Objective: To contribute to sustainable development of the Mediterranean Sea Area and change the title of the Convention to Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean.
Summary of provisions: Areas covered by the Convention may be extended to coastal areas as defined by each party within its own territory (art. 1.2), and any Protocol to the Convention may extend the geographical coverage to which that particular Protocol applies (art. 1.3). Parties agree to take appropriate measures to eliminate pollution of the Mediterranean Sea Area, in addition to preventing, abating and combating such pollution (art. 4.1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9B) and to apply the precautionary principle and the polluter pays principle. They are to undertake environmental impact assessment for proposed activities and promote cooperation among States in environmental impact assessment procedure related to activities which are likely to have transboundary effect and commit themselves to promote the integrated management of coastal zones (art.4.3). Parties are to adopt programmes and measures, which contain, where appropriate, time limits for their completion. They undertake to utilise the best available techniques and the best environmental practices and promote the application of, access to and transfer of environmentally sound technology, including clean production technologies (art.4.4). This amendment modifies the article concerning pollution from land-based sources to further obligate Parties to draw up and implement plans for the reduction and phasing out of substances that are toxic, persistent and liable to bio-accumulate arising from land-based sources (art.8). It also modifies the article on scientific and technical cooperation in which Parties undertake to promote the research on, access to and transfer if environmentally sound technology, including clean production technologies and to cooperate in the formulation, establishment and implementation of clean production process (art.11). Moreover it establishes new provisions concerning conservation of biological diversity (art.9A), pollution resulting from the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal (art.9B), environmental legislation (art.11A) and public information and participation (art.11B).
Institutional mechanisms: Provisions concerning the Bureau of the Contracting Parties (art. l4A) and observers at their meetings and conferences (art.14B) are also added.
(Source: IUCN ELC, 08.2005, based on UNEP Register of International Treaties and Other Agreements in the Field of the Environment, 1996)