SMAP meetings
SMAP

 

*   7th MEETING OF THE SMAP CORRESPONDENTS

Athens, 19-20 September 2005
SUMMARY RECORD AND CONCLUSIONS

CHAIR: Mr. Claude Rouam, Head of Unit, DG Environment
AGENDA: Annex I
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS: Annex II
AGENDA ITEM 1: OPENING REMARKS

Messrs. Rouam and Riegel, DG AIDCO, presented recent developments in the environmental cooperation in the Mediterranean in their opening remarks. Emphasis was placed on the initiative of the European Commission “to de-pollute the Mediterranean by 2020” in the context of the 10th anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

AGENDA ITEM 2: FUTURE EU ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

In his introduction to this point of the agenda Mr. Rouam explained further the motivation for the de-pollution initiative. The purpose was to place environment higher on the political agenda of the new programme of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for the five coming years. He also indicated that a process of extensive consultation was under way, starting with the meeting of SMAP, so that all relevant stakeholders can give their input to the work programme that is to be agreed in 2006 for the realisation of the de-pollution initiative.

Mr. Eugene Clancy, speaking on behalf of the NGO “Comité du Suivi” (CdS), presented their views on the way EU environmental policy should develop in the Mediterranean. They had sent earlier a letter to Commission President Barroso suggesting that the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership promote environmental integration in critical sectoral policies of cooperation with Mediterranean countries and avoid unsustainable policies (implementation of the Athens Declaration), placing environmental conditionality on EU assistance to the countries. They also suggested coherence between the 2020 initiative and the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD). Trade liberalisation should take into account the upcoming results in 2006 of the Sustainable Impact Assessment of the 2010 Euro-Med Free Trade Area. Finally, they suggested that consultation of civil society should be done more systematically in the preparation of EU programmes in the Mediterranean. They also announced that the CdS would finalise its contribution to the Barcelona Summit in a meeting to be held in Malaga on 30 September 2005.

Mr. Scoullos, MIO-ECSDE proposed that education should also be indicated as a priority and announced that the launch of the decade for Sustainable Development education will be made in Athens on 25-26 November 2005.

Several delegations indicated their support of the de-pollution initiative saying that it was time the EMP addressed environment in a serious way. Others asked questions on coordination with other work in the Mediterranean and stressed the need for coordination with the work to be done under the MSSD. Several delegations supported the NGO statement.

AGENDA ITEM 3: EURO-MEDITERRANEAN PARTNERSHIP AND EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY

Mr. Strongylis, DG ENV, presented an overview of Euro-Med structures and the relationship with the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the ENP Actions Plans.

The SMAP correspondents of Morocco and Israel made presentations introducing the subject of this agenda item.

Mr. Sahibi, Morocco, placed emphasis on the MSSD and the need for the Ministers of Finance to help with the financial aspects of the Partnership. In this connection the new National Indicative Programmes will have to take account of the 2020 initiative, while METAP and the future LIFE programme should make also make their contributions in this area. He also recommended twinning as a very useful technical support mechanism. A possible restructuring of SMAP was also suggested, and a possible Environment Ministers meeting in 2006. These should help all partners to be involved in the bilateral and regional components of the Partnership and they should all make annual reports of their actions.

Mr. Kats, presented the experience of Israel under the new ENP Action Plan negotiated with the Commission.

Discussion under this point identified the need for greater commitment by the countries for action integrating regional cooperation in the national debates, the need for SMAP to meet more often. Environmental integration suggested by the Athens Declaration should be pursued at national level using the results of the SMAP workshops held in 2005 in most countries. UK agreed with the need to pursue policies of environmental integration, while Turkey suggested that support would be needed for legislative harmonisation and implementation.

AGENDA ITEM 4: OVERVIEW OF SMAP AND ITS FUTURE

Italy contributed the introduction here. Mrs Dalla Costa presented an overview of SMAP achievements and said that the programme could now evolve to take into account recent developments. She also suggested that a good coordination of the financial support under SMAP III and EIB financing should help in the implementation of the 2020 initiative.

Mr. Carrara, RMSU Coordinator, presented the activities they undertook during the year highlighting the SMAP workshops on environmental integration and sustainable development they organised in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, Israel, West Bank and Gaza, and soon in Algeria and Syria. Other activities included their support to the SMAP II projects and the information and communication work related in particular with the RMSU web site. The RMSU web site contains a detailed report with lessons learned from the national workshops and the work of the RMSU with the SMAP projects.

Ms Fisher of the Cairo Delegation presented an overview of the way an EU Delegation is structured in order to fulfil its role of supervisor of the execution of EU assistance in every partner country. She also described how the Cairo Delegation would now be responsible for the implementation of SMAP III projects on technical assistance and coastal area management.

Mr. Riegel, DG AIDCO explained that ERM will be the firm doing the technical assistance to countries under a SMAP III contract, while the contracts for the elaboration of integrated coastal zone management plans are to be signed by the end of the year.

Mrs. Hoefnagel and Mr. Behnfeld, ERM, presented the aims of the technical assistance project under SMAP III. Focus will be assistance on environmental integration and sustainable development. They will be operating out of their Cairo office and offering assistance to environment and other ministries in the partner countries.

