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🌊 In May 2024, Beyond Plastic Med (BeMed) launched its second call for projects dedicated to Mediterranean islands, supporting 7 local initiatives across 6 Mediterranean countries to combat plastic pollution. Notably, in 2020, BeMed backed a French project "Projet pilote zéro plastique" by SMILO, which developed prototypes for plastic alternatives using local materials like Provence cane and date palm residues on Kerkennah island.

🏕️ Alexandra Borchio Fontimp reelected as President of Côte d’Azur France Tourisme at the beginning of 2025. During her first term, the region overcame challenges from the COVID crisis, climate issues, and other crises. The Olympic year 2024 brought major events like the Tour de France and the Olympics, boosting tourism with 11.5 million visitors, 54% international. Hotel and residence occupancy reached 66%, up 1 point from 2023. Annual hotel and residence nights hit 13 million, the highest in over a decade.

📈 In France, the Mastercard Economics Institute forecasts a 0.8% increase in real GDP for 2025 compared to 2024 and a 0.8% rise in consumer spending from the previous year. Consumer price inflation is expected to see a notable increase of 1.8% over 2024. A spending gap of 4.8 percentage points was noted in 2024 favoring mass-market stores over luxury boutiques, a trend predicted to continue in 2025. Globally, a 3.2% economic growth is anticipated for 2025, slightly up from 3.1% in 2024, despite Europe's strict fiscal policy and trade uncertainties, aided by a looser monetary policy and strong consumption.