Sustainable development in the Mediterranean and

Doc. 8214

1 October 1998

Sustainable development in the Mediterranean and
Black Sea basins

Reply to Recommendation 1359 (1998)

from the Committee of Ministers

adopted at the 641^st meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (15 and 18 September 1998)

1. The Committee of Ministers has studied and paid particular attention to Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1359 (1998) on sustainable development in the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins. It welcomes the fact that co-operation with these regions continues to develop under the umbrella of the Council of Europe. Indeed, it welcomes the approach of the fifth Conference of Mediterranean Regions.

2 It shares the desire of the Parliamentary Assembly that international legal instruments and texts of major political importance, such as the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution (1992), the ministerial Declaration on the Protection of the Black Sea (1993) and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (1973 and 1978), be more widely ratified and effectively respected.

3. It wishes to recall a general problem which arises when certain initiatives concern a part of Europe, or, as in the case of this Recommendation, the southern shore of the Mediterranean and the Middle East: whether the whole Organisation should play a prominent role in these initiatives or only the relevant States.

4. It is evident that Europe cannot and should not isolate itself from the problems on other continents. But it is also evident that there should be a division of competence between the countries and between international organisations so that problems could be efficiently resolved. The Committee of Ministers believes that it is primarily up to the countries of the region themselves to take up the necessary action, if they so wish, and in particular to develop close relations with regional organisations. This is the approach it favours as regards the Office responsible for liaison with the countries of the southern shore of the Mediterranean and of the Middle East.

5. The Committee of Ministers sets out in the appendix its views on the various operational paragraphs of the Recommendation.

Appendix to the reply to the Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1359 (1998)

1. The Committee of Ministers took note of the proposals of the Parliamentary Assembly and wishes to inform it that, as regards the promotion of the Organisation's values in the Mediterranean (10.i.), the Final Declaration of the Second Summit of Heads of State and Government of the member States of the Council of Europe (Strasbourg, 10-11 October 1997) does not lose sight of this important aspect of European policy. In it the Heads of State and Government declare their determination to encourage "understanding between citizens of the North and the South through initiatives aimed at promoting mutual respect and solidarity among peoples". The Committee of Ministers is ready to consider requests to take part as observers in certain activities of the Council of Europe from States such as Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia as well as the Palestinian Authority.

Moreover, the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) is taking into account the Parliamentary Assembly proposals on sustainable development while elaborating the Guiding principles for sustainable regional/spatial development in Greater Europe which will be discussed during its next Conference in Hanover.

2. As for the promotion of co-operation between local and regional authorities around the Mediterranean, particularly in respect of migratory movements (10.ii.), one should note that the actions targeted by the Committee of Ministers in the field of Euro-Mediterranean co-operation always involve numerous partners at local, national and international levels. The Committee of Ministers supports the establishment of links between local authorities in different countries in pursuance of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. The Committee of Ministers holds in high regard the Conferences of Mediterranean Regions, organised jointly by the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE). It welcomes the approach of the fifth of these conferences, which is to be held in Montpellier this year.

There also exists the so-called Euromed Working Group of the CLRAE. The Committee of Ministers has also taken note, with interest, of its creation in 1997. Its aim is to strengthen the co-operation process with Eastern and Southern Mediterranean countries in the fields of decentralisation, democratic management of local authorities and the training of staff in municipalities.

The continuation of policies on community relations, integration and the promotion of tolerance at both national and international level remains one of the objectives of the European Ministers responsible for Migration Affairs. Wishing to ease migration pressure, the Ministers also undertook, at their 6th Conference, to examine the root causes of migration and to intensify bilateral and multilateral co-operation with migrants' countries of origin in order to bring the root causes of migration under control. Furthermore, the Ministers committed themselves to look for ways of strengthening international co-operation in order to combat illegal migration and illegal employment. In this connection, the Ministers recalled that the right of any person to enter the territory of his or her own country is a fundamental right forming part of human rights and they emphasised the obligation placed on each State under international law to readmit its own nationals.

A reflection group on "Managing Migration in the Wider Europe" was set up in 1997 with the aim of developing a comprehensive approach bringing together the need for efficient management of immigration with longer-term concerns such as integration and the root causes of migration, and assisting governments in defining principles for orderly migration movements into and within Europe. The regularly updated reports by Dr John Salt on "Current trends in international migration in Europe" have served as a basis for exchanges of views on how to monitor long-term developments in migration movements more closely and identify feasible policy options in this regard within the European Committee on Migration (CDMG).

