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A. Looking back on year 2000

2000 was a year that combined both action in specific thematic areas and background work in the fields MIO-ECSDE wants to be particularly active in the period 2000-2003. Project proposals, information collection, contacts and lobby have absorbed a considerable portion of the human and financial resources of MIO-ECSDE.

Through the activities of the last years, MIO-ECSDE has considerably strengthened the international recognition of its being the most significant Mediterranean Federation of Environmental, Cultural and Development NGOs.

Following these developments, the role of MIO-ECSDE as promoter of common NGO policies and facilitator of the collective voice of Mediterranean NGOs at international fora continued. MIO-ECSDE followed closely the works of the main Mediterranean and international conventions and processes and its representatives participated actively and with concrete contribution in almost all the important Mediterranean and international conferences and/or presented the Mediterranean perspective in international and global initiatives. MIO-ECSDE also recognizes and promotes the use of audiovisuals as an effective vehicle for promoting awareness and understanding, a tool capable of reaching people directly, especially young people.

Of significant importance was MIO-ECSDE's work in the areas:

• On Integrated Water Resources Management, where it has managed as the NGO partner of MED TAC of GWP to promote a common Core Action Plan for water which will play an important role for the future of this crucial for the Mediterranean resource.
• On promoting Environmental Education, Public Awareness, Public Participation and Access to Information in the region and in Mediterranean countries.
• Of Solid Wastes, by hosting an international meeting and by setting up and preparing an innovative approach project and partnership for collection and recycling of used batteries (submitted under SMAP).

The already well-established networking activities of MIO-ECSDE were continued. A variety of information on Mediterranean issues, projects' call for tender, announcement of conferences, MIO-ECSDE publications, etc., were circulated to the Members of the Federation, as well as to the network subscribers. The MIO-ECSDE web-site has been considerably up graded throughout 2000 and is frequently updated with all the latest news concerning MIO-ECSDE and the Mediterranean scene in general.

Another important part of the Annual Work Programme of MIO-ECSDE's Secretariat has been the advancement, completion and follow-up of the projects in which it is involved. Drafting of new project proposals to secure the continuity of initiatives and activities was also a significant part of its work.

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B. Looking ahead at 2001

Most of you will have received by now the outline of MIO-ECSDE's programme of activities for 2001. In brief, the Secretariat will continue its activities related to:

• networking, which basically means the efficient exchange of information and the strengthening of co-operation among NGOs
• the continuation and enhancement of MIO-ECSDE's role as promoter of common NGO policies and the collective voice of Mediterranean Environment and Development NGOs at international fora, conventions etc. and through project preparation, organisation of meetings, etc.

More specifically in terms of co-organisation of Mediterranean meetings for 2001 MIO-ECSDE has begun preparing for the following:
1. co-organisation of a major Conference on "Rio+10 and the Mediterranean"
2. co-organisation of a special session on Water and Desertification within the MED-Film Festival 2001 (November 2001)
3. organisation of a consultation NGO meeting prior to the 12th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (14-17 November 2001)
4. preparation for MIO-ECSDE contribution to "Green Week" organised by DG ENV (April 2001)
5. strategic meeting with airline companies and other involved actors for the promotion of the "1€/$ per ticket" campaign
6. co-organisation with MEDTAC/GWP of a meeting on Water in the Mediterranean

As for joint Mediterranean projects the Secretariat has in the pipeline: o facilitation of a network of environmental educators o the Mediterranean Action Day o reward Ones Mediterrania

In the meantime MIO-ESCDE will be running the following campaigns:
- 1€/$ per ticket" Environment Fund Campaign
- Rio+10 and the Mediterranean
- Water in the Mediterranean
- Climate Change, Desertification and Biodiversity in the Mediterranean

The MIO-ECSDE Secretariat looks forward to your response to the various calls for collaboration and participation as well as your contribution to the Sustainable Mediterranean with your organization's profiles and achievements, articles, etc. and other activities.

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C. Prochaines réunions

• 2nd Global Ministerial Environment Forum/ 21st session of UNEP's Governing Council, 5 to 9 February, 2001, Nairobi, Kenya, http://www.unep.org/GC_21st
• CEPS Working Party "Health as an Issue in Enlargement to Central Europe", 7 February 2001, Chairman: John Bowis, MEP, former UK Health Minister. Contact Staffan Jerneck mailto:staffan.jerneck@ceps.be
• Workshop on Eco-efficient Real Industrial Estates, 14-15 February, 2001, Leipzig organised by UNEP, European Partners for the Environment, Oree and Dow, eupe@glo.be
• Second Annual Global Conference on Environmental Taxation: Issues, Experience and Potential, April 1-2, 2001, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Contact: Fax: (604) 436-0286, e-mail: Aida_Burgos@bcit.ca
• Green Week: Environment and Quality of Life, 24-28 April 2001, Brussels, organised by EC DG ENV. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/greenweek/index.htm
• Le Carrefour Euro-Mediterraneen de l'eau, 24-27 avril 2001, Marseilles, hydrotop@hydrotop.fr, http://www.hydrotop.com
• Workshop on Water, Agriculture, and Policies in the Mediterranean, organised by EC, DG JRC (Joint Research Centre), Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (Seville), Technologies for Sustainable Environment Unit, tentatively to be held on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 April 2001 in Marseille (France) · Youth Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development, 23-27 May 2001 in Borgholm, Sweden, as part of the Swedish EU Presidency and as a contribution towards preparations for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. Swedish Ministry of the Environment, Camilla Funke (camilla.funke@lsu.se)
• 3° Symposium International de l'Eau, au Palais des Festivals de Cannes les 29, 30 et 31 mai 2001 cannes2001@unice.fr
• Biotechnology and sustainable development: voices of the South and the North - An international conference, Egypt: 15-17 October, 2001, Fax: (+20-2) 5728099 e-mail: ICARDA-CAIRO@CGIAR.ORG

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