Photo credit: İdil Toffolo/Alamy Live N
The MSP Working Group agreed on a series of recommendations to further strengthen regional cooperation on MSP during its fifth meeting, held online on 12 May 2026. The meeting brought together representatives of the Barcelona Convention Contracting Parties and regional partners to review recent progress and define priorities for the coming period.
Participants welcomed the progress achieved through recent UNEP/MAP activities and regional projects, including MSP4BIO and MEDIGREEN, which continue to support MSP through capacity building and national implementation activities. The meeting also recognised the significant progress made by several Mediterranean countries in advancing their national MSP processes.
The Working Group agreed to further promote a common regional approach to Maritime Spatial Planning in the Mediterranean by strengthening regional cooperation, policy coherence and exchanges across existing initiatives and frameworks.
A key outcome of the meeting was the endorsement for the next steps for finalising the Mediterranean MSP Position Paper. Following the guidance of the Bureau of the Contracting Parties, the document will be restructured into two complementary documents: a Background Document and a Strategic Priorities and Roadmap 2026–2035. These will be submitted through the UNEP/MAP governance process for consideration by the MAP Focal Points and, subject to their endorsement, for adoption by the Contracting Parties at the next Meeting of the Contracting Parties (COP). A communication version will also be prepared to support wider outreach.
Members also agreed to extend the Mediterranean MSP Roadmap to 2035 and to prepare an updated 2026–2027 workplan based on the updated roadmap and priorities identified by the Working Group.
The recommendations adopted at the meeting will guide the Working Group's activities in the coming months and support continued cooperation towards coherent and effective Marine Spatial Planning across the Mediterranean.
