Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament - Establishing an Environment Strategy for the Mediterranean {SEC(2006)1082}
Date: 2006-09-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU environmental policy, European neighbourhood policy, Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean third countries, Union for the Mediterranean, environmental cooperation, environmental protection

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 5.9.2006 
COM(2006) 475 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

Establishing an Environment Strategy for the Mediterranean 

{SEC(2006)1082} 

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

Establishing an Environment Strategy for the Mediterranean 

1. 

INTRODUCTION 

The Mediterranean is the largest European sea, uniting the people of the countries that share 
its  waters.  Their  well-being  depends  upon  the  health  of  its  environment.  But  despite  nearly 
thirty  years  of  international  efforts  to  protect  this  unique  ecosystem,  it  remains  fragile  and 
continues to deteriorate as environment pressures increase. On current projections, 50% of the 
Mediterranean  coastline  could  have  been  built  on  by  20251,  just  one  illustration  of  the 
magnitudes of these pressures. Recent studies2 have begun to quantify the cost of degradation 
of the environment in several countries3. Environmental degradation in Egypt was estimated 
to cost between €2.7 and €5.1 billion per year (or 3.2-6.4% of GDP), €1.5 billion per year (or 
3.6% of GDP) in Algeria and €1.2 billion per year (or 3.7% of GDP) in Morocco.4 Clearly, if 
the  health  of  the  region's  people,  and  their  economic  and  social  development,  are  to  be 
protected, inaction is not an option. Mediterranean countries must act now to safeguard their 
environment and properly manage their natural resources to the extent possible.  

Over the last thirty years, numerous longstanding initiatives and organisations have identified 
the causes of the problems and developed strategies and actions for their solution. However, 
these  strategies  often  remain  unimplemented.  Apart  from  the  oft-cited  problems  of  limited 
financial resources, one of the principal reasons for this inaction is low political priority given 
to the environment, inter alia translating into insufficient integration between environmental, 
economic  and  social  dimensions  of  sustainable  development.  A  lack  of  inclusive 
environmental governance and limited public awareness of environment issues aggravate the 
situation.  Furthermore,  poor  cooperation  between  the  various  actors  from  local  to 
international has diluted the effectiveness of international assistance. 

As  no  single  country  can  be  held  responsible  for  the  deterioration  of  the  Mediterranean 
environment, no single country can protect it by acting alone. As a major regional player the 
European  Union  (EU)  must  play  its  role  in  protecting  this  common  heritage  but  its  limited 
resources mean that it cannot act alone. With the region's needs far exceeding the capacity and 
means  to  deal  with  them  the  Commission  will  need  to  concentrate  its  efforts  and  limited 
resources  in  those  areas  where  it  has  clear  added  value  and  so  should  develop  a  realistic 
strategic approach to environment cooperation in the Mediterranean. Each of our partners in 
the  international  organisations,  the  donor  community  and,  above  all,  the  various  actors  and 
countries  of  both  sides  of  the  Mediterranean  will  need  to  make  significant  additional,  and 
coordinated,  efforts  if  the  goal  of  a  cleaner  and  healthier  Mediterranean  is  to  be  achieved. 

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A sustainable future for the Mediterranean – The Blue Plan's Environment and Development outlook 
http://www.metap.org/main.php?id_menu=12  
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, and Tunisia 
Another  example  of  the  costs  of  environmental  degradation  are  the  figures  from  the  European  Forest 
Fire Information System (EFFIS)4 of the EC which show average losses of about 600,000 ha of forested 
areas in the EU Mediterranean region every year, with estimated costs of nearly €2 billion per year. 

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Success  will  ultimately  depend  on  widespread  political  support  translated  into  a  clear 
determination to deploy the necessary resources to the task. 

Countries bordering the Mediterranean can be grouped according to their political relationship 
to  the  EU.  Current  and  potential  EU  Member  States  are  making  their  most  significant 
contribution to protecting the Mediterranean through alignment with EU environment policies 
and legislation and their effective application. The EU strategy for them is well defined and 
therefore the focus of this strategy will be those partner countries5 in the group covered by the 
European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)6. 

