Coastal Cities of the Mediterranean: Port Governance Strategies and Interaction with Cities

On October 5-6, 2023, local authorities from coastal cities met in Tangier to discuss the impact of port activities on cities and explore sustainable urban development strategies. With coordination support from spacefourt, MedCities organized this event to foster a stable working group addressing these issues, encouraging cooperation between cities, ports, research bodies, and international institutions.

Participants included authorities from Dubrovnik, Izmir, Misrata, Saïda, Tangier, Tetouan, and Tripoli, alongside the Tangier Ville port authority and international bodies like AIVP, Port City Futures, and GIZ.

MedCities, in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and GIZ, aims to implement UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the municipal level through knowledge exchange among Mediterranean local authorities.

Key discussions focused on governance, mobility, pollution, environmental challenges, heritage preservation, and socio-cultural dimensions. Effective governance models for port-city cooperation were debated, emphasizing the need for balanced decision-making and sustainable practices.

The meeting highlighted successful initiatives, such as Marseille's push for an Emission Control Zone and Palma and Dubrovnik's agreements to limit cruise ship numbers. The Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development was identified as a roadmap for aligning regional efforts with SDGs.