Minister Podobnik hosted Ambassadors of the Mediterranean countries

Ljubljana, October 19, 2005 –. Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Janez Podobnik hosted the Ambassadors of Mediterranean countries.

At the briefing, the Minister presented the content and purpose of the 14th Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Regions of the Mediterranean and its Protocols (Barcelona Convention) taking place from 8th to 11th of November this year in Portorož.

At the briefing, the topics that will be discussed at the Meeting were emphasized; the adoption of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development, Integrated Coastal Zone Management including the importance of protected areas of marine ecosystems.

During the Ministerial part of the Meeting in Portorož (November 9), Slovenia expects the Signature of Trilateral Agreement between Italy, Croatia and Slovenia on Contingency Plan for Adriatic that will exceedingly contribute to safety of maritime traffic in the Adriatic.

Minister Podobnik also informed the Ambassadors of additional activities of the Conference; the European Commission will present the European Marine Strategy, the initiative of Euro – Mediterranean Partnership (“Initiative 2020”) will be presented, the European Environment Agency will report on the Mediterranean environment status, International Marine Organization (IMO) will present Ballast Water Management Plan.

The Meeting in Portorož will host highest representatives of 22 Contracting Parties and will mainly concentrate on reducing the pressure and impact on marine ecosystem in the Mediterranean and on the synergy between the Mediterranean Action Plan and activities of the European Commission. Slovenia will preside this process in the period 2005-2007.

During the Meeting in Portorož, there will be a number of events organized by NGOs with the official status of observers in the Meeting as well as events organized by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning in co-operation with the local communities and the University of Primorje.

Prezentation Briefing for the ambassadors of the Mediterranean countries

Prezentation Adriatic: case of Sub-regional cooperation