In  November  2005,  at  the  10th  Anniversary  Euro-Mediterranean  Summit,  the  leaders  of  the 
partnership  renewed  their  commitment  to  the  process  and  refocused  activities  with  the  joint 
adoption of a five year work programme7. All countries of the region committed to increase 
efforts to substantially reduce pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by 2020 in what has become 
known as the 'Horizon 2020' initiative and called for the development of a feasible timetable 
to achieve this. 

Following broad discussion8 with relevant actors concerning Horizon 2020, the Commission 
has prepared this Communication with the aim to:  

•  Outline  the  Horizon  2020  initiative  and  make  a  first  proposal,  to  be  discussed  with 
partners, for the feasible depollution timetable as an important step to fulfilling the political 
commitment taken in Barcelona.  

•  Outline how, in parallel to the Horizon 2020 initiative, the Commission can contribute to 
the protection and recovery of the Mediterranean through its broader cooperation, and how 
the Commission will seek to improve co-ordination with partner countries and other actors. 
The approach will support the broader EU Maritime Policy9 (and its environmental pillar the 
EU Marine Strategy10) that is being developed. 

2. 

THE AIMS OF MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT COOPERATION 

With  pollution  free  to  move  across  the  region  there  is  clear  interdependence  between  the 
countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Pollution from third countries has a direct impact 
on  the  EU  and  equally  our  pollution  hurts  our  neighbours.  Likewise,  natural  resources  like 
water,  air,  soils  and  biodiversity  are  connected  in  complex  ecosystems  and  through 
movements  of  goods,  people  and  services;  they  thus  have  innumerable  interdependencies 
warranting integrated and coordinated action. The Mediterranean can only be protected with a 

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Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria and Tunisia 
http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/index_en.htm 
"Tenth Anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: A work Programme to meet the challenges 
of the next five years" COM (2005) 139 final 
This 'discussion' included inter alia a high level meeting on 19 December 2005 in Barcelona involving 
the  national  authorities,  local  and  regional  administrations,  international  organizations  and  IFIs,  and 
representatives from NGOs and the business community, as well as an informal internet consultation on 
the Commission's Web page at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/enlarg/med/horizon_2020_en.htm 
Green Paper on "Towards a future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European vision for the oceans and 
seas" of 7 June 2006, COM(2006) 275 final 
Communication from the Commission on the "Thematic Strategy on the Protection and Conservation of 
the Marine Environment" of 24 October 2005, COM(2005)504 final 

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coherent, functioning region-wide system of environmental protection and recovery. Through 
its environment cooperation with partner countries the European Commission stands ready to 
work towards this goal. 

The  basic  aims  of  the  Commission's  environment  cooperation  with  the  Mediterranean 
countries are:  

•  To  assist  partner  countries  to  develop  functioning  environment  institutions  and  a  sound, 
effectively  enforced  environment  policy  and  legal  framework  that  enables  integration  of 
environmental concerns into sectoral policies. 

•  To achieve measurably reduced levels of pollution, consistently applied across the region, 
leading  to  corresponding  health  benefits  and  in  addition  to  reduce  the  impacts  of 
uncontrolled activity on our natural environment. 

•  To  promote  preparedness  of  the  environment  administrations  to  address  both  emergency 

situations as well as punctual and long-term environment issues. 

•  To  promote  a  more  sustainable  (economically  efficient,  socially  appropriate  and 

environmentally viable) use of the land and sea areas in the Mediterranean region. 

•  To promote a strengthened civil society, in which the public has access to environmental 
information,  participates  in  environmental decision  making  and  environmental  awareness 
is enhanced. 

•  To encourage regional cooperation amongst partner countries to support these aims. 

Achieving  these  goals  will  not  only  protect  the  environment  per  se,  but  contribute  to  long-
term economic growth in the region. 

3. 

