Bearing in mind the many outputs of a sequence of meetings directly or indirectly related to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg (National Focal Points of MAP, Athens 11-14 September, 12th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, Monaco 14-17 November, 7th MCSD Meeting, early 2002, joint Mediterranean NGO Meeting "the Mediterranean NGO Process: on the road to Rio+10", just before the 7th MCSD Meeting in early 2002, etc.) and the results of the overall review process at national, regional and international level culminating in the WSSD (National Reports, Sub-Regional Preparatory Meeting - Northern Africa, Tunis 5-7 Sept, Regional Preparatory Meeting - UN ECE, Geneva 24-25 September, Regional Preparatory Meeting - West Asia, Cairo 24-25 October, etc.), it is necessary that a clear, strong message for and from the Mediterranean is articulated.

The ideal would be for a single Mediterranean message to be formulated by all of the region's key stakeholders taking into account the outcome of all the aforementioned meetings and the need - particularly under the international circumstances this particular moment - to demonstrate the solidarity of all Mediterranean people in addressing the issues of the environment and sustainable development. This, however, might be a very difficult objective to achieve…

In light of the above, MIO-ECSDE invites you to attend a half-day Mediterranean multi-stakeholder consultation meeting restricted to forty (40) participants to be held in Monaco on November 13th 2001, directly after the Extraordinary Meeting of the MCSD (Monte Carlo, 12 November 2001) and prior to the 12th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (Monte Carlo, 14-17 November) with the purpose of:

· Informing about and co-ordinating the various initiatives of the Mediterranean stakeholders active in the Johannesburg WSSD process;

· Strategising: - on the distribution of tasks/roles; - on achieving the best representation in the meetings where the presence of the Mediterranean partners will be the most significant;

· Agreeing on a limited number of key points (not an elaborate text but rather few bullet points) to be considered:

· In combination with the draft declaration (based on the Tunis Declaration) prepared by the UNEP/MAP Secretariat and scheduled to be approved during the meeting of the Contracting Parties of the Barcelona Convention;
· As elements that could be incorporated in the various speeches, reports, positions to be presented during the WSSD process by the various Mediterranean states and inter- and non- governmental organisations.

The character of the meeting will be an informal one and the fate of the results will be in the hands of the meeting itself. It is co-organised by MIO-ECSDE with the support of the UNEP/MAP Coordinating Unit and the Principality of Monaco. It is funded by DG ENV CEU and UNEP/MAP.

The venue of the meeting is "the Grimaldi Forum", sale van Dongen, in Monte Carlo.

Due to budgetary restrictions the organisers will not be able to cover travel and accommodation expenses except for a few NGOs and this will be done on a "first come-first serve" basis.

For any further information on the Multi-stakeholder Consultation Meeting contact: Anastasia Roniotes, MIO-ECSDE Programme Officer, Tripodon 28, 10558 Athens, Greece, Tel: +301-3247490, -3247467, Fax: +301-3225240, e-mail: mio-ee-env@ath.forthnet.gr.