On 6 and 7 May 2025, the National Focal Points of the Priority Actions Programme/Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC) met in Athens, Greece. The meeting brought together representatives from 17 Mediterranean countries, highlighting a strong regional commitment to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), Marine Spatial Planning, and coastal adaptation to climate change.
This two-day event provided an opportunity to review the progress made by PAP/RAC in implementing its Programme of Work for the current biennium. Participants commended the quality and the diverse range of activities carried out, which closely align with the UNEP/MAP Medium-Term Strategy 2022–2027 and the Action Plan for the implementation of the ICZM Protocol (2020–2027).
Delegates also shared national initiatives undertaken in the field of ICZM and adaptation to climate change, contributing a wealth of diverse perspectives that were highly valued. These exchanges sparked considerable interest, with several countries expressing plans to replicate capacity-building and field-based activities.
PAP/RAC Director, Daria Povh Škugor, thanked all the NFPs for their active participation and emphasized:
“We see ourselves as a planning partner to Mediterranean coastal regions — working together for a better future of our coasts through ICZM and MSP, integrating climate change adaptation to advance resilience and sustainability.”
Key conclusions and recommendations from the meeting will inform discussions at the upcoming Meeting of the MAP Focal Points and subsequent Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention in December 2025, ensuring that coastal planning continues to drive regional cooperation and progress.
