Editorial
Evangelos Raftopoulos
Editor and Founding Director of MEPIELAN Centre
2025: Two Achievements, One Hope for the MEPIELAN Centre in a World of Deconstructing International Order
The MEPIELAN Centre, an international academic hub for research, education and training, as well as for institutional advocacy, continues, throughout all these years, to cultivate and promote forward-thinking in the fields of international environmental law and governance, policy, and international negotiation. From its establishment within Panteion University as a University Centre in 2002 to its evolving presence in important international roles and institutional settings, the Centre has, in my view, consistently pursued its mission with dedication and intellectual commitment. Today, operating as an International Non-Profit Civil Organization (INGO), it remains steadfast in advancing academic research, international training, and sustained institutional engagement.
Its academic soul has evolved continuously through its website since its establishment in 2002, while its academic “sword” has been embodied in the MEPIELAN E-Bulletin, launched in July 2010 and now marking fifteen years of circulation. Guided by an open-access philosophy and sustained entirely on a voluntary basis, the Bulletin offers authoritative insight articles, reflective opinions, selected documents and case analyses, book reviews, and news on thematic areas central to the Centre’s work. In doing so, it bridges theory and practice within international law as a system of public law, international environmental law and governance, and the international negotiating process.
At the heart of this long-standing endeavor lies a steadfast goal: to contribute to the development of an integrated, interdisciplinary, relational, context-sensitive, and sustainably effective conception of law as governance—an approach that creates, protects, and advances international common interest for present and future generations. This approach transpires that a strictly positivist or “objective” conception of international law does not merely simplify but distorts the complex and evolving realities of the international order, disorienting our understanding and judgement of its multiple functions, power dynamics, and, above all, the interpretation of its effectiveness – particularly when it is reductively measured against inappropriate analogies drawn from the private law order.
This is not a moment for celebratory rhetoric. MEPIELAN has always navigated its course through the dedication of academics, scholars, and emerging researchers bound by a shared voluntarist ethos. Over time, some have stepped aside while new intellectual forces have joined, strengthening the Centre’s academic and institutional journey. We consciously distance ourselves from superficial and performative forms of self-celebration. Instead, we remain committed to raising our voice at the highest level of scholarly engagement, particularly in an era marked by uncertainty and distortion—where international law is often undermined by reductive positivism and overshadowed by geopolitically driven narratives that dominate public discourse, frequently at the expense of rigorous knowledge and critical thinking.
MEPIELAN E-Bulletin is a digital academic and practitioner newsletter of the MEPIELAN Centre, launched in 2010. It features insight articles, reflective opinions, specially selected documents and cases, book reviews as well as news on thematic topics of direct interest of MEPIELAN Centre and on the activities and role of MEPIELAN Centre. Its content bridges theory and practice perspectives of relational international law, international environmental law and participatory governance , and international negotiating process, thus serving the primary goal of Centre: to develop an integrated, inter-disciplinary, relational, context-related and sustainably effective governance approach creating, protecting and advancing international common interest for the present and future generations. Providing a knowledge- and information-sharing platform and a scholarly forum, the Bulletin promotes innovative ideas and enlightened critical views, contributing to a broader scholarly debate on important issues of international common interest. The audience of the Bulletin includes academics, practitioners, researchers, university students, international lawyers, officials and personnel of international organizations and institutional arrangements, heads and personnel of national authorities at all levels (national, regional and local), and members of the civil society at large.
Articles
The OSCE-supported Aarhus Centres network: Advancing Environmental Governance, Public Participation, and Security through Regional Cooperation
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the world’s largest regional security organization with 57 participating States, promotes stability, peace and democracy in its area through a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. Recognizing a close connection between the environment and security, the OSCE aims to strengthen co-operation on environmental issues as part of a broader effort to prevent conflict, build mutual confidence and promote good neighborly relations.
30 x 30 in the Mediterranean Sea
In 2010, the 10th Conference of the Parties to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity1, held in Nagoya (Aichi prefecture), adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the twenty Biodiversity Targets (Decision X/2). According to Target 11, by 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, should be conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.
