Preparatory Meeting of the Europed Environment Ministers' Conference

Brussels, 14-15 September 2006

The preparatory meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean (Euro-Med) Environment Ministers’ meeting was attended by more than 100 participants, and was chaired by Directorate-General Environment.

The major items of the agenda were:

Coordination mechanism for Horizon 2020
Donors’ coordination for Horizon 2020
Mechanisms to ensure exchange of environmental knowledge and know-how in the Mediterranean
Draft Ministerial Declaration
Organisation of Ministerial meeting

There was useful discussion on the Communication and the timetable of actions that will be undertaken under Horizon 2020, the implementation mechanisms for Horizon 2020, with agreement almost being reached on the declaration. It is clear that the needs of the region are great and that many more things need to be done. A more pragmatic approach should be adopted in the future on what can be undertaken for the improvement of the Mediterranean environment with a focus on results whilst drawing maximum benefit by avoiding the mistakes of the past.