A Euro-Mediterranean round table on "Partnership for co-operation and reconciliation in the Middle East" was held in February this year, with the participation of Shimon Peres, representatives of the Palestinian Authority and of the Israeli Parliament, and Mario Soares, the objective of which was to assess the situation with the peace process and possibilities for the future through informal dialogue, and to foster reconciliation by means of political, economic and cultural initiatives at grassroots level.

3. Given the budgetary restrictions and new priorities of the Organisation, the Committee of Ministers considers that the Council of Europe already has a structure to promote the Euro-Mediterranean dialogue – the Lisbon North-South Centre (10.iii.). The North-South Centre is a Council of Europe body and should be used more frequently, by the Parliamentary Assembly, etc., as an instrument of expertise and implementation of activities concerning the Mediterranean. It is noteworthy that the Lisbon North-South Centre has set up a Transmediterranean Programme on the promotion and defence of human rights, which provides a forum for co-operation, exchanges and communication between all countries of the Mediterranean. Their programme focuses on intercultural dialogue and understanding, promoting tolerance, combating racism and xenophobia and youth activities. Since its creation, the Transmed Programme has set up and reinforced a solid network of partners in the Euro-Mediterranean space. The Committee of Ministers would welcome further accession of member States to this Partial Agreement in order to strengthen its potential for co-operation.

Furthermore, the Ministers' Deputies decided that the Council of Europe should organise a campaign on global interdependence and solidarity: Europe against poverty and social exclusion. The campaign was launched on the occasion of the Council of Europe day in Lisbon during the 1998 World Exposition. An International Organising Committee of the Campaign has been instructed to draw up proposals for action to be taken. The first meeting of the Committee was held on 16 March 1998, and its second meeting on 9 June 1998. It goes without saying that the North-South Centre's experience and expertise in trans-Mediterranean co-operation will be widely used in the implementation of this project.

4. Water management (10.iv.) was discussed at the 11th European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning held in Limassol in October 1997. The Conferences theme was "Sustainable regional/spatial planning in Europe and the protection of water resources". A number of Mediterranean States - members of the Council of Europe - participated in this Conference. As a result of the Conference Resolution on "Sustainable development in Europe" and "Strategies to be implemented within a comprehensive regional/spatial planning framework for protecting and managing freshwater resources" were adopted.

5. As concerns the proposal to organise a "Mediterranean and Black Sea Protection Year", modelled on European Nature Conservation Year (10.v), attention is drawn to the fact that the Heads of State and Government have decided to launch a campaign in 1999 on the theme "Europe, a common heritage" which would deal with environmental heritage as well. In these circumstances the Committee of Ministers does not support the proliferation of campaigns. On the other hand, if the countries concerned wish to organise a "Mediterranean and Black Sea Protection Year", their effort is certainly welcome.

6. As for item 10.vi.of the Recommendation, it should be recalled that all Mediterranean countries in Europe have signed and ratified the Bern Convention except Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and Yugoslavia. Tunisia has become a Contracting Party since April and Morocco has been invited by the Committee of Ministers to sign the Convention. Algeria is observer to the Steering Committee to the Convention. The Standing Committee to the Convention is not in favour of extending the Convention to other Mediterranean States (Lybia, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon) and has not invited them to be observers to the Committee, preferring to co-operate with them through common activities and programmes within the Barcelona Convention (particularly its 4th Protocol on Biodiversity and Protected Areas).

7. As for item 10.vii. of the Recommendation, in the framework of the Council of Europe EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement, special attention is paid to natural and technological disaster problems in the Mediterranean and Black Sea Basins, such as: seismicity, floods, forest fires, desertification, pollution, and, in particular, oil pollution. The Agreement is launching together with the European Commission and the European Space Agency a specific programme concerning the use of space technologies for Risk Management - the STRIM Programme. The participating States are: from the Mediterranean basin - Algeria, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, France, Monaco, Italy, San Marino, Greece, Malta, Turkey and Lebanon, and from the Black Sea basin - Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and Turkey. The Committee of Ministers favours more Mediterranean States participating in these activities.

8. Concerning the international transport of animals, the Committee of Ministers, as pointed out in its decision in reply to Recommendation 1289 on animal welfare and livestock transport in Europe (1996), "shares the Assembly's concern that treatment of animals during international transport should comply with the commonly accepted international standards (including the European Convention for the protection of animals during international transport, ETS 65)." Considering the importance of the trade in animals between member States of the Council of Europe and Mediterranean countries, in particular the Middle East, the Committee of Ministers would favour accession to the Convention ETS 65 by those Mediterranean countries requesting it.

9. As for item 10 viii. of the Recommendation, up till March 1998 nine countries have signed the Convention on Civil Liability for Damage from Activities Dangerous to the Environment.