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.

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.

On September 30^th 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.

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.

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.

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.