The European public actors The scale of the interventions for the adaptation of littorals to CC must take into account not only the general conditions (meteorological and climatic aspects, sedimentological balance, etc.) but also local needs and peculiarities (environmental constraints, social and economic aspects, etc.). It is more and more evident that the regional or departmental level is the most suitable for a concerted and sustainable management of coastal zones. The experience in European projects such as BEACHMED et BEACHMED-e, concretely showed that - with the cooperation of decentralised governmental structures – Regions can deal with and manage the different aspects related to CC adaptation programmes. Today, Regions are the public actors most suitable to carry on a specific adaptation programme in the Mediterranean. Moreover, we must not forget the importance of giving the project leadership to public administrations competent in this sector. As a matter of fact, it is not possible to let other actors (such as Universities or Research Institutes) implement projects aimed to be used by these very administrations: we risk first not to ask the right basic questions, and second, to obtain results that are faultless from a scientific point of view, but which cannot be practically used. Lazio Region has already proved to be able to coordinate an enlarged partnership with the Mediterranean peripheral regions. This partnership is already solid and was tested through several international projects (BEACHMED, BEACHMED-e, COASTANCE) that undoubtedly had a first level importance in this sector.

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