21 November 2024, Lija, Malta – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) participated and contributed to the Second Coordination Meeting on the UN Mediterranean Strategy for the Prevention of, Preparedness, and Response to Marine Pollution from Ships (2022–2031) of UNEP-MAP, organized by the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC).
The Meeting gathered experts, policymakers, and regional stakeholders to discuss the most pressing issues related to regional land-based and marine pollution and environmental disasters’ risks response. Hon. Katya De Giovanni, Head of the Maltese Delegation to PAM, on behalf of the Assembly, contributed to the discussions on “Priority actions for the biennium 2026-2027 and beyond”.
In her remarks, Hon. De Giovanni underscored REMPEC’s key role as the only UN regional entity addressing marine pollution in the Mediterranean and highlighted PAM’s continued support for its mandate.
PAM has always been a strong advocate of legislative harmonization among its Member States in addressing common challenges, such land-based and maritime pollution. In line with its mandate, Hon. De Giovanni emphasized PAM’s contribution in promoting concrete legislative actions to implement the Mediterranean Strategy (2022 – 2031) and its Action Plan.
Hon. De Giovanni reaffirmed PAM’s commitment to advancing sustainable environmental policies and practices across the region, as an active Member of the UN Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD), and further emphasized one PAM’s key priorities: the effective enforcement of the 2002 Prevention and Emergency Protocol under the Barcelona Convention, describing it as a critical tool for preventing and responding to environmental emergencies.
Hon. De Giovanni also highlighted the Assembly’s collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in advancing the implementation of the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping and the proactive partnership with UNEP-MAP.
The latter, she recalled, resulted in the recently published Parliamentarian’s Guide to Protecting the Mediterranean Sea and Coast, a comprehensive resource that collectes best practices and actionable measures adopted by Mediterranean coastal states, providing parliamentarians with practical tools to integrate environmental protection into development policies.
Looking ahead, PAM will continue to support its Member States in implementing legislative frameworks coherent with REMPEC’s Strategy, while continuing to advocate for more ambitious climate policies, both at the regional level, with REMPEC and UNEP-MAP, and on the global stage, as demonstrated by PAM’s involvement at this year’s UNFCCC and UNCCD COPs. //