ASCAME is proud to be a key partner in the newly approved Interreg NEXT MED Programme’s YESS Med Project, a flagship initiative designed to accelerate the green transition and empower youth-led entrepreneurship across the Mediterranean.
This project is part of the 49 new initiatives selected under the Programme’s second call for proposals dedicated to the green transition, representing over €113 million in EU funding to strengthen transnational cooperation in the region. The approval was formalized during the 4th Programme Monitoring Committee meeting, held in Brussels on 5–6 May 2026 with representatives from participating countries and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy.
The project’s mission
The YESS Med Project directly contributes to major EU and international frameworks focused on green transition, inclusive growth, and youth empowerment. Rather than starting from scratch, it builds on proven methodologies, successful past initiatives, and shared regional knowledge.
Its mission is clear: Transform green entrepreneurship from a fragmented landscape into a coherent, accessible, transnational ecosystem that equips young innovators with the skills, tools, and opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods while strengthening the Mediterranean’s climate resilience.
Strategic alignment
The YESS Med Project is fully aligned with the Green Deal, the EU’s flagship roadmap for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. The Green Deal calls for a deep transformation of Europe’s economy – from energy and mobility to industry and skills – and places innovation and youth participation at the heart of this transition.
YESS Med directly supports these ambitions by empowering young entrepreneurs to develop climate-neutral, circular, and resource-efficient business models, strengthening the region’s capacity to innovate and preparing SMEs to thrive in a greener economy. Through green skills development, early-stage support, and cross-border collaboration, the project contributes to the Green Deal’s goal of making sustainability a driver of competitiveness and inclusive growth.
In addition, the YESS Med Project is aligned with the Union for the Mediterranean’s GreenerMed Agenda, which provides a shared regional framework to accelerate the shift toward a green, circular, and inclusive Mediterranean economy. It focuses on addressing environmental pressures, promoting sustainable consumption and production, and leveraging innovation to build resilience.
YESS Med reinforces these priorities by building a transnational ecosystem for green entrepreneurship, enabling young innovators to co-create solutions to regional environmental challenges. Its activities – from green skills training to pre-incubation and incubation – directly support GreenerMed’s pillars on education, innovation, and sustainable economic development, helping scale solutions that benefit the entire Mediterranean basin.
A truly Mediterranean partnership
The project brings together partners from Spain, Egypt, Algeria, and Jordan, strengthening cross-border collaboration and shared environmental ambition. ASCAME will mobilize several chambers within its network to participate and maximize regional impact actively.