Par- Radio ML
The Minister of Economy and Planning, Samir Abdul Hafiz, on Tuesday, called on public and private institutions and research centers to submit their project proposals related to green transition to obtain funding from the European Union under the "Cross-Border Cooperation in the Mediterranean Basin" program, until April 15, 2025.
Abdul Hafiz, during an information day held in Tunis to introduce the available funding opportunities, stated that the Cross-Border Cooperation program in the Mediterranean Basin opened the call for applications on January 14, 2025, to select and fund the best green projects within partnerships between structures and institutions from Mediterranean countries, with a budget of approximately 83.7 million euros.
He affirmed that this program, with a total budget of 253 million euros, aims to fund projects supporting renewable energies, water management, climate change adaptation, circular economy, health, local governance, and youth and women support.
The minister added that the European program also aims to encourage joint initiatives between the two shores of the Mediterranean in key areas such as enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, research, and innovation.
He clarified that more than 200 Tunisian institutions from both the public and private sectors participated in this information day, organized by the ministry in partnership with the management authority of the program in the Sardinia region, to learn about the conditions and procedures for submitting project proposals and ensure intensive and effective national participation and benefit from the available funding mechanism.
It is noteworthy that Tunisia is participating with 14 Mediterranean countries in the "Cross-Border Cooperation in the Mediterranean Basin" program funded by the European Union under the European Neighbourhood Policy. This is the second call for project proposals, as the program organized the first call for proposals in February 2024, and the specialized committees are currently sorting through them.
The Director General at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, Fathi Ben Maimoun, stated that the "Cross-Border Cooperation in the Mediterranean Basin" program will grant funding ranging from 700,000 euros for projects proposed by youth to 3.5 million euros for projects in other relevant fields. Ben Maimoun added that the implementation period for these projects will extend from 24 to 36 months in partnership with structures and institutions from both shores of the Mediterranean, urging all central and regional administrations, local communities, public institutions and enterprises, universities, research centers, chambers of industry and commerce, technical centers, technological poles, professional groups, national organizations, professional bodies, and associations to participate.
The communication officer in the Cross-Border Cooperation program for the Mediterranean Basin, Martin Heibel, stated to "TAP" that the program allocated about 20% of this budget (83.7 million euros) to support youth projects, enhance their integration, and help them find job opportunities amidst the climate change effects threatening their future.
He explained that the program aims to address the common challenges faced by Mediterranean countries, such as heatwaves, water resource governance, energy efficiency, supporting zero-carbon potential for institutions, enhancing local capacities, and establishing public policies to confront climate changes and the impact of bacterial diseases on vulnerable groups.
He pointed out that this program works to support this dynamic to ensure that these challenges are not only solved locally but also addressed in a participatory manner at the Mediterranean level, especially as climate change issues are becoming more complex globally, with shifts in priorities under President Donald Trump's administration in the United States.