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The UNEP/MAP – MEPIELAN Online Training School on Sustainable Marine Governance in the Mediterranean Officially Commenced on 13 October 2025

January 5, 2026

The UNEP/MAP – MEPIELAN Online Training School on Sustainable Marine Governance in the Mediterranean officially commenced on 13 October 2025, marking a major educational and capacity-building initiative in the field of Mediterranean environmental governance.

The Training School constitutes a collaborative endeavour between the UNEP/MAP–Barcelona Convention system, the MEPIELAN Centre— which led the design of the Training School’s objectives, thematic architecture and academic vision, while coordinating its international network of lecturers— and the European Public Law Organization (EPLO). Bringing together leading academics, senior experts, and practitioners from international organizations, the initiative advances interdisciplinary knowledge, dialogue and cooperation on sustainable marine governance in the Mediterranean and beyond.

Implemented in a modular online format from 13 October to 13 November 2025, the Training School welcomed professionals, researchers, public officials and postgraduate students from across the Mediterranean region. This demanding joint educational journey aimed at fostering a culture of participatory democracy and sustainable environmental governance, treating the Mediterranean both as a distinctive regional case study and as a model of global relevance.

The opening session of the Training School featured keynote addresses by Dr Tatjana Hema, Coordinator of UNEP/MAP; Professor Michael Scoullos, Director of MIO-ECSDE; Professor Spyridon Flogaitis, Director of EPLO; and Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos, Director of the MEPIELAN Centre and Academic Director of the Training School. The opening was followed by the first lecture, entitled “Introduction to the MAP–Barcelona Convention System”, delivered by Dr Ilias Mavroeidis (UNEP/MAP Secretariat) and moderated by Dr Ihab Tarek (UNEP/MAP Secretariat).

The opening address by Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos is available here: Training School 2025 Opening Speech.

The UNEP/MAP – MEPIELAN Training School was conceived as the first foundational step toward the establishment of a future international postgraduate programme leading to a Master’s degree in Sustainable Maritime Governance in the Mediterranean, planned for the biennium 2026–2027.

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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.