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SEA-EU wins top prize at prestigious Atlantic-WestMED ceremony

The SEA-EU Alliance was recognised as the best ongoing ‘Blue’ collaboration, being declared the ‘Winner of Winners’, at a prestigious award ceremony held earlier this month in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, as part of the first-ever joint Atlantic-WestMED Stakeholder Conference. This landmark event marked the first time that both initiatives come together in a single forum, representing a significant milestone in advancing inter-basin cooperation. It builds on the current convergence in governance between the WestMED and Atlantic strategies, aiming to boost synergies, streamline efforts, reinforce complementarities, and strengthen the collective contribution to EU and regional maritime and blue economy priorities.

The Atlantic–WestMED Project Awards recognise innovative, sustainable and impactful initiatives contributing to the blue economy. The 2026 edition featured four categories: Blue Skills and Ocean Literacy; Maritime Spatial Planning; Biodiversity, Healthy Oceans and Resilient Coasts; and Shipping, Green Ports and Energy Transition. After the category winners presented their projects to participants, a live vote determined the overall ‘Winner of Winners’, with SEA-EU receiving the final recognition.

The Alliance was represented at the awards ceremony by the ½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ’s Rector’s Delegate for SEA-EU Prof. Alan Deidun, who delivered a synoptic presentation on the salient achievements of the Alliance to date and on its future outlook.
Dr Stephanie Vella, the Maltese National Hub for WestMED, has encouraged the University of Malta team to nominate SEA-EU for the Awards within the Blue Skills and Ocean Literacy category, which the Alliance won, making it eligible to compete for the overall award.

The University of Malta has been participating within the SEA-EU Alliance since 2019, with its participation being coordinated through an Office headed by Senior Manager Ms Maria Grima Calleja, with Pro-Rector Prof. Leonie Baldacchino’s portfolio including the ½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ’s participation within the Alliance. Earlier this year, in July, the EU Commission approved the 7.2 million-euro SEA-EU Next funding proposal, which will extend the Alliance’s operational timeline till 2029.

Further information about the alliance can be gleaned whilst further information about the Atlantic-WestMED Stakeholder Conference can be gleaned on the .