constantine An. Tassoulas
H.E. Constantine An. Tassoulas
President of the Hellenic Republic
Speakers:
 Nasser Kamel
Nasser Kamel
Secretary General, Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)
 Haris Doukas
Haris Doukas
Mayor of Athens, Hellenic Republic
 Kata Tüttő
Kata Tüttő
President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR)
15:00 - 16:00
Energy as a Bridge: Climate Resilience, Energy Security, and Peace in the Mediterranean

This dialogue explores how renewable energy cooperation, cross-border infrastructure, and clean-energy investment can strengthen resilience, reduce tensions, and build trust across the Mediterranean basin.

Statement by:
 Omar Amer Youssef
Omar Amer Youssef
Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Greece
Introductory remarks:
 Sophie Scarvelis
Sophie Scarvelis
Project Unit Manager at Interreg Euro-MED Programme
Speakers:
 Francesco Corvaro
Francesco Corvaro
Special Envoy For Climate Change of the Italian Government
 Marija Pujo Tadić
Marija Pujo Tadić
Special Advisor/Envoy for Climate Action of the Republic of Croatia and President of the International Institute for Climate Action (IICA)
 Francisco Gaztelu Mezquiriz
Francisco Gaztelu Mezquiriz
Director of the North Africa Directorate, DG MENA, European Commission
 Ambassador Hesham Youssef
Ambassador Hesham Youssef
Senior Advisor at European Institute of Peace (EIP)
 Simone Bastianoni
Simone Bastianoni
Vice Rector, University of Siena
 Prof. Michael Scoullos
Prof. Michael Scoullos
WES-BCA Team Leader, Chairperson, MIO-ECSDE
Moderator :
 Marilena Koppa
Marilena Koppa
Dean of the School of International Studies, Communication and Culture, Professor of Comparative Politics in the Department of European, International and Area Studies, Panteion University
Supported by:
16:00 - 17:00
The Blue Horizon: Water, Seas, Islands, and Coastal Futures Reimagining the Mediterranean Blue Economy

This dialogue rethinks the blue economy through the lenses of marine protection, sustainable fisheries, coastal resilience, island development, and maritime innovation, highlighting water governance and ocean stewardship as pillars of long-term regional sustainability.

Statements by:
 Costas Kadis
Costas Kadis (online)
Εuropean Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans
 Vassilis Kikilias
Vassilis Kikilias (tbc)
Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy of Greece
Speakers:
 Olivier Poivre d’Arvor
Olivier Poivre d’Arvor
Ambassador and Special Envoy to the President of the French Republic for the ocean and poles
 Dr Heba Sharawy
Dr Heba Sharawy
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment for Coastal, Lake, and Port Affairs, Egypt
Dr Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou
Dr Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou
Greek Prime Minister's Special Envoy For the Oceans
 Isabelle Ryckbost
Isabelle Ryckbost
Secretary General, European Sea Ports Organisation
 Geneviève Pons
Geneviève Pons
President and Director General of Europe Jacques Delors
 Maria Damanaki
Maria Damanaki
Independent Advisor on Climate - Oceans, former European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Professor at NOVA University Lisbon, Vice President of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP)
Moderator :
 Georgios Dikaios
Georgios Dikaios
Marie Curie Fellow, Leiden University; Senior Research Fellow, UNESCO Chair on Climate Diplomacy & ELIAMEP
17:00 - 18:00
Living Heritage and Sustainable Tourism: Resilient Societies and the Human Pillar of Mediterranean Sustainability

This dialogue focuses on regenerative tourism models, cultural preservation, community-led development and social cohesion, placing people and local identity at the heart of sustainable economic growth. The session is taking place in the framework of the cross-network alliance of the Sustainable Tourism Mission of Interreg Euro-Med Programme, an emblematic initiative activating key stakeholders for promoting sustainable Tourism in Mediterranean. This process is facilitated by Dialogue4Tourism governance project.

Statements by:
 Apostolos Tzitzikostas
Apostolos Tzitzikostas (online)
European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism
 Olga Kefalogianni
Olga Kefalogianni (tbc)
Minister of Tourism of the Hellenic Republic
Speakers:
 Vladan Đokić
Vladan Đokić
Rector of the University of Belgrade, Serbia
 Nadine Abdel Ghaffar
Nadine Abdel Ghaffar
Cultural Entrepreneur, Curator, and Founder of Art D’Égypte
 Dr Sofia Avgerinou-Kolonia
Dr Sofia Avgerinou-Kolonia
Emeritus Professor, Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Planning, School of Architecture, NTUA, President of ICOMOS Hellenic
 Georgios Drakopoulos
Georgios Drakopoulos
Founder & CEO of Tourism Generis
 Georgios Sylaios
Georgios Sylaios
Professor, Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Department of Environmental Engineering
Moderator :
 Alexia Spyridonidou
Alexia Spyridonidou
Climate Governance Specialist EPLO, EU Climate Pact Ambassador
Co-organized by:
18:00 - 18:15
Fireside Chat

Citizens at the Centre: Participatory Democracy and the Climate Transition

Speakers:
 George Papandreou
George Papandreou
Former Prime Minister of Greece, President of Circle the Med
 Éva Bördős
Éva Bördős
Executive Director, DemNet
18:15 - 19:00
Financing the Pact: Mobilising Sustainable Investment and Enabling a Circular Economy for a Just Transition and a Resilient Mediterranean

Mobilising sustainable investment and enabling a circular economy are central to strengthening strategic autonomy, competitiveness, and regional stability. At the core of this effort lies the principle of a just transition, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Speakers:
 Sandrine Kergroach
Sandrine Kergroach
Senior Economist and policy analyst at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE)
 Vassilis Korkidis
Vassilis Korkidis
President of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry
 Ioannis Androulakis
Ioannis Androulakis
President of Green Fund
 Sergio Ponsa Salas
Sergio Ponsa Salas
Director - BETA Technological Center
 Roger Garcia i Noguera
Roger Garcia i Noguera
Director of MedWaves
Moderator :
 Ioannis Mardikis
Ioannis Mardikis
Environmental Sustainability Specialist Department of Technical Cooperation (EPLO)
19:00 - 19:30
Special Ceremony

Guest of Honour Country: Egypt - Bridging Continents, Cultivating Sustainable Growth

A dedicated ceremonial segment honouring Egypt as Guest of Honour, highlighting its strategic Mediterranean role, cultural depth, and leadership in sustainable development, energy transition, and agro-industrial value chains.

19:30 - 21:00
Cocktail Reception & Networking
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