Preamble

1. We, the NGO representatives of 16 Mediterranean countries. meeting in Athens on 22 and 23 November 1991, of the invitation of the Mediterranean Information Office of the EEB. the Elliniki Etalrla. and the Arab Office of Youth and Environment. in the framework of the UNCED process and with the support of the Commission of the European Communities. the UNEP/MAP Coordinating Unit the UNIC/Athens and the French and Greek Governments, the inheritors of diverse ancient civilisations. sharing a common commitment to environment protection and sustainable development in the Mediterranean. have unanimously adopted the present declaration.

2. Whereas the degradation of the environmental quality of the Mediterranean basin has continued during the. past decades

3. Believing that development should reflect global ethical considerations taking full account of the ecological dimension of politics. education. the economy and scientific research

4. Emphasizing the role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as promoters of citizen awareness and Involvement In public affairs. we agree on the following

Conditions for Sustainable Development

5. We believe that the following conditions are essential for sustainable development anti the continued enhancement of our natural and cultural heritage

6. Peace: Insofar as peace Is a precondition to stable and environmentally responsible development. we welcome the Middle East Peace Process begun at Madrid 91 and call for implementation of all U.N Security Council resolutions relating to outstanding political problems in the Mediterranean region We unconditionally condemn the use of the environment and natural resources, the interference with or alteration of the existing demographic composition of a state: or region. and the destruction of its cultural heritage. as a means of war and call for incorporation of this principle in the Earth Charter and other International Conventions We also call for large reductions in arms spending and the banning of nuclear warships.

7. Human Rights: Mindful of the importance of the implementation of already acknowledged human rights. such as the right to life we also call for the full recognition of the right for information and participation and the right to justice as basic conditions for obtaining a healthy and safe environment

8. Democracy Realizing the crucial contribution of citizen participation in environmental policy. we welcome the recent international expansion of democratic nouns and call for the expeditious establishment and strengthening of democratic political systems in all Mediterranean countries

9. Women's Rights: Deeply convinced of the connection between women s rights and sustainable development. we call for the participation of women as equal partners in all socio-political spheres  

Unced Process

10. We welcome the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development as an important step in an ongoing international process. We call on it to:

a. address the root causes of global environmental problems;

b. promote major changes in production and consumption patterns, particularly as between North and South, in order to facilitate sustainable development on a global basis;

c. alleviate the debt problem by encouraging further remissions of debt for nature: d. fix clear, quantifiable environmental objectives linked to strict timetables;

e. adopt instruments to enforce the implementation of the Earth Charter and Agenda XXI;

r ensure equal rights of participation in the monitoring and supervision of these instruments to governments, social partners (manufacturers, investors. and trade unions) and NGOs.

11. We urge the Mediterranean Governments, the European Community. the Arab League and other regional Governmental groupings. to include in their delegations to the New York PrepCom and the Rio Conference NGO representatives. We consider this an important step towards realizing the public authorities commitment to “partnership” as recommended by the Brundtland Report

12. We recommend that NGOs organise themselves in National Conferences. If such fora do not already exist. in connection with their participation in These international meetings. and involve existing regional networks in this process.

Barcelona Convention And Nicosia Charter

l3. We recognize the significance of these two documents. and we believe that their protocols or conditions must be fully adhered to We are disturbed by the delay in their actual implementation We are committed therefore to enhancing the role of Mediterranean NGOs in monitoring the compliance of Mediterranean countries with their environmental obligations and reporting to the Mediterranean Action Plan Coordinating Unit (UNEP/MAP) and the Mediterranean information Office (EEB/MIO) for wider dissemination

14. The monitoring role of NGOs must be recognized by Governments. which musl fund this monitoring either directly or through regional or international organizations.

15. We request that the Mediterranean Information Office publish an annual report containing the Information submitted by the Mediterranean NGOs on compliance with the Barcelona Convention and the Nicosia Charter. We also call on the Mediterranean Action Plan to publish an independent assessment of the progress made under the Blue Plan

National Legislation

16. We call our Governments to Implement national and regional regulations dealing with trans-frontier pollution and particularly. the prohibition of international transport of hazardous wastes

17. We urge the adoption of national legislation requiring Environmental Impact Assessment studies and the Freedom of Access to Information on Environmental Matters.

Mediterranean Regional Arrangements

18. We welcome the organization of the coming Regional Ministerial Conferences In Cairo (April 1992 on environmental strategy) and Rome (September 1992 on water). On the basis of the Bergen experience (E.C.E. Conference on Environment and Development). we request full participation of the social partners and the NGOs in both conferences

19. We call on the signatories of the Barcelona Convention to amend Article 2 of Appendix A to include a provision granting NGOs and aggrieved citizens the right to take legal action against states that do not comply with their commitments under this protocol. We also express our general support for the concept of an International Environment Court. particularly for the Mediterranean region. We welcome specific proposals to this end

20. We request that the Mediterranean Information Office serve as a coordinator of expert teams which will explore the following regional institutional arrangements. and prepare a progress report to the next NGO conference in April 1992.

21. We call for the establishment of a Network for the Mediterranean Biological Diversity with the participation of NGOs and scientists. to be coordinated by the Mediterranean Information Office The Network will facilitate the transnational exchange of information and will organize an initial workshop In the framework of the Cairo Meeting.

22. We propose:

A) The convening of a Ministerial Conference on ~·A Mediterranean Community for Water and Natural Resource Management~· with the participation of all the Mediterranean Countries and the E.C . to deal with:

I Resource Management.

II Agreed principles of water pricing

III Designing of infrastructures.

IV. Technology transfers

V. Research and Development

VI. Environmental Education and Training at all schooling levels

VII. Creation of Public Awareness

B) A Regional Environmental Court of Justice with authority to:

I. order the implementation of international treaties by contracting member states;

II. impose clean-up costs on polluters:

III. grant standing to NGOs and citizens.

C) An organizational structure to coordinate funding of environmental and development activities in the Mediterranean region. with full participation of donors and recipients.

D) The establishment of a Special Environmental Protection Fund to cope with the environmental damage caused by the increase in mass tourism in the Mediterranean

The fund can lie supported through the imposition of a levy on every airline ticket. or the hotel bill of each tourist.

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