BACKGROUNDS aims at developing a governance model involving ports and port infrastructures within the Mediterranean basin and targeting a better integration of existing poles with their own territories and the relevant productive clusters. This would lead to an appreciation of local peculiarities within the general framework of the global market. Achievements: State of the art of project implementation since the project startSince the beginning of the project the following activities have been realised: -organization of kick off meeting, 6 PSC meeting in Thessaloniki (2), Marseille, Koper, Valencia, Palermo and the final conference -coordination of the partnership and presentation of the 5th and 6th progress reports and related payment claims -creation and updating of the website of the project -general matrix drafted by the LP detailing the objectives and outputs and deadline per each component and action -components methodology drafted by the coordinating PPs and shared with all the PP -methodologies for Component 3, 4 and 5 drafted, discussed and approved by the partners in the various PSC meetings held till March 2012 - finalisation of deliverables for Component 3, 4 and 5 -drafting and printing of 3 Newsletter, 1 brochure, posters, leaflets for the communication and dissemination events and seminars. -drafting and printing of the final publication (handbook on good practices)Latest project activities and outputsThe relevant activities realized during this reporting period are: -organization and implementation of 2 PSC meeting held in Thessaloniki (October 2011) and Palermo (March 2012) -organization and implementation of the final conference of the Project held in Palermo on 21st of March 2012 -organization of seminars and events in all partners' territories for dissemination and promotion of activities and results reached during the project -Completion of ICT/ITS practices in the BACKGROUNDS study area and transferability of practices (activities 4.5 and 4.6) for ports involved in the project and redaction of the activities reports -Completion of activity 5.5 and 5.6 on scenarios development and evaluation for all ports involved -realization of the last newsletter number, of the final publication of the project in all partners languages, of various promotional materials used during the workshops and events organized in all territoriesNext key steps for the projectDuring the the next reporting period, the final one, the following communication activities will be performed: o Insertion of all data missing in the GIS tool. o Completion of 4.5 and 4.6 o Completion of the final report of C4 o Dissemination of the project newsletter and realization of dissemination/promotional activities o Testing of the identified scenarios o Completion of 5.6 activity o Contribution to the formulation of the good practices handbook o Final conference organization