The ensuing debate focused on the lessons learned from the SMAP workshops about environmental integration at the national level, the need for the SMAP III ICZM projects to take into account Barcelona Convention work in the same area, the view that current SMAP structure may not be adequate for pursuing environmental integration in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, the need for pursuing SD activities at the national level using necessary incentives for this to take place, the taking into account of the new political impetus that should come from the agreement on ENP National Plans, and finally the need to involve all stakeholders, also beyond current SMAP membership.

Claude Rouam requested Professor Scoullos to undertake a consultation process during the meeting putting together a small working group, which would consider the future structure and evolution of the SMAP Correspondents’ Network and contribute to the elaboration of the roadmap for the de-pollution initiative. At the end of the meeting, Mr. Scoullos reported on his consultations and it was decided to include in this small working group Egypt, Morocco, Italy, Greece, Slovenia, Germany, Jordan, CdS, and EU Presidency, with the Commission acting as the facilitator. The Commission will launch the group.

AGENDA ITEM 5: FINANCING

Ms Fisher, Cairo Delegation, presented the work the Delegation is doing for coordinating donor assistance in the environment area. The group includes international institutions such as the World Bank, UNDP and USAID as well as those Member States that are active in the area and the Environment Agency of Egypt. It meets 3-4 times per year and it gives the possibility for donors to co-ordinate their activities, though it is difficult to have commonly financed projects because of the different cycles of funding of the various international donors.

Mr. Sherif Arif, METAP reported on the work they intend to undertake during the fifth phase of METAP in 2006-2010. They will be continuing with the promotion of the use of the economic tools METAP has developed for policy in specific sectors. The key message they will carry will be that it makes economic sense to protect the environment. They will seek to anchor these tools in regional institutions, so their promotion and use can continue. They will concentrate in investments in the waste, water and ICZM areas, involve the private sector and seek to influence Ministries of Planning, Finance and Economy. He also urged countries to use the Kyoto Protocol Carbon Fund of the World Bank; until now the region has not been able to develop Clean Development Mechanism projects to use this free money.

Morocco stressed the need to continue the detailed studies of environmental degradation, so that we can convince policy makers. Algeria mentioned they organised an information campaign on environmental integration in the country with the participation of municipalities, which agreed on relevant charter. Results of this campaign are reflected in the National Environmental Report.

Mr. Paul Mifsud, MAP Coordinator, reported on the GEF project to enhance country capacity for implementation of their Strategic Action Programmes SAP MED and SAP BIO. A second GEF project is currently being negotiated to assist countries to address sources of pollution. It will have a regional component and an investment fund with $ 60 million as seed money. MAP plans to go to other donors for help with this work.

AGENDA ITEM 6: FRAMEWORKS OF COOPERATION

Mr. Echirk, Algeria, presented the point of view of a SMAP correspondent regarding the issues of coordination between the various initiatives in the Mediterranean. He stressed that such coordination will be indispensable for the achievement of the 2020 initiative. The initiative will have to take into account the Johannesburg Implementation Plan, the Millennium Development Goals, the MSSD, the “Environment and Development in the Mediterranean” report of the Blue Plan etc. National coordination can also contribute to this. In Algeria efforts will be made through the National Commission of Sustainable Development. He also mentioned that the 2020 initiative did not seem to include natural catastrophes, floods and desertification.

Mr. Rouam presented the seven thematic strategies of the European Union, most of which are expected to be submitted to the EU Council of Ministers by the Commission by the end of this year. They include strategies on the Marine Environment, Air pollution, Soil protection, Pesticides, Urban environment etc. and they are expected to be important policy development tools in the years to come. Inter alia, the strategies aim to consolidate existing instruments, in line with the Commission’s overall policy on legislative simplification.

Mr. De Villepin presented the latest information regarding the LIFE Third countries programmes. He suggested that the initiative could benefit from the 14 years of experience LIFE has from supporting projects in the Mediterranean in capacity building responding to concrete demands in the region. 2006 will be the last year LIFE will be supporting projects before the new financial arrangements of the EU start for the 2007-2013 time frame.

Messrs. Mavroidis and Constantianos presented the latest developments under the EU Water Initiative, while Ms Detoc, DG ENV spoke about the Joint Process of collaboration between the EU Water Initiative and the network of implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive. This Joint Process was presented as a technical basis for preparing convergence of environmental legislation in the field of water.

Mr. Bricelj, Slovenia, made a presentation of the Adriatic Initiative, a case of sub-regional cooperation in the Mediterranean stressing a bottom up approach.

Ms Barbara Clark represented the European Environment Agency at the meeting and distributed an EEA report containing recent activities of the EEA in the Mediterranean.

Participants stressed the need to have more information about developments in EU environmental policy. NGO participants suggested that twinning should be extended to civil society and stressed that more support is needed to existing civil society organisations. In addition, they raised the question of how the Euro-Med agricultural cooperation under the new five-year plan of cooperation will take into account the SIA of the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area.

