long-term environmental strategy for cleaning up the Mediterranean Sea

The European Commission this week proposed a long-term environmental strategy for cleaning up the Mediterranean Sea. This unique ecosystem is deteriorating as environmental pressures increase. The major oil spill that occurred during the recent conflict in Lebanon has dramatically highlighted the vulnerability of the region's environment. A key pillar of the strategy is 'Horizon 2020', an initiative to tackle the top sources of Mediterranean pollution by the year 2020 that was endorsed by leaders of Euro-Mediterranean (Euro-Med) countries at the 10th Anniversary Euro-Med Summit in Barcelona last year. The Commission is building a coalition of partners to implement the initiative.

The environmental needs of the Mediterranean far outweigh the means currently available to deal with them. Consequently international organisations, the donor community and above all the countries around the sea will need to make significant additional and coordinated efforts if a cleaner Mediterranean is to be achieved.

In this context, the Commission intends to concentrate its own efforts and limited resources in areas where it can bring clear added value.

The strategy's key aims are to:

* Reduce pollution levels across the region
* Promote sustainable use of the sea and its coastline
* Encourage neighbouring countries to cooperate on environmental issues
* Assist partner countries in developing effective institutions and policies to protect the environment
* Involve NGOs and the public in environmental decisions affecting them.

In line with the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, these aims will be achieved through four means: financial assistance from existing and already planned EU aid programmes; strengthened dialogue with the region's representatives; improved coordination with other organisations and partners; and sharing of EU experience in dealing with the problems of the Mediterranean and other regions.

Horizon 2020: a new start

A key pillar of the strategy is 'Horizon 2020', an initiative to tackle the top sources of Mediterranean pollution by the year 2020 that was endorsed by leaders of Euro-Mediterranean (Euro-Med) countries at the 10th Anniversary Euro-Med Summit in Barcelona last year. The Commission is building a coalition of partners to implement the initiative.

The Mediterranean strategy fleshes out the detail of Horizon 2020, grouping planned activities under four headings:

Projects to reduce the most significant sources of pollution. The initial focus will be on industrial emissions, municipal waste and urban waste water, which are responsible for up to 80% of Mediterranean Sea pollution.

Capacity-building measures to help neighbouring countries create national environmental administrations that are able to develop and police environmental laws.

Using the Commission's research budget to develop greater knowledge of environmental issues relevant to the Mediterranean and ensure this is shared.

The strategy proposes a draft timetable of actions for the first phase of Horizon 2020 up to 2013. With the strong support of the Finnish EU presidency, partners will be consulted on the proposed timetable with a view to endorsing a final version at a gathering of Euro-Med Environment Ministers in Cairo on 20 November.