MEANS TO REACH OUR GOAL 

The means available to the Commission for environment cooperation with the region are:  

3.1 

Financial Assistance 

Potential  European  Community  assistance  for  ENP  partner  countries  will  come  from  the 
European  Neighbourhood  and  Partnership  Instrument  (ENPI).  Therefore  all  projects  must 
demonstrate  a  clear 
the 
Euro-Mediterranean  Partnership  (EMP)  and  the  ENP  Action  Plans  where  they  have  been 
adopted.  For  global  projects,  limited  Community  funding  is  also  possible  from  the  future 
Thematic  Programme  on  Environment  and  Sustainable  Management  of  Natural  Resources 
including Energy (ENRTP). 

the  European  Neighbourhood  Policy 

(ENP), 

link 

to 

EU grant assistance will however inevitably remain small in comparison to investment needs 
of the region. Therefore pollution reduction projects will continue to receive the bulk of their 
financing  through  International  Financial  Institutions  (IFIs)  loans,  contributions  from  other 
donors,  national  resources  and  other  sources  of  finance.  Future  EC  assistance  will  seek  to 
maximise its catalytic effects, including with the IFIs through the targeted use of tools such as 
technical  assistance  and  interest  rate  subsidies  where  appropriate,  as  they  can  lever  larger 
levels  of  loan  assistance.  In  addition,  importance  will  continue  to  be  attached  to  grants  for 

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capacity building measures. Increased use of results from research could contribute to gains in 
cost-effectiveness. 

3.2 

Strengthening dialogue and ownership 

The  European  Union  is  engaged  in  a  political  dialogue  with  partner  countries  through  the 
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and the European Neighbourhood Policy. In recent years, a 
formal structure of sub-committee meetings under bilateral Association Agreements has been 
developed to facilitate this dialogue. The Commission will ensure that this structure is used to 
raise the profile of environment issues, also beyond the environment ministries (particularly 
those  responsible  for  planning  and  finance)  and  to  promote  integration  of  environmental 
considerations into all relevant sector policies, including economic policy.  

Commission  activities  in  Mediterranean  third  countries  must  align  with  the  goals  of  the 
European Neighbourhood Policy and any legal obligations towards third countries that arise 
from  the  body  of  EU  law  (the  acquis),  including  international  commitments,  such  as  the 
Johannesburg  Plan  of  Implementation  adopted  at  the  World  Summit  on  Sustainable 
Development in 2002. The ENP Action Plans lay out the priority actions to be addressed by 
the  EU  and  the  partner  countries.  These  Plans  contain  a  number  of  environment  actions 
aiming at enhancing environmental governance, addressing specific environment concerns as 
well  as  promoting  international  and  regional  environment  cooperation.  The  EU  and  the 
partner  countries  share  the  ownership  of  these  plans  which  are  jointly  adopted  and 
implemented based on the priorities of each country and those of the EU.  

Environment activities in the Mediterranean will also contribute to the implementation of the 
Action  Plan  for  the  Environment  Initiative  developed  by  the  New  Partnership  for  African 
Development  (NEPAD)  and  African  Union  (AU),  with  whom  the  EU  has  been  in  constant 
dialogue in the past few years. 

Non  Governmental  Organisations  (NGOs)  are  key  actors  in  the  development  and 
implementation of environment policy often acting where government agencies are unwilling 
or  unable  to  intervene. However  their  presence  in  the  region  is  weak  and  there  is  a  need  to 
build  NGO  capacity  to  participate  in  political  dialogue.  The  Commission  will  support  the 
development and operation of regional NGO networks and contacts aiming to strengthen civil 
society with the development of a coherent regional approach and sharing of good practices. 
National  NGO  platforms  will  also  be  encouraged,  including  in  relation  to  making  more 
effective use of existing research results and prioritising future scientific cooperation.  

The Commission will continue to attach the utmost importance to openness and transparency 
ensuring  that  its  activities  are  not  just  restricted  to  contacts  with  national  level  stakeholders 
but  reach  out  to  involve  all  interested  partners  in  development  and  implementation  of 
environment policy such as local and regional authorities, civil society representatives and the 
business community. 

3.3 

Mechanisms to enhance coordination 

The Commission will work closely  with  the various partners to ensure that  its  activities  are 
targeted on those areas where it has clear added value.  

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There are many organisations presently active in the environment field in the Mediterranean, 
in particular those linked to the Barcelona Convention11 to which the Community is party and 
which is a cornerstone of cooperation efforts in the region.  

The  joint  Mediterranean  Action  Plan12(MAP)/European  Commission  Work  Programme 
signed in 2005 will ensure greater coherence between the activities of the two organisations in 
a number of priority areas including: 

–  Implementing the European Marine Strategy. 

