Mediterranean Awards announced in recognition of the promotion of Mediterranean identity and sustainable development

The Andalusian Regional Government, through the Three Cultures Foundation of the Mediterranean, has the honour of presenting the 1st Edition of the Mediterranean Awards, under the auspices of the Intermediterranean Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions, whose deadline for the presentation of candidatures remains open until 30 April. 
The aim of these awards is to recognise the work of individuals and/or institutions, companies and other organisations whose work has contributed to boosting the Mediterranean identity, promoting sustainable and integrated development on all its shores, fostering peace, intercultural and interreligious dialogue in the Mediterranean basin.

The Mediterranean Awards, which are born with the firm intention of lasting over time, are aligned with the objectives pursued by the New Agenda for the Mediterranean approved in 2021. The Mediterranean Awards comprise two categories of Awards; the first one, of an institutional nature, aimed at institutions, companies or other organisations, as well as individuals, which includes the following categories: Mediterranean Digital Award, which will distinguish an important contribution to increasing competitiveness or improving services thanks to digitalisation; Mediterranean Green Award, for promoting the reduction of the ecological footprint or environmental impact in the Mediterranean and making it a more sustainable space; Mediterranean Women's Award, for favouring the empowerment of women at all levels of economic, cultural, scientific or academic activity; Mediterranean Solidarity Award, for sponsoring solidarity actions, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, or to reduce the economic, social, cultural, academic or any other kind of gap between the different shores of the Mediterranean; and the Mediterranean Identity Award, for the promotion of values, traditions, aspirations and attitudes of the peoples of the Mediterranean, helping to enhance and highlight their idiosyncrasies, relations between their peoples, creativity, arts and sciences.

There is also the category known as the 'Ad Personam Award', through which the Mediterranean of the Year Award will be granted to recognise the career of a person or a group of people for their involvement, commitment and dedication in contributing to making the Mediterranean a better place in any of the fields included in the institutional category described in the previous paragraph.

The Awards also represent an important platform for the dissemination of information for the individuals and/or institutions, companies or other organisations that are awarded prizes, as they will obtain a significant projection throughout the Mediterranean basin.

Candidates may submit nominations or be proposed by a third party in one or both of the two existing categories. Nominations or proposals may be submitted by national, regional or local governments; academic or cultural institutions; jury members; companies and other organisations or individuals, from anywhere in the world. In addition, nominations must be from one of the following countries bordering the Mediterranean: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. In addition, Jordan and Mauritania are included as members of ARLEM (Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly) and Portugal.

The Mediterranean, a maritime basin unparalleled in the rest of the world, is the cradle of civilisations over the centuries, many of which have left their mark on Andalusia, helping to forge and define the region it is today.

Andalusia, a living proof that coexistence between different cultures is not only desirable but possible, has been and will continue to be committed to promoting cooperation in the Mediterranean, giving it the central role it deserves, particularly at the present time, joining forces in the search for common responses to challenges (post-pandemic recovery, the fight against climate change, etc.) that are more global than ever and which, consequently, require the involvement of all.