Mediterranean Economic and Social Forum Launches Its First Edition
The shores of the Mediterranean, spanning Catalonia, the Valencian Community, the Region of Murcia, Andalusia, and the Balearic Islands, host the inaugural Economic and Social Forum of the Mediterranean. This distinctive event is organized by Prensa Ibérica with support from the La Caixa Foundation. It brings together governments, businesses, and civil society to foster economic and social growth in the Mediterranean with a holistic lens that covers territory, progress, and people.
The Palau de les Arts in Valencia serves as the venue for this assembly, which gathers more than a thousand participants today and tomorrow. Renowned academics and speakers from national and international circles will explore the region’s trajectory and address the principal challenges facing this geographic area, a zone viewed as a pivotal driver of Spain’s economic development.
Full program development
On the opening day, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez headlines the ceremony. The inauguration will be led by the president of the Generalitat Valenciana and the mayor of Valencia, accompanied by the president of Prensa Ibérica and the head of Institutional Relations at the La Caixa Foundation.
The forum’s sessions cap six months of collaborative debates conducted by eight local councils, each steered by a member newspaper from the group. These councils examined an economic and social challenge directly impacting the Mediterranean region. The first council, Future Mediterranean City, will present conclusions led by Salvador Moreno, an urban planner and architect. A round table moderated by Jose Ramon Mendaza will feature participants such as Miquel Barceló, president of Fractalogy Consulting; Ramon Gras, a city science researcher at Harvard; and Noelia Arroyo, mayor of Cartagena. Francisco de la Torre, mayor of Malaga, will deliver the closing remarks for this council.
The second council centers on Real Estate Challenges. Paloma Taltavull, the commissioner, will present the conclusions, with a roundtable moderated by Toni Cabot, Information Director. Attendees include Cristóbal Ruiz, director of urban planning at TM Grupo Inmobiliario; Jose Garcia-Montalvo, economics professor at Pompeu Fabra University; Paloma Taltavull, economics professor at the University of Alicante and council commissioner; and Sergio Vidal Balaguer, CEO of Goya Real Estate.
Next comes the Mobility Networks council, introduced by Josep Vicent Boira, commissioner for developing the Mediterranean Corridor. The roundtable is moderated by Jose Luis Valencia, director of Levante-EMV, with participants such as Boira; Vicente Boluda, president of Boluda Corporación Marítima; Antonio de Nó, Institutional Relations, Communication and Marketing director at Air Nostrum; Berta Barrero, strategy director at Vectalia; and Rubén Leonor Bravo, strategy manager at Renfe.
To close the first day of local councils, the discussion on New Energy for Industry features Juan Vicente Bono, council commissioner, with a round-table moderated by Angel Báez, director of Mediterráneo. Participants include Javier Rivera of PowerCo; Maria Teresa Costa, emeritus professor of economics and director of the Chair in Energy Sustainability at the University of Barcelona; Jose Miguel Ferrer, general director for Spain and Portugal at Statkraft; and Javier Portalés, energy lead at Pamesa. The conclusions are drawn by Carlos Mazón, the regional president.
The event also highlights contributions by historian Robert Kaplan and Mariana Mazzucato, professor at University College London. Dialogue sessions on New Energy Corridors I feature Francisco Reynés, executive president of Naturgy, and Albert Sáez, content director at Prensa Ibérica. Other dialogues cover Strategic Investments for the Future with Ángel Segura and Albert Sáez, Just Connections with Beatriz Corredor, president of Redeia, and Gemma Robles, head of content networks at Prensa Ibérica. The Transformative Education dialogue features Hortensia Roig, president of EDEM, and Gemma Martínez, deputy director of El Periódico.
The first day also spotlights additional sessions and a broader program focusing on energy and infrastructure, featuring voices from media, industry, and academia. Discussions address innovation, climate adaptation in tourism, water management, and a people-centered approach to regional growth. The aim is to outline practical steps toward a resilient, connected, and prosperous Mediterranean region.
Interventions on the 27th
The second day begins with Nadia Calviño, president of the European Investment Bank, and Martí Saballs, information director at Prensa Ibérica. The four remaining councils present their conclusions, followed by a series of focused sessions.
The day opens with Tourism and Climate Change, a roundtable moderated by Marisa Goñi, director of El Diario de Mallorca. Attendees include Toni Riera, director of the Impulsa Foundation; Vicent Marí, president of the Ibiza council; Ana Mayor, vice president of Port Hotels; and Sandra Espeja, projects director at the Marilles Foundation. The conclusions are presented by Marga Prohens, president of the Government of the Balearic Islands.
The Water Council follows, moderated by Jose Alberto Pardo, director of La Opinión de Murcia. Participants include Gonzalo Delacámara, director of the Center for Water and Climate Adaptation at IE University; Jose Claramonte, general director at Facsa; and Francisco Cabezas, director of the Mediterranean Water Institute. Fernando López Miras, president of the Region of Murcia, presents the conclusions.
The People Council opens with a forward-looking view by Laura Vilagrà, acting vice president of the Catalan government. The roundtable is moderated by Josep Callol, director of the Girona newspaper, featuring Andres Perelló, director of Casa Mediterráneo; Oscar Camps, founder and director of Open Arms; Manuel Rullo from the La Caixa Foundation; and Francesc Cortada, CEO of Intermón Oxfam.
The final council of the first Mediterranean Economic and Social Forum addresses the Blue Economy. A debate is moderated by Cristina Buesa of El Periódico and includes Manu San Félix, National Geographic explorer; Ignasi Ferrer of Ocean Ecostructures; and Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy of the World Ocean Council.
Other discussions include talks with historian Shlomo Ben Ami and dialogues on Innovation and the Future led by Javier García, a professor at the University of Alicante and entrepreneur, and Natalia Ríos, chief editor of Activos. Additional dialogues feature Oscar Camps of Open Arms and Gemma Martínez; Networks of Distribution for Progress with Jose Bogas Gálvez of Endesa; and Antonio Garamendi, president of the CEOE, alongside Martí Saballs. Closing dialogues explore future goals with leaders such as Mario Ruiz-Tagle of Iberdrola and Juan Carlos Lozano, head of the Activos editorial team.
Endnote on the forum
The gathering marks a milestone for the region, underscoring the interlinked potential across government, industry, and civil society. The discussions are intended to translate into actionable proposals that can accelerate regional growth, upgrade infrastructure, and empower local communities along the Mediterranean coast. This forum stands as a landmark example of what can be achieved when diverse voices unite toward shared progress and sustainable development for the entire corridor.
[Attribution: this summary reflects coverage from Prensa Ibérica and affiliated outlets. Specific conclusions and participant lists are reported by the event organizers and multiple participating media partners.]