International Conference “Europe and the changing Mediterranean: policies and research agendas for culture, heritage, and sustainability”

The cradle of classical civilisations, the Mediterranean is the result of the cultural diversity of the different societies that have conquered, occupied, and transformed it. It is a space of dynamic borders, transit and exchange between cultures and religions, in constant change, development and transformation.
Furthermore, the Mediterranean is among the most significantly impacted regions globally due to climate change. Drought threatens the survival of animal and plant species and biodiversity. Demographic changes in Southern Europe are marked by migration, an ageing population, rural desertification, and the resulting demographic pressure, persisting inequalities and societal tensions in cities. Tourism pressure has irreversible impacts on cultural heritage. On the other hand, 75 percent of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage located in the Mediterranean basin is at risk of being submerged by rising sea levels. It is therefore urgent to prioritise the protection of the Mediterranean’s cultural heritage, redefine European action agendas and strengthen Euro-Mediterranean cooperation initiatives. These issues remain key concerns in the present EU agenda and in the wider discourse on EU policy. Moreover, European strategies and funding programmes have sought to promote sustainable tourism, integrated landscape management and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, based on the consumption of local products, recognised as more sustainable and classified as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.
This scientific meeting aims to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue focused on Mediterranean heritage(ies), Euro-Mediterranean agendas and policies for their safeguarding and enhancement, as a way of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.
The event is being held as part of the MEDHEUS project (Mediterranean Cultural Heritage in EU Policies), funded by the Jean Monnet Modules action of the Erasmus+ programme.