On 13 September 2010, the Council adopted the decision to ratify the ICZM Protocol to the Barcelona Convention. European Environment Commissioner Janez Potoènik has welcomed the adoption of the Council decision, saying it was "good news for a region under extreme pressure". In his statement welcoming the Council decision, he said that the adoption of the Council's decision will mean that problems of coastal degradation in the Mediterranean can now be tackled more effectively. He stressed that the EU ratification decision "sends a strong signal of commitment from the EU to the protection and sustainable management of the Mediterranean coast."
The Commissioner's statement and more information on the Protocol can be found on: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/iczm/barcelona.htm
The EU conclusion of the Protocol brings the number of ratifications to 5. The Protocol enters into force after 6 ratifications.
