Matteo Balzarini Zane

Across the Sea

our bond to the Mediterranean

The international project Across the Sea stems from the desire to create a transnational space built by and for the youth from every shore of the Mediterranean. The initiative is founded on the belief that the involvement of the new generations in local and international decision-making processes is essential to build a new, responsible, and aware community, ready to face the challenges ahead. It aims to promote integration and strengthen a strong sense of belonging to the Mediterranean community, working in close collaboration with institutional partners and with the support of national and international entities.

The first edition in 2023, held in Genoa under the patronage of the University of Genoa and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), brought together 13 delegations to address the issues of climate change and migration routes in the Mediterranean basin. The proceedings culminated in the drafting of a document delivered to the UfM’s Deputy Secretary General, containing proposals for improving energy efficiency and regulating migration flows within the framework of environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

In 2024, the second edition of Across the Sea expanded its participation, increasing from 13 to 18 represented countries. The main themes focused on water management and marine and coastal pollution, with an innovative introduction of joint projects among the different delegations. These projects provided a unique opportunity for Mediterranean youth to collaborate, putting intercultural dialogue and international cooperation into practice to achieve concrete actions with measurable impacts on local civil society.