Summary
Despite various political initiatives at international level,
the Mediterranean still faces very serious environmental problems
which are the result of both climate change and factors such as
intensive agriculture, overfishing, rampant coastal development,
inadequate controls over waste and wastewater disposal and increased
trade and shipping.
The member states of the Council of Europe and all countries
of the Mediterranean Basin must improve, implement and enforce national
and international environmental legislation, apply an integrated
ecosystem-based approach in their policies and integrate it in all
relevant sectors. This process requires strong political commitment,
adequate funding, institutional capacity and transfer of technology
and know-how.
In this respect, international co-operation based on more
solidarity and political balance between the northern and the southern
Mediterranean countries must be stepped up. The Council of Europe
is urged to play an active part in this process, including increased
co-operation at the parliamentary level with the Euro-Mediterranean
Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean.
