A regional technical consultation meeting was held on 6 February 2025 in Athens to discuss the integration of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in a transboundary (Tb) context within the framework of the Barcelona Convention. The discussions were based on a draft legal study presenting various options for this integration, ranging from the adoption of guidelines as a soft law approach to amendments of existing legal instruments—such as the Convention itself or relevant Protocols—or even the development of a dedicated Protocol on the subject.
Participants agreed on the need to strengthen the integration of transboundary EIA/SEA to enhance the implementation of the Barcelona Convention. They recommended drafting guidelines, to be submitted for adoption at COP 25 in 2027. In parallel, they proposed analyzing existing legal instruments and international and national experiences in the Mediterranean region related to transboundary environmental assessments. Additionally, they emphasized the importance of exchanging best practices, promoting training, and building capacity in collaboration with the Espoo Convention Secretariat.
It is worth noting that several Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention are already parties to the Espoo Convention and its Protocol. However, to effectively protect the Mediterranean as an enclosed sea, all countries should implement environmental assessments in a transboundary context.
