Bringing together partners from across the Euro-Mediterranean region, the INCORE-MED 3rd General Assembly and Steering Committee meeting took place in Barcelona on 10–11 March 2026, focusing on participatory approaches and strengthening links between science, policy and practice in coastal management.
Discussions over the two days focused on the implementation of SWAP (Scenario Workshop Adaptation Pathways) and DLabs (Democracy Labs) across pilot sites, engaging stakeholders in shaping locally grounded responses to coastal risks.
Catalonia: integrating SWAP into coastal planning
SWAP is being applied in the regions of Sardinia (Italy) and Catalonia (Spain) - where it supports ongoing coastal policy processes linked to the development of the Coastal Protection and Management Plan of Catalonia.
Presented by the General Directorate of Coastal Policies of the Government of Catalonia, the plan covers the entire Catalan coastline and extends one kilometre inland. It is being developed based on two baseline scenarios — one assuming moderate climate change impacts and continued sustainability policies, and another reflecting more severe impacts. Building on these, five alternative scenarios explore different combinations of policies related to coastal climate adaptation, management of natural coastal heritage and improvements in coastal governance.
The process is currently in its public information and consultation phase - a point where participation becomes essential. This is where INCORE-MED comes in, through the implementation of SWAP workshops that bring stakeholders into the process and support co-creation.
From pilot implementation to shared approaches
Progress on DLab activities was also showcased, with workshops planned in Faro (Portugal) and Kaštela (Croatia) in May 2026, tailored to specific local contexts of the two pilot sites.
With the aim of understanding the transfer and uptake of these innovative participatory approaches, an analytical framework is being developed to assess the transfer and adoption of SWAP and DLab methodologies, addressing both their conceptual and practical appropriation. The framework will identify key conditions, mechanisms and indicators, as well as diagnostic questions and assessment tools, helping to guide their implementation and flag potential challenges at an early stage. It builds on lessons learned from earlier INCORE-MED work by PAP/RAC and Plan Bleu, which explored governance conditions and models for effective ICZM and MSP participation across pilot sites.
One of the highlights of the meeting was a brainstorming session on the development of the project’s methodological toolbox and self-learning modules to support the practical application of SWAP & DLabs participatory approaches. The discussion focused on how to structure these resources so they can guide stakeholders through different phases of implementation.
Strengthening synergies across the Euro-MED community
The gathering also offered an opportunity to situate this work within a broader Euro-MED context, connecting pilot-level activities with other ongoing efforts in the region. The EU Natural Heritage Mission, presented by CREAF, covers Interreg Euro-Med projects focused on environmental governance, nature-based solutions, disaster risk reduction and coastal adaptation, with opportunities for knowledge exchange, networking and sharing replicable solutions.
The methodological toolbox and self-learning modules will be made available through the Interreg Euro-MED Academy and PAP/RAC’s MedOpen online learning platform, making these resources accessible for wider use - especially within the Barcelona Convention system.
Altogether, the work carried out within the project highlights its focus on developing practical and transferable approaches to participatory coastal management across the Euro-Med region.
Learn more about the project at: incore-med.interreg-euro-med.eu/
The project is financed by the Interreg Euro-MED Programme, with a total budget of 2,487,000, including an EU contribution of 1,989,000.
