Delegates from 21 Contracting Parties, the European Union, United Nations bodies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations participated in the Meeting of the Focal Points of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) of the Barcelona Convention, held in Athens from 16 to 19 September 2025.
Over four days of intensive work, reports on activities carried out under seven thematic programmes of work were reviewed.
Highlights included progress in reducing marine litter and hazardous substances, advances in biodiversity protection under the post-2020 SAPBIO, and contributions from regional centres on climate resilience, blue economy initiatives, and environmental monitoring.
UNEP/MAP Coordinator Tatjana Hema emphasized the significant achievements of the MedProgramme, funded by the Global Environment Facility, which is nearing completion but has made a lasting contribution to regional cooperation. She also highlighted the importance of solidarity, ambition, and openness in confronting new challenges, stressing that the achievements of the system and the political declaration adopted at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice are a source of pride and inspiration.
The meeting focused on five key areas: the preparation of strategic documents for COP 24, the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Barcelona Convention system, governance and new institutional developments, progress on pollution reduction, and the strengthening of biodiversity protection.
Updates were also shared on the post-2020 Strategic Action Programme for Biodiversity (SAP BIO), including regional workshops on invasive alien species and proposed amendments to the annexes of the SPA/BD Protocol to include new species requiring protection.
The outcomes of the Athens meeting will be submitted to COP 24, where Mediterranean countries will adopt decisions to guide action on marine and coastal protection, sustainable development, and climate resilience for the coming decade.