SMAP meetings
SMAP

 

*   4rth MEETING OF THE SMAP CORRESPONDENTS

The Correspondents of the Euro-Mediterranean Partners for the Short and Medium-Term Priority Environmental Action Programme (SMAP) met for the fourth time, in Brussels, on 23-25 April 2002. This meeting took place at the same time as the 2nd Preparatory Meeting for the 2nd Euro-Med Ministerial Conference on the Environment. Over 60 people attended the meeting. Representatives of all 12 non-EU Partners including Israel and the Palestine Authority participated actively. Members of environmental NGOs Steering Committee, representatives of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), the Mediterranean Environment Technical Assistance Programme (METAP), the Ramsar Convention programme for the Mediterranean Wetlands (MEDWET) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) attended as observers. In spite of the tense political situation in the Middle East, political controversy was largely avoided and instead there was a smooth discussion of the technical issues foreseen in the agenda.

The main objectives and results of this annual meeting of SMAP Correspondents were:

1. A productive exchange of information on national / regional SMAP (and related) activities
2. Finalisation of the Report on 5 years of Implementation of SMAP, which will be published and submitted to the Euro-Mediterranean Environment Ministers for information and for consideration of its recommendations
3. Finalisation of the related Country Profiles of the Mediterranean Partners, which will be put on the SMAP website; the July Ministerial is expected to confirm that countries are responsible for giving the Commission the material needed to update these Profiles
4. Information from Greece on the organisational aspects of the 2^nd Euro-Mediterranean Environment Ministerial Conference taking place on 9-10 July 2002
5. An intensive round of largely consensual negotiation on the Draft Ministerial Declaration prepared by the Commission.

The meeting was chaired by Mr F. Thurmes, Director of DG ENV.E.

At the end of the discussion, the Chairman drew the following conclusions:

• All members of the SMAP Correspondents Network (including the NGO Steering Committee) would continue presenting their Annual Reports following the suggested outline formats;
• All members of the SMAP Correspondents Network (including the NGO Steering Committee) would continue systematic efforts to enhance visibility of the SMAP activities.
• The offer of Egypt and Syria to verify the Arabic version of the SMAP brochure was very welcome and would be followed up;
• An updated version of the Report on Implementation, taking on board amendments agreed upon during the meeting, will be sent to the SMAP Network by the Commission by the 3^rd of May;
• Correspondents wishing to do so should send their comments and suggestions on the Report and their Country Profile to DG ENV by the 13^th of May;
• On the basis of the comments, the Commission will finalise the Report and the Country Profiles. The Report will be then printed in English and French for distribution at the Athens Ministerial. The Country Profiles will be put on the SMAP website and will also be presented for information at the Ministerial. Decisions on updating the Profiles would depend on countries providing the information, since the Commission would not have the resources needed to maintain the information unaided;
• An updated version of the draft Declaration, taking on board amendments agreed upon during the meeting, will be sent to the SMAP Network by the Commission by the 3^rd of May;
• Correspondents wishing to do so should send to the Commission (DG ENV) their comments and suggestions on this version to DG ENV by the 15^th of May;
• On the basis of such comments, the Commission will prepare the English and French versions of the draft Declaration to be discussed at the 3^rd Preparatory meeting (Athens, 8/7/2002);
• Egypt and Algeria will prepare an Arabic version of the text.