Project in brief The agro-food sector plays an important role in the economic context of the Euro-Mediterranean area, where the perspectives of an exponential growth of trade exchanges are increasingly opening up. However the circulation of horticultural perishable products in the region is still affected and restricted by the existence of outdated procedures and by the lack of automated processes leading to inefficient administrative formalities with gaps andduplication of documents required for export. In order to address this challenge, the E.H.P.P.C.- Med project ocuses on the modernization of border points through the introduction of an ‘Information and Communication Technologies’ (ICT) tool as well as of new harmonized and shared procedures able to facilitate producers and exporters in obtaining and transmitting in real time and easily the documents and certificates required for the horticultural perishable products’ export. This innovative circulation model will minimize the time for inspection and custom clearance at entry points, have positive effects on the preservation of perishable products better guaranteeing the safety and quality of the goods and also lead to increase the volume of agro-food trade flow in the Mediterranean area. Specific objective To enhance technical and administrative procedures and operation for Horticultural Perishable Products (HPPs) circulation between Lebanon, Jordan and Italy through the adoption of harmonized and shared procedures and the implementation of an innovative ICT tool Expected Results: • Agreement for the adoption of one harmonized and shared procedure signed in the involved countries • Control methods of quality and origin (at border exit and entry points) improved through shared guidelines tested in Lebanon and Jordan • One ICT tool (e-platform and online archive of import-export documents) set up and implemented • Border procedures simplified and standardized Operators and users trained on the new procedures (4 courses for public operators and 2 local courses for SMEs) • Performance at border exit and entry points improved with a reduction of costs and mistakes (-30%) • Import-export growth rate among Lebanon, Jordan and Italy increased (+5%) thanks to improved technological and administrative operations related to cross-border trade