The Rights of Nature Reach the Mediterranean Shores: and now what?
On September 30th 2022, the Spanish Parliament enacted Law 19/2022, for the recognition of legal personality to the Mar Menor and its basin, the first of its kind to be passed in Europe. The coastal area concerned is one of the largest in the Mediterranean. The lagoon covers an area of 135 km² with a maximum depth of 7 m and is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a 22 km long sandy bar, called La Manga. The surrounding area consists of the watershed lands extending in an area of 1.600 km2 up to the neighboring mountain ranges. The area described has unique environmental values and is emblematic for the Region of Murcia.
The contribution of the Council of Europe to Sustainable Marine Governance
Over the years, the Council of Europe has developed principles of good governance promoting an integrated management of land and marine territories. Its Committee of Minister has adopted international conventions, recommendations, model laws and codes of conduct that contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. The following presentation provides an overview.
Advancing Sustainable Marine Governance in the Mediterranean: the Role of the Aarhus Convention
Despite being a major biodiversity hotspot, the Mediterranean region faces significant pressures. Climate change impacts, such as sea-level rise, ocean warming and acidification, and coastal flooding, are projected to intensify. Marine ecosystems are increasingly exposed to pollution, especially from land-based sources, including agricultural runoff, plastic waste, and industrial discharges. Many Mediterranean species are already rare or threatened. Recently, expanding on-shore and offshore energy exploration and infrastructure development have added further strain on the region’s fragile marine ecosystem.
Enhancing the Effectiveness of the EU ETS in the Maritime Sector in the Mediterranean Region: The Impact of the “CLIMA+” Project
The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) constitutes a core instrument of the European climate policy. Established in 2005, the system has undergone several revisions, gradually expanding its coverage to include various greenhouse gases (GHGs) and sectors of the economy. The extension of the EU ETS to maritime transport in 2023 marks a pivotal step in Europe's climate policy trajectory. This "cap-and-trade" mechanism, driven by the broader Fit for 55 EU package, has been mandatory for energy, industry, aviation and (since 2024) maritime sectors, aiming for a 55% net reduction in greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 2030 and integrating maritime emissions into the EU’s overarching goal of reducing GHGs.
The OSCE-supported Aarhus Centres network: Advancing Environmental Governance, Public Participation, and Security through Regional Cooperation
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the world’s largest regional security organization with 57 participating States, promotes stability, peace and democracy in its area through a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. Recognizing a close connection between the environment and security, the OSCE aims to strengthen co-operation on environmental issues as part of a broader effort to prevent conflict, build mutual confidence and promote good neighborly relations.
30 x 30 in the Mediterranean Sea
In 2010, the 10th Conference of the Parties to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity1, held in Nagoya (Aichi prefecture), adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the twenty Biodiversity Targets (Decision X/2). According to Target 11, by 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, should be conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.
The Rights of Nature Reach the Mediterranean Shores: and now what?
On September 30th 2022, the Spanish Parliament enacted Law 19/2022, for the recognition of legal personality to the Mar Menor and its basin, the first of its kind to be passed in Europe. The coastal area concerned is one of the largest in the Mediterranean. The lagoon covers an area of 135 km² with a maximum depth of 7 m and is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a 22 km long sandy bar, called La Manga. The surrounding area consists of the watershed lands extending in an area of 1.600 km2 up to the neighboring mountain ranges. The area described has unique environmental values and is emblematic for the Region of Murcia.
The contribution of the Council of Europe to Sustainable Marine Governance
Over the years, the Council of Europe has developed principles of good governance promoting an integrated management of land and marine territories. Its Committee of Minister has adopted international conventions, recommendations, model laws and codes of conduct that contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. The following presentation provides an overview.
