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Successful Conclusion of the UNEP/MAP – MEPIELAN Online Training School on Sustainable Marine Governance on 13 November 2025

January 5, 2026

The MEPIELAN Centre is pleased to announce the successful completion of the five-week UNEP/MAP – MEPIELAN Online Training School on Sustainable Marine Governance in the Mediterranean, which took place from 13 October to 13 November 2025. The Training School marked a fruitful collaboration between the MEPIELAN Centre, UNEP/MAP, and the European Public Law Organization (EPLO).

The Training School was academically directed by Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos, Director of the MEPIELAN Centre, who also contributed as one of its lecturers. Its successful delivery was the result of the collective efforts of all lecturers, experts, moderators, technical staff and participating institutions, as well as the active and highly engaged participation of the trainees throughout the programme.

The academic programme benefited from the outstanding contributions of distinguished scholars, including Professors Tulio Scovazzi (University of Milan-Bicocca), Peter Haas (University of Massachusetts–Amherst), Markus Gehring (University of Cambridge), José Juste Ruiz (University of Valencia), Massimiliano Montini (University of Siena), Irini Papanicolopulu (SOAS University of London), Sofia Galani (Panteion University), Vassiliki Karageorgou (Panteion University), Emmanuella Doussis (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), and Konstantinos Tsimonis (Panteion University).

The programme was further enriched by the valuable participation of experts and senior officers from international organizations, including Dr Ilias Mavroeidis (UNEP/MAP), Dr Arab Hoballah, Mr Christian Melis (OSCE), Ms Anastasia Giadrossi (Aarhus Convention Secretariat), and Ms Eda Bayar (European Environment Agency).

The sessions were supported by effective moderation provided by Dr Ihab Tarek (UNEP/MAP), Mr Georgios Raftopoulos (MEPIELAN Centre), and Mr Dimitris Tsaknis (EPLO), as well as by the technical support team, Mr Tassos and Mr Ilias Kapareliotis, whose professionalism ensured the smooth and uninterrupted delivery of all sessions.

The Training School constituted an innovative and genuinely interdisciplinary educational experience, bringing together academia and key international organizations, including UNEP/MAP, the Aarhus Convention Secretariat, the European Environment Agency, and the OSCE. Over the course of five weeks, participants explored the evolving and complex landscape of marine governance in the Mediterranean and beyond, combining academic analysis, institutional practice and forward-looking policy perspectives. All eighteen lectures delivered were of exceptional quality, offering stimulating and thought-provoking insights.

The successful completion of this Training School paves the way for the next UNEP/MAP – MEPIELAN – EPLO Training School and marks a significant step toward the establishment of a future joint international Master’s programme in Sustainable Maritime Governance.

For the Programme of the Training School, please press here: Training School 2025 Schedule
For the Closing Remarks by the Academic Director, please press here: Training School 2025 Closing Remarks

About the author

MEPIELAN Centre
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MEPIELAN Centre is an international research, training and educational centre established by Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos at the Panteion University of Athens in 2008.

Before its establishment as a University Centre, MEPIELAN operated as a successful international research, training and informational programme (2002-2007) under the scientific direction of Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos and the aegis of the Panteion University of Athens, supported by the Mediterranean Action Plan/UNEP and the Greek Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.

MEPIELAN Centre is an accredited UNEP/MAP PARTNER (since 2013), a Member of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) (since 2016), and a Member of the Steering Committee of the MCSD (since 2019).

On 22 May 2022, MEPIELAN Centre proceeded to the development of MEPIELAN as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) for the more effective and efficient advancement of its Goals and Missions and furtherance of its activities. MEPIELAN Centre as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) is registered in Greek Law (Hellenic Business Registry, Reg. No. 16477300100) in accordance with Laws 4072/2012 & 4919/2022 as applicable

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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.