Last May 21st, the Blue Tourism Initiative —represented by Giulia Balestracci, Project Officer at Eco-union—took part in Capraia Smart Island 2025, organised within the framework of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” and celebrated as part of the European Maritime Day in My Country.

This edition of Capraia Smart Island marked an important milestone, as the island hosted the launch of the Pilot Platform for Sustainable Mediterranean Small Island Communities, a joint effort by Chimica Verde Bionet, SMILO, and BlueMissionMed. The event brought together a diverse community of island practitioners, NGOs, researchers, and institutions to explore how small Mediterranean islands can strengthen their sustainability and resilience. Small islands are on the front line of climate change—facing accelerating coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and more frequent extreme weather events. Capraia became, for a few days, an open laboratory where these challenges were openly discussed and innovative solutions shared.

During the sessions, Giulia presented the ongoing work of the Blue Tourism Initiative and shared experiences from our Mediterranean pilot projects, including: Al Hoceima National Park (Morocco); Djerba Island (Tunisia); and in Lebanon the Tyre Coast Nature Reserve Palm Islands Nature Reserve, and Anfeh Salt Pans.  These pilots illustrate how community-led governance, nature-based solutions, and sustainable tourism models can support the resilience of both ecosystems and local economies.

Giulia also introduced the newly endorsed MED Blue Tourism Flagship Initiative, approved by the 21st Meeting of the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development (MCSD). This flagship represents a major step toward a more coordinated, climate-resilient, and sustainability-driven approach to tourism across the Mediterranean.

Capraia Smart Island 2025 was an inspiring moment to reconnect with partners, exchange ideas, and collectively imagine new paths for the future of Mediterranean small islands.