Over the past three years, BlueMissionMed has played a pivotal role in advancing the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” across the Mediterranean basin. Acting as a strategic connector and facilitator, the project has successfully brought together diverse stakeholders – from policy-makers and scientific communities to industry actors, civil society, youth organisations and coastal communities – fostering a cohesive and mission-driven network. The project’s commitment culminated with the Med Lighthouse Bootcamp at ECOMONDO, Rimini, Italy, which consisted of gathering Mission-funded projects, Charter signatories, and Mediterranean stakeholders.

The Bootcamp took place from 4 to 7 November 2025 and was organised by the BlueMissionMed CSA in collaboration with the European Commission and delivering 20 curated sessions on policy, governance, innovation, and regional cooperation. The Mediterranean Lighthouse Bootcamp represents the annual gathering of Mission-funded projects, Charter signatories, and Mediterranean stakeholders. This was the occasion to bring together 3 of MedCities’ members, Ancona, Genoa and the Metropolitan City of Mersin.

MedCities co-organised the session dedicated to «European Tools, Instruments and Services for Implementing the Mission at Local and Regional Level: Illustrating Best Practices and Discussing with Local Authorities» The session, moderated by MedCities Head of Policy & Knowledge Transfer, counted with representatives from the three member municipalities and showcased a variety of assistance tools available to sub-national public authorities seeking to implement the EU Mission Ocean & Waters, with strong emphasis to the EU level technical support provided by the European Commission and the Mission Implementation Platform. The session also included information about the new opportunities of the Digital Twin of the Oceans (DTO) with examples provided by HCRM and METU. The aim was seeking a dialogue between support providers and final receivers to get direct feedback on the opportunities, needs and barriers to the use of these tools at the municipal level. 

METU has showcased the BRIDGE Black Sea Digital Twin Ocean demonstrator that has been recently launched under the BRIDGE-BS project. During the presentation, the connection between Black Sea and the Mediterranean was highlighted. Additionally, the potential of DTOs for the local policymakers in terms of implementation of European policies such as MSP and MSFD is highlighted for the representatives of the Municipalities to react. The representatives of Genoa, Ancona and Mersin Metropolitan Municipality stressed the opportunity posed by tools as the DTO, but also that what municipalities urgently need is, among others, governance solutions and regulatory frameworks, certified data and synthesised messages for elected representatives and citizens.

All three representatives shared the message that local authorities are not testers but implementers, and they need to find spaces where they can have a mandate that could embed the use of DTO. Natura 2000 sites (as a network) and municipal Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) designated areas could be the most suitable areas at the local level for this end.

These types of hands-on contributions will also be essential to shape the services provided for the next edition of EU Mission Ocean and Water lighthouses.

Explore all details of the Lighthouse Bootcamp events in the dedicated Newsletter