Advancing Sustainable Marine Governance in the Mediterranean: the Role of the Aarhus Convention
Despite being a major biodiversity hotspot, the Mediterranean region faces significant pressures. Climate change impacts, such as sea-level rise, ocean warming and acidification, and coastal flooding, are projected to intensify. Marine ecosystems are increasingly exposed to pollution, especially from land-based sources, including agricultural runoff, plastic waste, and industrial discharges. Many Mediterranean species are already rare or threatened. Recently, expanding on-shore and offshore energy exploration and infrastructure development have added further strain on the region’s fragile marine ecosystem.
Enhancing the Effectiveness of the EU ETS in the Maritime Sector in the Mediterranean Region: The Impact of the “CLIMA+” Project
The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) constitutes a core instrument of the European climate policy. Established in 2005, the system has undergone several revisions, gradually expanding its coverage to include various greenhouse gases (GHGs) and sectors of the economy. The extension of the EU ETS to maritime transport in 2023 marks a pivotal step in Europe's climate policy trajectory. This "cap-and-trade" mechanism, driven by the broader Fit for 55 EU package, has been mandatory for energy, industry, aviation and (since 2024) maritime sectors, aiming for a 55% net reduction in greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 2030 and integrating maritime emissions into the EU’s overarching goal of reducing GHGs.
Documents & Cases
Geneva Declaration on Advancing Public Rights to Tackle the Triple Planetary Crisis in the Face of Geopolitical Tensions
The Geneva Declaration on Advancing Public Rights to Tackle the Triple Planetary Crisis in the Face of Geopolitical Tensions, adopted at the Eighth Meeting of the Parties (MOP-8) to the Aarhus Convention in November 2025, constitutes a significant political and normative statement reaffirming the centrality of environmental democracy in times of global uncertainty. Adopted against the backdrop of escalating climate change impacts, biodiversity loss, pollution, and intensifying geopolitical tensions, the Declaration emphasizes that effective governance of environmental crises cannot be achieved without the full implementation of procedural environmental rights.
UNEP: Frontiers 2025 Report : The Weight of Time – Facing a new age of challenges for people and ecosystems.
The 2025 edition of the UNEP Frontiers Report, “The Weight of Time,” offers a timely and particularly thought-provoking reflection on how temporal dimensions—long-term exposure, delayed environmental responses, and demographic transitions—are reshaping both environmental risks and governance needs. By identifying four emerging issues, the report invites policymakers, rese archers, and practitioners of environmental governance to look beyond immediate concerns and engage with the longer-term dynamics that increasingly define our environmental reality. Among these, the demographic challenge of ageing populations in a changing environment appears especially pertinent to the work and orientation of MEPIELAN.
United Nations Environment Programme, Emissions Gap Report 2025: Off Target (2025)
The 2025 edition of the Emissions Gap Report, prepared by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), offers a comprehensive and policy-relevant assessment of the adequacy of current State action under the Paris Agreement. As part of UNEP’s flagship analytical series, the report evaluates the discrepancy between projected global greenhouse gas emissions and the reductions required to meet the Agreement’s temperature goals of limiting global warming to 1.5°C or, at a minimum, well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
Geneva Declaration on Advancing Public Rights to Tackle the Triple Planetary Crisis in the Face of Geopolitical Tensions
The Geneva Declaration on Advancing Public Rights to Tackle the Triple Planetary Crisis in the Face of Geopolitical Tensions, adopted at the Eighth Meeting of the Parties (MOP-8) to the Aarhus Convention in November 2025, constitutes a significant political and normative statement reaffirming the centrality of environmental democracy in times of global uncertainty. Adopted against the backdrop of escalating climate change impacts, biodiversity loss, pollution, and intensifying geopolitical tensions, the Declaration emphasizes that effective governance of environmental crises cannot be achieved without the full implementation of procedural environmental rights.
UNEP: Frontiers 2025 Report : The Weight of Time – Facing a new age of challenges for people and ecosystems.
