PROMOTING THE EURO-MED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

In the context of the preparations for Johannesburg, the European Commission, DG ENV, will elaborate a Euromed Sustainable Development Strategy, SDS. The Euromed SDS will be adopted by the Euromed Ministers of Environment in Athens, July 2002 It will be submitted to the World Summit as part of the EU contribution. It is planned that the SDS is elaborated applying a participatory and open approach. To that end, the draft will be circulated and discussed.

To make sure that the Euromed SDS fully includes key sustainability concerns and objectives, and to promote effective implementation of the Strategy after its adoption in Greece, hbf will be taking part in the several activities in close co-operation with WWF and other Mediterranean NGOs.

The work will include specific proposals in key areas already presented in the EU Internal SDS and which have specific relevance in the Mediterranean such as: climate change, increased use of clean energy, management of natural resources notably water, etc. It will define specific objectives, targets and accompanying measures. Some of the issues will be illustrated with case studies.

To promote a dialogue within the civil society and with all Euro-Mediterranean stakeholders, the Heinrich Boell Foundation will, together with WWF and members of the European Parliament, co-organise a Round Table in the European Parliament. It objectvies are to promote synergies between different initiatives and to promote the integration in the future strategy of specific objectives and concrete targets aiming to, notably, the sustainable use of natural resources, nature conservation, respect of human rights, acknowledgement of migratory problems and the important role of women in development.

The proposals identified at the round table will be put forward e.g. during the upcoming expert meetings in Malta or at the Euromed Conference in Valencia and finally the Ministerial Conference in Greece.

For additional information please contact the Brussels office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation.