On 10 June 2025, during the Third UN Ocean Conference, a special day was held entirely dedicated to the Mediterranean region. The event, jointly organized by Slovenia, France, Egypt, and Spain with support from UNEP/MAP, brought together ministers, high-level representatives, and the Executive Director of UNEP to commemorate two major milestones: the 50th anniversary of the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan and the 30th anniversary of the post-Rio amendment to the Barcelona Convention.
UNEP Executive Director Ms. Inger Andersen and Slovenia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, H.E. Jože Novak, delivered the opening remarks, underlining the importance of this milestone in Mediterranean environmental cooperation.
The UNEP/MAP event was designed to celebrate five decades of coordinated action for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea and to reflect on the progress made since the post-Rio transformation of the Barcelona Convention.
Two significant panel discussions were held during the event:
- “50 Years of UNEP/MAP: Success Stories and Added Value”, moderated by H.E. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment of Egypt;
- “Challenges and New Commitments, with a Particular Focus on Combating Plastic Pollution”, led by H.E. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, Seas, and Fisheries of France.
To mark the 50th anniversary, a special video was presented celebrating the origins of the UNEP/MAP–Barcelona Convention. Produced by INFO/RAC, the video pays tribute to the consistent efforts of UNEP/MAP in turning decisions into concrete actions through the effective implementation of the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols — a vital foundation for enabling a green transition in the Mediterranean and addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
The high-level event concluded with the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration, reaffirming the shared commitment of Mediterranean countries to protect and preserve the Mediterranean Sea as a priceless common good.
Alarmed by the impacts of the global environmental crisis — including climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and land degradation in the region — the Declaration expressed a firm commitment to continue supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the achievement of its Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14.
To disseminate the 50th anniversary, INFO/RAC launched at beginning of this year “Odyssey Reloaded,” a pan-Mediterranean digital campaign celebrating 50 years of the Barcelona Convention. The initiative brings together a constellation of events across the region and reflects the spirit of the COP 23 Ministerial Declaration: from decisions to action.
“Odyssey Reloaded” aims to promote and disseminate the wide range of initiatives developed by UNEP/MAP, its Contracting Parties, MAP Partners, and other stakeholders throughout the Mediterranean basin.