–  Implementing  the  European  Strategy  for  Integrated  Coastal  Zone  Management 
(ICZM) and ensuring consistency with ongoing work on an ICZM Protocol under 
the Barcelona Convention.  

–  Meeting targets related to pollution prevention and protection of biodiversity.  

Cooperation  will  continue  with  the  World  Bank  and  the  European  Investment  Bank  in  the 
context  of  the  Mediterranean  European  Technical  Assistance  Programme  (METAP). 
Memoranda  of  Understanding  with  the  IFIs  will  be  fully  exploited  to  ensure  better 
coordination  of  environment  actions  in  the  Mediterranean.  Steps  will  also  be  taken  to 
strengthen contact with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Strategic Investment Fund. 

Stronger  links  with  the  above  actors  and  with the  various  bilateral  donors  will  be  improved 
through the development of the Horizon 2020 Steering Group described later.  

Better coordination between the actions promoted under the Seventh Framework Programme 
for Research and Technology (FP7) and those under EU external instrument will be ensured, 
including as concerns the needs for capacity building and research infrastructure, and use of 
research. 

3.4 

Transferring, adapting and applying EU experience 

The  EU  has  much  experience  in  addressing  environmental  problems  in  the  Mediterranean, 
including  in  promoting  sustainable  production  and  consumption  patterns  and  the  integration 
of  environmental  concerns  into  other  sectors.  The  EU  can  also  share  approaches  that  have 
been  successful  in  different  parts  of  Europe  with  all  of  the  countries  in  the  Mediterranean, 
adapted to their socio-economic contexts.  

The TAIEX13 instrument is now open to ENP countries. Therefore, in addition to its ongoing 
work to support capacity building in the candidate and other countries of South-East Europe, 
this facility will also allow the targeted transfer of EU environment experience and know-how 
according  to  the  needs  of  the  partner  countries  through  activities  such  as  workshops,  study 
visits  and  expert  visits  to  the  countries.  This  instrument  will  be  particularly  useful  in 
transferring  and  adapting  EU  Member  State  experience  to  the  region  to  support  the 
implementation of the commitments contained in the ENP Action Plans.  

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The  Convention  for  the  protection  of  the  Marine  Environment  and  the  Coastal  Region  of  the 
Mediterranean  
Secretariat to the Barcelona Convention 
Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument 

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The  LIFE  programme  and  the  Short  and  Medium  Term  Action  Programme  (SMAP)  have 
successfully supported many environment projects and experience has been acquired both in 
the partner countries and the EU on issues of relevance to the region. This experience will be 
made available to partner countries and interested stakeholders. 

In  the  research  field,  many  ongoing  and  recently  completed  projects  under  the  5th  and  6th 
Research Framework Programmes are of particular relevance to the Mediterranean. Examples 
include  projects  addressing  water  issues  under  the  EU  Water  Initiative's  Mediterranean 
component  and  those  covering  accidental  marine pollution, marine and coastal research and 
climate change impacts. The results of relevant projects are normally freely available and will 
be shared with the partner countries by the Commission using existing information diffusion 
networks and facilities, including the internet.  

The  Commission  has  recognized  the  challenges  of  promoting  sustainable  tourism  in  the 
Mediterranean14  and  has  set  up  an  expert  Tourism  Sustainability  Group  (TSG),  with 
representatives of industry associations, trade unions/civil society, destinations representatives 
as  well  as  Member  State's  administrations  and  international  organizations.  The  TSG  is 
expected  to  issue  a  set  of  proposals  and  recommendations  by  the  end  of  2006  and  those  of 
relevance will be shared with partners. 

Experience will be exchanged between the conventions dealing with the Baltic Sea, the Black 
Sea and the Mediterranean. 

4. 

HORIZON 2020 

The 10th Anniversary Euro-Mediterranean Summit gave the political mandate to develop an 
initiative to reduce pollution of the Mediterranean.  

With the means at its disposal the Commission has identified areas where it can bring clear 
added  value  to  contribute  to  the  achieving  the  aims  of  environment  cooperation  outlined 
earlier.  

There is a need to enhance coordination between the various actors to enhance the efficiency 
and  effectiveness  of  environment  activities  undertaken,  including  financial  and  technical 
assistance. The Commission is well placed to lead this effort. 

