Objectives
The Work Package is central to the overall project structure and will be responsible for the realisation of a comprehensive analysis in relation to the selected societal challenges: Scarcity of resources, Energy (specifically the sustainable utilisation of renewable energy) and High Quality Affordable Food. In particular, the analysis will aim at taking stock of policy dialogue incorporating experts from the MPC and the EU and existing actions/projects to support identify of common challenges and priorities. A detailed holistic analysis of societal challenges (interactions, problems, needs, gaps, issues, best practices) is needed to support comprehensive knowledge building, preparation of joint activities, identify new means for innovative programming and research policy and programmes, promote synergies and complementarities, identify means and favourable conditions to enhance innovation.
Description of work and role of partners
As already mentioned, the Work Package is central to the project structure and will provide inputs and contribution to all the other Work Packages. The societal challenges analysis will be carried out by an ad-hoc established group, the Euro-Mediterranean Expert Group (EMEG), which will act as a regional “think tank”, analysing the different scientific, policy and cooperation aspects within selected societal challenges. Since societal challenges are at the core of the next research Framework Programme (Horizon 2020), the analysis will also contribute to H2020 in establishing a rational frame for scientific cooperation with Mediterranean Partner Countries on selected societal challenges. In principle, the analysis will build on the information/results of past and ongoing successful projects, literature, the EMEG internal dialogue and the open dialogue with stakeholders through a series of workshops.
The work of EMEG will also build on the outcomes of MIRA (Euro-Mediterranean thematic workshops Energy, Environment, Food and Agriculture organised in 2009 and Social Sciences and Humanities organised in 2011), current working groups (example: the one on the decontamination of the Mediterranean sea) and will consider the outcomes of the ongoing policy dialogue, like for example the conclusions of most recent MoCo meetings and the EU-MPCs S&T Cooperation Agreements. EMEG will also refer to the recent milestones in the Euro-Mediterranean policy dialogue: UfM priorities, the Cairo Declaration and the recent EC communications. All these background references will be used as main policy framework when identifying gaps and needs, priorities and actions. When carrying out the work, EMEG will also link with other relevant initiatives or regional frames (ex.: Horizon 2020-Depollution of Mediterranean sea, Joint Programme Initiatives, ARLEM - Water Resources, EMIS) and invite their representatives/core working teams to participate in the EMEG internal meetings and WP events. Synergies and cross-information between EMEG and EEAS or relevant EC DGs (ex: DEVCO, ENTR, ENV, ENER, AGRI, SANCO, EMPL, EAC, TRADE) will be ensured.
The selected societal challenges
In principle, for the selected societal challenges, the following main issues and aspects will be addressed:
- High Quality Affordable Food: food security and safety, sustainable food chain (from production to transformation) , reduction of productive soil and biodiversities, diet and obesity, MPCs competitiveness and food trading, standards and labelling, organic food production, sustainable fishing and aquaculture.
- Scarcity of resources: management of water scarcity, water saving, water use efficiency and water recycling are for all the Mediterranean Partner Countries critical issues and will be deeply addressed by the expert group and by all the project.
- Energy: energy efficiency, solar energy, photovoltaic, material and technology for applications (environment, agriculture), wind, bio-energy under specific Mediterranean climates. These issues constitutes the most common denominator for all the MPCs as highlighted in all policy and technical-scientific meetings.
Please find the list of documents for the EMEG group in the repository of documents/bibliographic references for EMEG group.
