that revolves around the Mediterranean Action Plan, all complemented with other
(EU, World Bank, NGOs’ etc.) institutions and actions.
There is a therefore a wide variety of concerted actions in this region (navigation,
piracy, exploitation of resources, migrations etc.), although the greatest efforts are
made in the area of environmental protection (Table 2.4). Unlike in the field of the
environment, where over time a regional spirit of cooperation has taken hold, more
purely economic and, especially, geopolitical actions remain the domain of state
sovereignty. Nevertheless, being aware of how complex and intertwined the problems that afflict the region are, the Mediterranean states have put a number of
regional cooperation strategies in place both in the field of the environment (Barcelona Convention) and other areas (the Euro-Mediterranean Association, Conference
for Security and Cooperation in the Mediterranean (CSCM), economic cooperation
agreements, the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Union for the Mediterranean), seeking the most suitable solution through dialogue and consensus, regional
integration, agreements and the participation of multiple actors (states, international
organisations, all types of NGOs, economic associations, clusters etc.).
To recapitulate, it can be said that there are some favourable aspects to the
framework of action in the Mediterranean Sea, especially in the field of the environment, but it is also true that there are some partial or incomplete aspects that have
been at the root of most of the problems that continue to exist (or are worsening).
Among the strong points of the protection system we can highlight: (a) the wide
range of actions (national, regional, international) due to deep concern and recognition of the environmental issue; (b) the environmental instruments that have traditionally been the most important means for intervening in the regions have acted as
drivers of international cooperation and dialogue and of other political and economic
actions; (c) the presence at the core of the system of the Action Plan, which has been
the catalyst of other complementary actions to its benefit and, especially, for
attracting institutional and financial support from bodies such as the World Bank
and the European Investment Bank and the very significant political support of the
EU; (d) the shaping within MAP of a suitable set of protocols, rules and measures
(legal mechanism) conducive to achieving a better environmental state despite
non-compliance with said legislation.
In spite of this, and although it is true that the system organised around the Action
Plan is the oldest and probably the most effective way of protecting the Mediterranean marine environment, it also suffers from a number of shortcomings: the
instruments of environmental protection are not adequately taken into consideration
(and are on occasion simply taken as partial corrections and not interventions in the
problems at root level); there is a major shortcoming in that the international
protection rules and regulations are not properly accepted and complied with, a
problem which is not caused by these instruments, but by a lack of greater awareness; the lack of a defined common state strategy to at last abandon the search for fast
economic growth and which proposes balanced development respectful of the
environment (which should also involve the rethinking of major Mediterranean
and Euro-Mediterranean policies); the little awareness of environmental problems
and their consequences could be a major motive for regional conflict and insecurity;
2 Regional Context and Maritime Governance
27
(EU, World Bank, NGOs’ etc.) institutions and actions.
There is a therefore a wide variety of concerted actions in this region (navigation,
piracy, exploitation of resources, migrations etc.), although the greatest efforts are
made in the area of environmental protection (Table 2.4). Unlike in the field of the
environment, where over time a regional spirit of cooperation has taken hold, more
purely economic and, especially, geopolitical actions remain the domain of state
sovereignty. Nevertheless, being aware of how complex and intertwined the problems that afflict the region are, the Mediterranean states have put a number of
regional cooperation strategies in place both in the field of the environment (Barcelona Convention) and other areas (the Euro-Mediterranean Association, Conference
for Security and Cooperation in the Mediterranean (CSCM), economic cooperation
agreements, the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Union for the Mediterranean), seeking the most suitable solution through dialogue and consensus, regional
integration, agreements and the participation of multiple actors (states, international
organisations, all types of NGOs, economic associations, clusters etc.).
To recapitulate, it can be said that there are some favourable aspects to the
framework of action in the Mediterranean Sea, especially in the field of the environment, but it is also true that there are some partial or incomplete aspects that have
been at the root of most of the problems that continue to exist (or are worsening).
Among the strong points of the protection system we can highlight: (a) the wide
range of actions (national, regional, international) due to deep concern and recognition of the environmental issue; (b) the environmental instruments that have traditionally been the most important means for intervening in the regions have acted as
drivers of international cooperation and dialogue and of other political and economic
actions; (c) the presence at the core of the system of the Action Plan, which has been
the catalyst of other complementary actions to its benefit and, especially, for
attracting institutional and financial support from bodies such as the World Bank
and the European Investment Bank and the very significant political support of the
EU; (d) the shaping within MAP of a suitable set of protocols, rules and measures
(legal mechanism) conducive to achieving a better environmental state despite
non-compliance with said legislation.
In spite of this, and although it is true that the system organised around the Action
Plan is the oldest and probably the most effective way of protecting the Mediterranean marine environment, it also suffers from a number of shortcomings: the
instruments of environmental protection are not adequately taken into consideration
(and are on occasion simply taken as partial corrections and not interventions in the
problems at root level); there is a major shortcoming in that the international
protection rules and regulations are not properly accepted and complied with, a
problem which is not caused by these instruments, but by a lack of greater awareness; the lack of a defined common state strategy to at last abandon the search for fast
economic growth and which proposes balanced development respectful of the
environment (which should also involve the rethinking of major Mediterranean
and Euro-Mediterranean policies); the little awareness of environmental problems
and their consequences could be a major motive for regional conflict and insecurity;
2 Regional Context and Maritime Governance
27