Therefore,  the  Commission  offers  the  Horizon  2020  initiative  as  its  follow-up  to  the 
Barcelona  Summit  and  a  proposal  for  the  requested  "feasible  timetable"  is  provided  in  the 
Annex to this Communication. This proposal is intended as a basis for further discussion with 
partner  countries  leading  to  its  adoption  by  Euro-Mediterranean  Environment  Ministers  at 
their third meeting in Cairo in November 2006.  

Horizon 2020 will build on existing institutions and results, filling gaps where it can bring an 
added  value.  It  will  operate  within  the  framework  of  existing  and  developing  environment 
policy  instruments,  and  support  the  implementation  of  the  pollution  reduction  commitments 
undertaken  in  the  framework  of  the  Barcelona  Convention.  Based  on  the  outcome  of  our 
discussions  with  the  various  partners  it  is  proposed  that  Horizon  2020  activities  be  grouped 
under the following four components: 

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COM(2003) 716 “Basic orientations for the sustainability of European tourism” 

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•  Pollution Reduction Projects  

In  collaboration  with  the  beneficiary  countries,  the  relevant  International  Financing 
Institutions, MAP and other stakeholders, a pipeline of projects will be developed to 
address,  in  the  first  instance,  the  priority  sectors  defined  at  the  10th  Anniversary 
Euro-Mediterranean  Summit  namely  municipal  waste,  urban  waste  water,  and 
industrial emissions. 

•  Capacity building measures 

Building on ongoing actions and initiatives, actions will be pursued to establish the 
necessary conditions for sustainable environmental protection of the Mediterranean, 
including  through  development  of  legislation,  institutions  and  support  for  local 
authorities  and  civil  society.  Particular  attention  will  be  given  to  capacity  building 
measures at local level. These actions will extend beyond the three priority sectors of 
the pollution reduction component.  

•  Research 

Efforts  will  be  continued  in  creating,  sharing  and  communicating  scientific 
knowledge  supporting 
include 
dissemination  of  relevant  knowledge  accumulated  under  recent  research  and  LIFE 
programmes,  scientific  cooperation  under  the  forthcoming  7th  Research  Framework 
Programme,  the  Direct  Actions  of  the  Commission's  Joint  Research  Centre  (JRC), 
and international actions in the area of human potential.  

the  aims  of  Horizon  2020.  Activities  will 

•    Monitoring, Steering, and Review  

The  European  Environment  Agency  in  cooperation  with  the  statistical  office  of  the 
European  Commission  (EUROSTAT),  the  Mediterranean  Marine  Pollution  and 
Research  Programme  (MEDPOL)  under  the  Barcelona  Convention,  the  Euro-
Mediterranean Water Information System (EMWIS), the European Commission and 
other  relevant  bodies  will  develop  a  “scorecard”  to  measure  progress  with 
Mediterranean  pollution  levels  taking  advantage  of  ongoing  work  at  the  European 
level.  

A  consultative  steering  committee,  with  a  wide  membership,  will  oversee  the 
implementation of the initiative in all its pillars. 

5. 

BROADER COOPERATION BEYOND THE SCOPE OF HORIZON 2020 

While Horizon 2020 will address the key issues related to pollution in the Mediterranean, by 
itself Horizon 2020 cannot fully meet all of the goals presented in section 2. For this reason, 
there is a need for further actions and initiatives to be pursued in parallel. 

In  line  with  the  European  Neighbourhood  Policy  and  its  Action  Plans,  as  well  as  with  the 
Euro-Mediterranean  Partnership,  environment  cooperation  between  the  Commission  and  the 
Mediterranean partners will in the next years address the following issues that go beyond the 
scope of Horizon 2020: 

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–  Full  implementation  of  the  ENP  Action  Plans  (promotion  of  environmental  governance, 
enhancing international and regional co-operation, integration of environmental and health 
concerns into various sector policies, as well as addressing specific environment and health 
concerns such as desertification, water and air quality, tourism, etc). 

–  Further  integration  of  environmental  concerns  into  relevant  economic  sectors,  with  a 
particular  focus  on  those  economic  sectors  which  present  high  potential  in  terms  of 
economic growth and employment generation. 

