EUROMED 2023 stamps celebrate the diversity of festivals around the Mediterranean. EUROMED is a joint stamp issuing program involving countries in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Each year a common theme is agreed upon and participating countries create stamps and covers devoted to the topic. 

Traditionally EUROMED explores and promotes cultural & regional ties. As well the program explores the shared history & issues facing the Mediterranean. Each country puts their own spin on the theme, creating a fascinating peek into Euro-Mediterranean culture.
Who makes up EUROMED?

• European Union Member States, located in the Mediterranean region, Italy, Spain, Greece, France, and Cyprus.
• Mediterranean Basin Countries in the southern and eastern Mediterranean, such as Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.
• Non EU with Mediterranean coastline like Monaco.
• Mediterranean Island Nations of Malta and Cyprus.

Not all countries issue EUROMED stamps; some are occasional participants. But there are still plenty of great stamps to hunt down.
This year’s theme is Festivals of all shapes and sizes. Everything from singing to … well, just check them out and enjoy.

Croatia

Moreška

1 stamp, FDC, sheet of 16
offset 

Moreška Sword Dance

Designer: Dean Roksandić
Photographer: Mario Romulić and Dražen Stojčić

Release date: July 10, 2023

Cyprus

Rose Festival of Argos

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of8

Rose Festival of Argos celebrated it’s 15th year in May of 2023

Rose festival returns to Agros | Cyprus Mail (cyprus-mail.com)

Designer: unknown

Release date: July 10, 2023

Egypt

3 stamps
offset

I could find no information on the festival celebrated. If you can offer a bit of info, please leave a comment. 

Release date: June 2023

France

 Festivals| Arles the Capital of Photography

1 stamp, cancel, sheets of 15
offset

This is France’s entry to the annual EUROMED competition. This year’s theme is Mediterranean Festivals. 

The Rencontres d’Arles, an annual photography festival, was founded in 1970 by Arles photographer Lucien Clergue, writer Michel Tournier and historian Jean-Maurice Rouquette. Originally a simple meeting place between photography lovers, they have become over the years a major cultural event. Arles Photography Encounters | The ink square (lecarredencre.fr)

This year’s festival takes place between July 4 to Sept. 24, 2023 HOME – Les Rencontres d’Arles (rencontres-arles.com)

Designer: Design ABM Studio
Photographer: Alessandro Mosalini

Release date: July 10, 2023

Greece 

Kalamata Dance Festival

2 stamps, booklet, sheets of 16, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel (in gold), numbered pack
polychrome offset

The 29th Kalamata Dance Festival took place July 14-23 in the city of Kalamata. It’s a celebration of modern dance, which includes a number of seminars focused on bringing dance closer to the audience. Who we are – Kalamata Dance Festival

Designer: Anthoula Lynga

Release date: July 10, 2023

Malta

Malta International Fireworks Festival

2 stamps on minisheets, FDC, cancel, presentation pack
offset

Two shots from the Malta International Fireworks Festival . The 2023 21st Festival took place April 2023.

Designer: Malta Post
Photographers:  Sebio Aquilina, Michele Agius

Release date: July 19, 2023

Morocco

Tetouan Mediterranean Film Festival

1 stamp, FDC, cancel

Tetouan Mediterranean Film Festival – Tetouan Mediterranean Film Festival (festivaltetouan.org)

Designer: Abdelkrim Ouazzani Thami  

Release date: July 10, 2023

Portugal

Mediterranean Diet Fair of Tavira 

2 stamps, FDC, cancel, information folder
offset

Mediterranean Diet Fair – UNESCO Med Diet (mediterraneandietunesco.org)

This festival took place Sept. 8th to 11th, the first appearance post pandemic. The Mediterranean diet is recognised as an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is more than just a celebration of cuisine, it’s a celebration of Mediterranean history and culture. 

The Mediterranean diet involves a set of skills, knowledge, rituals, symbols and traditions concerning crops, harvesting, fishing, animal husbandry, conservation, processing, cooking, and particularly the sharing and consumption of food. Eating together is the foundation of the cultural identity and continuity of communities throughout the Mediterranean basin. Mediterranean diet – intangible heritage – Culture Sector – UNESCO

Designer: MAD Activities
Release date: July 10, 2023

Slovenia

Altroke Istra Gourmet Festival

1 stamp, FDC, cancel

Winner of the Greatest Hunger Inducing Stamp of 2023?

You will not find the word altroké in the dictionary, but only in the Istrian dialect and means of course. In 2021, it was used to name an excellent gastronomic festival, Altroke Istra Gourmet Festival, which means Of course, an Istrian festival for good-livers.

The basic feature of the festival is the organization of several gastronomic meetings in different places, both in the urban and rural environment of the Slovenian part of Istria. According to the gastronomic typology, culinary markets, which take place once a week from May to August and offer a range of Istrian local and regional dishes, as well as non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages gathered for tables. Guests can find fish and shellfish, famous pasta fuže with truffles, various egg herbal fritai or frtalje, Istrian meats, including Istrian prosciutto. There are also some of the global dishes typical of street food. There is no shortage of fried fritols or mice and, of course, excellent Istrian wines, spirits and natural refreshing drinks.

The Altroke Istra Gourmet Festival grew on the experience of a two-day mass culinary event in Koper, which was dessert-oriented and was called Sweet Istria.

Janez Bogataj, PhD Land of stamps – EUROMED POSTAL – Festivals of the Mediterranean (dezelaznamk.si)

Designer: Borut Bončina

Release date: July 10, 2023

Spain

Festivals of Spain

1 stamp, souvenir sheets of 6, FDC, cancel, stamped postcard
offset

Some of the festivals represented in this issue include the FIB, Primavera Sound Barcelona, Som Festival, Medusa Festival

Tunisia

2 festivals celebrated – Music and Film

2 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel

• El Jem International Symphonic Music Festival Useful Information – El Jem International Symphony Music Festival (festivaleljem.tn)
• Mediterranean Film Festival “Manarat” News – Mediterranean Film Festival Split (fmfs.hr)

Designer: Tunisian post office

Release date: July 11, 2023