E.MED.CU.N aims at enhancing cooperation among historic cities in the East Mediterranean region, with a view to encourage new forms of tourism. It focuses on creating a network of Mediterranean cities to promote innovative cultural tourism as a means to stimulate local sustainable development. It targets at local entrepreneurs and tourism businesses, institutions and public authorities related to culture and tourism (at both the local and national levels), international tour operators, as well as the unemployed (especially women) in the 5 participating Municipalities, through the setting up of Cultural Employment Growth Centres, the development and promotion of new cultural tourism products, the establishment of a collaborative network between historic cities and traditional settlements in rural areas, as well as a series of pilot actions concerning the development of cultural tourism. The broad aim of the action is to enable local stakeholders to plan and manage cultural resources in a way that promotes a sustainable social and economic environment. Furthermore, the project aims at: • The development of historic cities networks responding to common cultural problems, focusing on cultural business development and the growth of individual sectors related to tourism, e.g. agriculture, small-scale manufacture, etc., • The establishment of innovative business-cultural structures that enhance local entrepreneurship and employment, • The exchange of know-how on issues of social economy and tourism growth. The main actions to be undertaken are: • New Approach in Cultural Resources Exploitation: • Creation of a Network of Historic towns and cities for cultural sustainable development. • Pilot Actions • Management and reporting to EC • Dissemination of the results to stakeholders The main project output will be 5 Pilot actions, 5 new structures, exchange of experience and know-how among 5 historic cities, a Collaborative network among 5 historic cities, a Study of spatial cultural development. Expected Results: A network of 5 historic cities, at least 5 new cultural tourism products (one in each participating Municipality),n jobs created during the implementation of the project (8.25 man-years), 10 new full time jobs created post project end.