The 2025 edition of the UNEP Frontiers Report, “The Weight of Time,” offers a timely and particularly thought-provoking reflection on how temporal dimensions—long-term exposure, delayed environmental responses, and demographic transitions—are reshaping both environmental risks and governance needs. By identifying four emerging issues, the report invites policymakers, rese archers, and practitioners of environmental governance to look beyond immediate concerns and engage with the longer-term dynamics that increasingly define our environmental reality. Among these, the demographic challenge of ageing populations in a changing environment appears especially pertinent to the work and orientation of MEPIELAN.
United Nations Environment Programme, Emissions Gap Report 2025: Off Target (2025)
The 2025 edition of the Emissions Gap Report, prepared by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), offers a comprehensive and policy-relevant assessment of the adequacy of current State action under the Paris Agreement. As part of UNEP’s flagship analytical series, the report evaluates the discrepancy between projected global greenhouse gas emissions and the reductions required to meet the Agreement’s temperature goals of limiting global warming to 1.5°C or, at a minimum, well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
Books
Environmental Democracy and the Horizontality of International Law – The Mediterranean Accession to the Aarhus Convention
This timely and forward-looking book explores how environmental democracy can be advanced globally through wider accession to the Aarhus Convention (AC), with a particular focus on the Mediterranean region. Drawing on a foundational, internationally authorized study by the author and the MEPIELAN team, Evangelos Raftopoulos presents an innovative legal and policy framework for participatory environmental governance, grounded in the horizontality of international law and the relational nature of treaties.
Ways of Seeing International Organisations – New Perspectives for International Institutional Law
For decades, the field of scholarship that studies the law and practice of international organisations – also known as international institutional law – has been marked by an intellectual quietism.
Environmental Democracy and the Horizontality of International Law – The Mediterranean Accession to the Aarhus Convention
This timely and forward-looking book explores how environmental democracy can be advanced globally through wider accession to the Aarhus Convention (AC), with a particular focus on the Mediterranean region. Drawing on a foundational, internationally authorized study by the author and the MEPIELAN team, Evangelos Raftopoulos presents an innovative legal and policy framework for participatory environmental governance, grounded in the horizontality of international law and the relational nature of treaties.
Ways of Seeing International Organisations – New Perspectives for International Institutional Law
For decades, the field of scholarship that studies the law and practice of international organisations – also known as international institutional law – has been marked by an intellectual quietism.
Written by
Evangelos Raftopoulos
Editor and Founding Director of MEPIELAN Centre
Professor Emeritus of International Law & International Environmental Law
Evangelos Raftopoulos
Editor-in-Chief
Founding Director of MEPIELAN Centre
Professor Emeritus of International Law & International Environmental Law
Alexandros Kailis
Editorial Research Team
Ph.D (Panteion University)
MEPIELAN Senior Research Fellow
Georgios Raftopoulos
Editorial Research Team
LL.M (UCL)
MEPIELAN Research Fellow
Marina Soilemezidou
Editorial Research Team
Ph.D (Panteion University)
MEPIELAN Research Fellow
Maria Striga
Editorial Research Team
LL.M (Kent)
MEPIELAN Research Fellow
Socrates Zachos
Editorial Research Team
Ph.D (Panteion University)
MEPIELAN Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Steinar Andresen
Research Professor, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Norway
Dr. Maguelonne Déjeant-Pons
Head of Division, Policy Development, Democratic Governance Directorate, Council of Europe
Professor Peter Haas
Professor of Political Science, University of Massachussetts-Amherst, USA
Professor Moira L. McConnell
Professor of Law, Dalhousie University, Canada
Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos
Founding Director of MEPIELAN Centre
Professor Emeritus of International Law & International Environmental Law, Panteion University, Athens, Greece
Professor José Juste-Ruiz
Professor of International Law, University of Valencia, Spain
Professor Tullio Scovazzi
Professor of International Law, University of Milan-Bicocca, Italy
Dr. Konstantinos Tsimonis
Lecturer in Chinese Society, King’s College London, UK
Professor Budislav Vukas
f. Judge of ITLOS, f. Professor of International Law, University of Zagreb, Croatia