–  Global environmental threats such as climate change and biodiversity loss, as identified in 
the  recent  Communication  proposing  a  thematic  programme  for  sustainable  management 
of  natural  resources15.  Similarly,  the  Commission  will  continue  to  support  the 
Mediterranean component of the EU Water Initiative, including its research component, as 
part  of  the  EU  contribution  to  the  achievements  of  the  Millennium  Development  Goals 
which are wider than those of Horizon 2020.  

–  Other regional priority issues such as environment and health hazards and accidents, soil 

degradation and ICZM will continue to be addressed. 

–  The  use  of  Environmental  Impact  Assessment  and  Strategic  Environmental  Assessment 

will be systematically promoted across the region. 

–  The  production  of  relevant  indicators  will  be  promoted  and  sustained  through  existing 

regional statistical co-operation mechanisms (e.g. MEDSTAT Environment). 

–  The European Forest Fire Information System will be extended to the entire Mediterranean 

basin, in collaboration with FAO Silva Mediterranean. 

–  EU  Member  States  will  be  encouraged  to  cooperate  with  neighbouring  countries  to 
implement  those  parts  of  EU  environment  legislation  concerning  cooperation  with  third 
countries. An example is the proposed Marine Strategy Directive16, whose scope is wider 
than the specific focus of Horizon 2020 and which can already draw on existing and on-
going research. 

–  Cooperation  will  continue  to  promote  the  integration  of  environment  considerations  into 
other  sectors.  The  Commission  will  finish  its  Trade  Sustainability  Impact  Assessment 
(SIA)  for  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Free  Trade  Area  (EMFTA).  The  conclusions  and 
recommendations will be integrated into the trade negotiations with partner countries. 

–  Work  will  continue  to  be  pursued  on  important  emerging  issues  such  as  drought,  water 

scarcity and flooding as needs arise. 

–  The  bilateral  Association  Agreements  between  the  EU  and  the  Mediterranean  partner 

countries list other areas for environment cooperation. 

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External  Action:  Thematic  Programme  for  Environment  and  Sustainable  Management  of  Natural 
Resources including Energy – COM(2006) 20 
Proposal  for  a  Directive  establishing  a  Framework  for  Community  Action  in  the  field  of  Marine 
Environmental Policy (Marine Strategy Directive) COM(2005) 505 

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–  Actions  to  promote  preparedeness  in  emergency  situations,  such  as  environmental 

accidents in the region. 

6. 

CONCLUSION 

The Mediterranean Sea can only be properly protected if all bordering countries assume their 
responsibilities  to  protect  it  and  restore  its  ecosystems  to  the  extent  possible.  The  needs  in 
environmental protection are beyond the means of many Mediterranean countries to deal with 
them.  Equally  donor  assistance  alone  will  not  ensure  a  sustainable  future.  The  goal  of  "de-
polluting the Mediterranean" could seem out of reach given its huge financial implications but 
by  focussing  on  the  worst  sites  of  the  most  significant  polluting  sectors  and  coordinating 
resources  by  working  together  it  is  possible  to  improve  matters.  In  this  era  of  limited 
resources  it  is  imperative  that  the  European  Commission  and  other  members  of  the  donor 
community coordinate their efforts to ensure that the assistance given is properly targeted and 
used effectively without duplication of efforts.  

Following  the  strategy  outlined  in  this  document  the  European  Commission  will  seek  to 
maximise  the  effectiveness  of  EC  cooperation  in  support  of  not  only  its  own  priorities  but 
those  of  its  partners.  It  will  use  the  European  Neighbourhood  Policy  and  the  Euro-
Mediterranean Partnership to raise the priority attached to environmental protection across the 
region. Particular attention will be given to encouraging partners to implement environment 
measures  to  which  they  have  already  committed  ensuring  that  strategic  plans  are  translated 
into actions on the ground. Those partner countries that show the greatest readiness to work 
with the EU on environment issues should be those with whom the Commission moves ahead 
first. The Commission cannot take over the environment responsibilities of its partners but it 
can  assist  them  to  meet  those  responsibilities.  Only  by  working  together  can  we  hope  to 
protect our common Mediterranean heritage.. 

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