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.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA – Outcomes of the 20th Meeting of the Contracting of the Parties to the Barcelona Convention
December 28, 2018
The 20th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties (COP 20) to the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean and its Protocols took place in Tirana, Albania, from 17 to 20 December 2017. The Meeting, which was held under the theme ‘Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with focus on Sustainable Development Goal 14: Pollution and Biodiversity’ was convened by the UN Environment / Coordinating Unit for the Mediterranean Action Plan and hosted by the Government of Albania. The aim of the Meeting was to review the progress achieved in the implementation of the programme of work for the 2016-2017 biennium and to take further steps in order to enhance the environmental protection and sustainable development in the Mediterreanean Sea.
On 19 December, during the Ministerial Session, representatives of the Contracting Parties discussed ” the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with focus on Sustainable Development Goal 14: Pollution and Biodiversity” and adopted the Tirana Ministerial Declaration. Through this Declaration, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to making progress towards achieving Good Environmental Status in the Mediterranean Sea and decided to launch discussions regarding the next steps of the ecosystem approach implementation beyond 2021 so as to contribute to the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development. Moreover, they resolved to integrate pollution prevention measures in national and local plans in an effort to achieve a pollution-free planet. In the same vein, they decided to continue taking appropriate measures to prevent and reduce marine pollution from land-based and marine sources as set out in relevant MAP strategic documents, namely theMid-term Strategy 2016-2021, the Strategic Action Programme to Address Pollution from Land-based Activities (SAP-MED), the Regional Strategy for Prevention of and Response to Marine Pollution from Ships (2016-2021), the Mediterranean Offshore Action Plan.
Moreover, the participants committed to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns and to accellerate efforts to ensure the implementation of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and especially Aichi Target 11, as well as the ocean related SDG targets. They further reaffirmed their commitment to promote adaptation to climate change and increase the resilience of the Mediterranean marine and coastal, natural and socio-economic system to impacts of climate change by advancing the implementation of the Protocol on ICZM and Regional Climate Change Adaptation Framework. Envisioning to promote sustainable use of coastal and marine resources and to reach Good Environmental Status in the Mediterranean Sea, the participants agreed to further develop two recently adopted instruments, the Common Regional Framework for Integrated Coastal Zone Management and the Conceptual Framework for Marine Spatial Planning. Besides, the participants acknowledged the importance of the comprehensive national reporting in the implementation of the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols and committed to strenghten the regional and national capacities in this direction.
Under the Ministerial Declaration, the participants reaffirmed the instrumental role of the UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention system in facilitating the implementation of ocean related targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Mediterranean Sea and committed to enhance the global, regional and sub-regional partnerships with relevant stakeholder with the view to support the achievement of the goals on the implementation of ocean-related Agenda 2030, including Sustainable Development Goal 14, and especially on pollution prevention and reduction and on biodiversity conservation.
Finally, the participants adopted the MAP Programme of Work and Budget 2018-2019 in addition to the Tirana Ministerial Declaration.
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
Convened from 25 to 29 September 2023 in Bonn, the fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), organised by UNEP, formally adopted a new global framework for the sound management of chemicals and waste, the “Global Framework on Chemicals – For a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste.” Throughout the Conference, a unique but intense international negotiation process took place where delegates from States, intergovernmental organisations, industry, NGOs, indigenous people, youth, and academia equally joined forces to reach a positive outcome. Indeed, until the very last minute of the negotiations, the draft’s provisions on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, technology transfer “on mutually agreed terms,” and the polluter pays principle remained bracketed demonstrating the intricate function of international environmental negotiations.
The 20th meeting of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) took place in Marseille (France) from 14 to 16 June 2023. The MCSD aims to assist the Contracting Parties in their efforts to integrate environmental issues in their socioeconomic programmes and to promote sustainable development policies in the Mediterranean region. Being unique in its composition, the Commission brings together government representatives, local authorities, socio-economic actors, non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations, the scientific community and parliamentarians. All MCSD members participate in its meetings on an equal footing. Notably, the MEPIELAN Centre has been elected as Non-Contracting Party of the MCSD (2016-2019) and Member of its Steering Committee (2019-2021).
