“Free Trade and Environment”, Working Group, Barcelona, 4-5 June
“Industry and Sustainable development”, Working Group, Masa Carrara,
April/May
“National Sustainable Development Strategies in the Mediterranean Region”,
Workshop, programmed for the end of 1999/ early 2000
Meetings that took place:
-The 2nd Meeting of the MCSD Steering
Committee, to which MIO-ECSDE is Vice President, took place in Tunis on 1-3 March 1999.
MIO-ECSDE was represented there by its Co-Chairman Dr E. Adly.
-Workshop for experts on compliance and enforcement of
legislation in the Mediterranean for control of pollution resulting from land-based
sources and activities, Athens, 16-18 March 1999. The meeting was attended by Ms D.
Andronikidou, Programme Officer.
ENVIRONMENTAL CIVIL FORUM, (Stuttgart, 13-15 April 1999);
(NGOs’ contribution to the Euro-Mediterranean Ministers’
of Foreign Affairs Conference -BARCELONA III, Stuttgart, 15-16 April 1999)
MIO-ECSDE is one of the seven major NGO networks, active in the
Mediterranean region, which have formed a “Comité de Suivi” (CDS), to reinforce their
efficiency in promoting NGO positions in governmental processes of formulation of
Euro-Mediterranean policies. The CDS has been active in the coordination of NGO positions
to the many meetings and conferences which have taken place since Helsinki (1997) such as
the METAP 10-Year Anniversary Meetings (Paris, 10/1998), the Annual SMAP National
Correspondents meeting (Brussels, 11/1998) and the Roundtable discussion with
representatives of the European Commission on Priorities for Development and Environment
in the Mediterranean (Brussels, 1/1999).
During the last months the members of the CDS have been very
active in the preparation of parallel events to the Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers’
Conference, which will take place in Stuttgart, 15-16/4/1999. During the Ministerial
meeting the Foreign Ministers, representing the 27 nations of the Partnership, are
expected to make a valid assessment of the implementation of the Barcelona Declaration and
discuss the orientation of the Partnership.
The Comité de Suivi prepared a draft declaration letter of NGO
positions addressed to the Euro-Mediterranean Ministers of Foreign Affairs stating amongst
others the wish of NGOs to attend the Ministerial meeting as observers. The draft NGO
Declaration focuses on the environmental concerns of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership,
especially with regard to the proposed establishment of the Mediterranean Free Trade Zone.
In the meantime, Roundtable discussions, with agendas relevant to the agenda of the
Ministerial meeting, were organised throughout the Mediterranean, coordinated by members
of the CDS. The “Environmental Civil Forum” is the major and combining event of all
these actions, and will be held parallel to the Ministerial Conference (14-15/4/1999).
The Forum’s programme will include:
14 April 1999
Opening session
(-The Stuttgart Process: Results of the Roundtables.
Presentation of the new position paper. Objectives of the meeting and expected outcomes.
-The existing environmental context: How environment has been
addressed in the past.
-The Euro-Mediterranean process: from Barcelona to Stuttgart.)
Session I: Integration of the Environment into the
Euro-Mediterranean Process
(-Euro-Mediterranean Partnership – Instruments and
opportunities for the environment and the civil society.
-Integration of the environment in the Euro-Mediterranean
Partnership: the NGO perspective.
-The environment in the bilateral agreements, in the
Mediterranean Free Trade Zone.)
Session II: Civil Society Participation
(-What do we understand by civil society?
- The civil society in the Euro-Mediterranean Process: Promises
and Realities.
-Working with NGOs in the Mediterranean: the experience of the
MAP/MCSD.
-The role of the media in enabling civil society participation.)
(15 April 1999)
Session III: Funding for the Environment into the
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership
(-The Future of the SMAP.
- Investments in the Mediterranean.
- Campaign to reform the World Bank.
-Availability of funds for the NGOs.)
Session IV: Conclusions
(Presentation of the conclusions by the rapporteurs.
- Adoption of the final Declaration.
-Proposals for follow-up.)
Closing
CORE 1998: Submission of the MIO-ECSDE Report of Activities
and Financial Statement to DGXI of the European Commission
During March the MIO-ECSDE Secretariat prepared and submitted MIO-ECSDE’s
Report of Activities and Financial Statement of the year 1998, thus fulfilling its
obligations with regard to the CORE 1998 contract with DGXI of the CEU. The Commission is
expected to examine these documents and proceed with the final instalment of the funds
allocated to support MIO-ECSDE’s activities.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The Secretariat was informed about the following announcement of DGXI
concerning funding opportunities:
Dear SMAP Contact point,
After consultation with Ms. Athena MOURMOURIS, the
"Development and Environment" unit - (DG XI.A.4) is pleased to send you the
following information regarding the current funding opportunities for AD HOC
("spontaneous") PROPOSALS from DG XI.
Actually spontaneous (ad hoc) proposals may be submitted to DG XI at any moment of the
year 1999, independently of the 1999 DG XI call for proposals (which was closed on
01/02/1999). Let me stress the point that this is NOT a call for proposals this time, just
an announcement.
The main differences with the previous call for proposals is that THE INITIATIVE HAS TO BE
TAKEN BY THE POTENTIAL BENEFICIARY, i.e. THE APPLICANT.
There are NO subthemes foreseen this time. Proposals may just cover any of the subjects of
the 5th Environmental Action Plan.
If retained for funding, cofinancing grants may be granted for such 'ad hoc' proposals.
DG XI is planning to assist about 50 projects in 1999, allocating an indicative total of 2
million EURO.
The related publication of funding opportunities for AD HOC proposals is available on the
European Union's web site at the following Internet addresses:
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/dg11/funding/general/call_en.htm
(English version) or
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/dg11/funding/general/call_fr.htm
(version française)
Please note that the Standard application form can only be
found as an enclosure (B) to that web site address, in format .doc (Word) or .pdf
(Portable Document Format) !
Eventually would you please note that this announcement does
not apply directly to the SMAP projects. Yet, projects related to SMAP priorities, the
Barcelona Convention or the Mediterranean Agenda 21 (in the form of workshops,
inter-sessional actions, information and awareness-raising actions) could be covered by
this co-financing opportunity.
Recipients eligible for this funding are the following: public and semi-public,
institutions, international organisations, NGOs, universities, etc.
As you can understand, this message does not incur any obligation from the European
Commission.
Yours sincerely,
Pierre HAMOIR
Administrative assistant
