Mediterranean Environmental Action Programme
NGOs Concerned about Commission's Lack of Performance

(13/04/00) Official declarations and programmes had created expectations for an improvement of the situation in the Mediterranean region, but when it comes to implementation the results are disappointing. That is what a coalition of environmental NGOs (listed below) expressed in their letter to President Prodi and Commissioners Wallstrom and Patten. In their view, the Commission is to a large extent responsible for this lack of progress. 

In the Barcelona Declaration (adopted in November 1995) environment has been recognised as one of the fields for increased co-operation and as an important dimension for the achievement of sustainable development in the Mediterranean region. In the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, the Commission was entrusted with the co-ordination of a "Short and Medium-Term Priority Environmental Action Programme"  (SMAP).

In the forward to a publication on SMAP Commissioner Wallstrom says "I would like . to reaffirm my strong support for the SMAP and encourage all Partners to work towards its implementation, by preparing projects within the framework of the new Programme." Commission officials informed that from the submitted projects 7 had been selected for approval by Commission services. This was 1 year ago - the projects have still not been approved. Furthermore the NGO coalition criticises that a new Call for Tender - expected already for the end of 1999 - has not been published yet. This is another example that progress in the EU-Mediterranean Partnership within the framework of SMAP is being blocked right from the start. The NGOs argue that the objectives are there, the criteria are there, the money seems to be there - what is needed is a commitment from the Commission to get the process moving. The continuation of such a situation will frustrate the partners the Commission called upon to successfully implement the programme and put the credibility of the Commission at risk.

For more information:
Regina Schneider, EEB, Tel.: +32 2 289 10 95, e-mail: info@eeb.org
Alexandra Wandel, FoEMedNet, Tel.: +32 2 542 01 85, e-mail: mftz@foeeurope.org