JOINT MAP Focal Points - SMAP MEETING

The meeting was co-chaired by Mrs. Soledad Blanco (Director DG Environment) and Mr. Paul Mifsud (UNEP MAP Co-ordinator).

Both co-chairs stressed the significance of the joint meeting between MAP and SMAP, a significant step towards creating greater synergies between the Barcelona Convention and the EMP. The holding of the meeting signifies a readiness from both networks to work together more closely in the future.

Mrs. Blanco presented the EU initiative to “de-pollute the Mediterranean by 2020”. She gave the background of the initiative and explained that it represented mainly an attempt by the European Commission to place environmental cooperation in the Mediterranean higher in the Euro-Med agenda on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Barcelona Process. She also stressed that the achievement of the initiative will depend critically on a close collaboration with MAP. She outlined the plan for the development of a timetable of actions under the initiative to be adopted in 2006. She invited all Mediterranean stakeholders to make their contributions to the realisation of the goals of the initiative. Key events for this stakeholder consultation process under the initiative are:

• 19-20 September 2005, Athens - SMAP and MAP Focal Points meeting, notably seeking the opinions of government representatives, International organisations, International Financing Institutions, MAP and NGOs
• 26 September 2005, Brussels – meeting with representatives of cities, regions and private sector
• 29 November 2005, Barcelona – High Level Environment event in conjunction with the Barcelona Summit of 27-28 November 2005 of Euro-Med, where all sectors of stakeholders will be able to present their contributions to the initiative.

Mr. Rouam, Chairman of the SMAP meeting, presented a summary of the results of the meeting. He stressed the contributions made by the NGOs who said that there is a need to put some coherence in the multitude of initiatives in the Mediterranean if they are to contribute to the 2020 initiative. The rest of the discussion showed that until now mediocre results have been achieved in the environment area in the Mediterranean. Prerequisites for the success of the initiative include environmental integration with other sectors, emphasis on education, appropriate financing and debt alleviation, avoidance of duplication and promotion of synergies with other actors, promotion of twinning arrangements and quantification and publicity of the cost of environmental inaction. Some participants felt that while the three priorities of the initiative cover about 80% of environmental problems, other issues should not be neglected. Finally, a small reflection group would examine the evolution of SMAP.

Mr. Mifsud presented the current state of work under the various programmes of MAP for de-polluting the Mediterranean. He mentioned in particular the work done by MED POL under SAP MED and SAP BIO and the contributions of several of the MAP regional activity centres. He stressed the need to integrate the work of MAP with that of the 2020 initiative. This will be pursued primarily through the agreement currently being finalised between MAP and the European Commission.

Comments and queries raised by meeting participants during the discussion included:

• SMAP meetings have improved, and it is good to have this joint meeting with MAP – a new dynamism for the future is now shown – in the past, the EMP has not been as efficient as it should have been
• Good to have the joint MAP-SMAP meeting – we should continue in the future – Athens Declaration – EU Marine Strategy should be taken into account in this work
• The draft declaration of the Barcelona Summit should include reference to MAP.
• Additional resources to those already mobilised by MAP and GEF are needed
• The initiative should help with Information and awareness – this will be very useful
• Need collaboration with Med regional bodies
• Need to prioritise the limited resources
• Need to make reference to METAP in the 2020 initiative discussion paper - METAP V is to be launched in July 2006 – all actors should be publishing annual reports
• Request for clarification about the exact targets of this initiative. Poverty, de-pollution?
• Financial institutions will have to be involved in the diagnostic phase, if we would like to involve them in this initiative – solution should not be just presented to them.
• We have already had several SMAP projects dealing with the areas mentioned under the initiative
• The SAP National Plans include a portfolio of pre-investment projects. The suggestion was made that these should be taken into account in the work to be undertaken under the initiative
• Political endorsement expected – want to see the EU commitment
• MIO will support the environmental commitments inside EMP
• Implementation of MAP programme is needed
• Concern about whether or not it will be possible to mobilise the necessary financial resource.
• This initiative should be linked to development, because it can bring jobs
• 2020 can be a problem since the MAP countries have a plan for achieving their targets by 2025

The commission replied that 2020 is to be considered as a flagship initiative through which we hope to attract political attention and eventual resources for its realisation. The draft declaration for the Barcelona summit and the five-year work programme of the EMP to be adopted there contain references not only to the 2020 initiative, but also to the MSSD and MAP, as necessary instruments for the implementation of the initiative. The participation of all interested parties and their consultation will be sought. We will need to put concrete targets to the initiative and use indicators, so that we will be able to track its progress.

AGENDA ITEM 7: CLOSING SESSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The joint session with MAP gave the opportunity to the Chair to conclude that it was good to see how much good will existed for continuing environmental cooperation in the Mediterranean.

There was obviously a need to continue trying to improve coordination among the various programmes and institutions dealing with environment. It is hoped that the de-pollution initiative can contribute in this direction. The close collaboration between the European Commission and MAP will be a pillar of this work, however, the contributions of all others, i.e. governments, international organisations, international financing institutions, NGOs etc. will be critical for further progress to be made in safeguarding the Mediterranean environment in the future from the various challenges it will be facing.