Getting ready for the Regional Framework

A workshop to discuss the first draft of the Regional Framework for Integrated Coastal Zone Management was organised by PAP/RAC in Athens, Greece, on 5-6 April 2017. The Italian Ministry of Environment and Protection of Land and Sea supported organisation of the meeting. The meeting was attended by nominated experts from thirteen Mediterranean countries. The Regional Framework is a document envisaged in the article 17 of the ICZM Protocol with the aim of supporting Contracting Parties to cooperate for the promotion of sustainable development and integrated management of coastal zones. Based on constructive inputs and suggestions, the updated version of the Framework will be further discussed at the upcoming PAP/RAC National Focal Points meeting in May.

Following the Regional Framework meeting, on 7 April, a meeting with the representatives of Greek authorities and institutions took place in order to present the recent UN Environment/MAP and PAP/RAC projects on EcAp indicators and MSP. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministries of Environment and Energy; Tourism; Economy and Development; and Rural Development and Food, as well as representatives of scientific and research organisations coming from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, National technical University of Athens, Helenic Center for Marine Research and Panhellenic Society of Technologists Ichthyologists. It was a very interesting and productive meeting both for the PAP/RAC and Greek representatives, hopefully being the first of the many collaborative expert meetings in the future.