Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean
Date: 2008-01-21
Institutions: Algeria, Croatia, European Union, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia
Subjects: Mediterranean Sea, environmental cooperation, environmental protection, international convention, marine environment, marine pollution, protocol to an agreement, the EU's international role

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on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean

PROTOCOL

THE CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE PRESENT PROTOCOL,

BEING PARTIES to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the
Mediterranean, adopted at Barcelona on 16 February 1976, and amended on 10 June 1995,

DESIROUS of implementing the obligations set out in Article 4(3)(e) and (5), of the said Convention,

CONSIDERING that the coastal zones of the Mediterranean Sea are the common natural and cultural heritage of the
peoples of the Mediterranean and that they should be preserved and used judiciously for the benefit of present and future
generations,

CONCERNED at the increase in anthropic pressure on the coastal zones of the Mediterranean Sea which is threatening
their fragile nature and desirous of halting and reversing the process of coastal zone degradation and of significantly
reducing the loss of biodiversity of coastal ecosystems,

WORRIED by the risks threatening coastal zones due to climate change, which is likely to result, inter alia, in a rise in sea
level, and aware of the need to adopt sustainable measures to reduce the negative impact of natural phenomena,

CONVINCED that, as an irreplaceable ecological, economic and social resource, the planning and management of coastal
zones with a view to their preservation and sustainable development requires a specific integrated approach at the level of
the Mediterranean basin as a whole and of its coastal States, taking into account their diversity and in particular the
specific needs of islands related to geomorphological characteristics,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, done at Montego Bay on 10 December
1982, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, done at Ramsar on
2 February 1971, and the Convention on Biological Diversity, done at Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992, to which many
Mediterranean coastal States and the European Community are Parties,

CONCERNED in particular to act in cooperation for the development of appropriate and integrated plans for coastal zone
management pursuant to Article 4(1)(e), of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, done at New
York on 9 May 1992,

DRAWING on existing experience with integrated coastal zone management and the work of various organisations,
including the European institutions,

BASED UPON the recommendations and work of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development and the
recommendations of the Meetings of the Contracting Parties held in Tunis in 1997, Monaco in 2001, Catania in 2003,
and Portoroz in 2005, and the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development adopted in Portoroz in 2005,

RESOLVED to strengthen at the Mediterranean level the efforts made by coastal States to ensure integrated coastal zone
management,

DETERMINED to stimulate national, regional and local initiatives through coordinated promotional action, cooperation
and partnership with the various actors concerned with a view to promoting efficient governance for the purpose of
integrated coastal zone management,

DESIROUS of ensuring that coherence is achieved with regard to integrated coastal zone management in the application
of the Convention and its Protocols,

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HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

General obligations

In conformity with the Convention for the Protection of the
Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediter­
ranean and its Protocols, the Parties shall establish a common
framework for the integrated management of the Mediterranean
coastal zone and shall take the necessary measures to strengthen
regional cooperation for this purpose.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Protocol:

(a)

‘Parties’ means the Contracting Parties to this Protocol;

(b) ‘Convention’ means the Convention for the Protection of
the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of
the
Mediterranean, done at Barcelona on 16 February 1976,
as amended on 10 June 1995;

(c)

‘Organisation’ means the body referred to in Article 17 of
the Convention;

(d) ‘Centre’ means the Priority Actions Programme Regional

Activity Centre;

(e)

(f)

‘coastal zone’ means the geomorphologic area either side of
the seashore in which the interaction between the marine
and land parts occurs in the form of complex ecological and
resource systems made up of biotic and abiotic components
coexisting and interacting with human communities and
relevant socioeconomic activities;

‘integrated coastal zone management’ means a dynamic
process for the sustainable management and use of coastal
zones, taking into account at the same time the fragility of
coastal ecosystems and landscapes, the diversity of activities
the maritime orientation of
and uses,
certain activities and uses and their impact on both the
marine and land parts.

their interactions,

(b) the landward limit of the coastal zone, which shall be the
the competent coastal units as defined by the

limit of
Parties.

2.
If, within the limits of its sovereignty, a Party establishes
limits different from those envisaged in paragraph 1 of this
it shall communicate a declaration to the Depositary
Article,
at the time of the deposit of
its instrument of ratification,
acceptance, approval of, or accession to this Protocol, or at
any other subsequent time, in so far as:

(a)

the seaward limit is less than the external limit of the terri­
torial sea;

(b) the landward limit is different, either more or less, from the
limits of the territory of coastal units as defined above, in
order to apply,
the ecosystem approach and
economic and social criteria and to consider the specific
needs of islands related to geomorphological characteristics
and to take into account the negative effects of climate
change.

inter alia,

Each Party shall adopt or promote at

the appropriate
3.
institutional
level adequate actions to inform populations and
any relevant actor of the geographical coverage of the present
Protocol.

Article 4

Preservation of rights

1.
Nothing in this Protocol nor any act adopted on the basis
of this Protocol shall prejudice the rights, the present and future
claims or legal views of any Party relating to the Law of the Sea,
in particular the nature and the extent of marine areas, the
delimitation of marine areas between States with opposite or
adjacent coasts, the right and modalities of passage through
straits used for
international navigation and the right of
innocent passage in territorial seas, as well as the nature and
extent of the jurisdiction of the coastal State, the flag State or
the port State.

2.
No act or activity undertaken on the basis of this Protocol
shall constitute grounds for claiming, contending or disputing
any claim to national sovereignty or jurisdiction.

Article 3

Geographical coverage

3.
The provisions of this Protocol shall be without prejudice
to stricter provisions respecting the protection and management
of
future
national or international instruments or programmes.

the coastal zone contained in other existing or

1.
The area to which the Protocol applies shall be the Medi­
terranean Sea area as defined in Article 1 of the Convention.
The area is also defined by:

(a)

the seaward limit of the coastal zone, which shall be the
external limit of the territorial sea of Parties; and

4.
Nothing in this Protocol shall prejudice national security
and defence activities and facilities; however, each Party agrees
that such activities and facilities should be operated or estab­
lished, so far as is reasonable and practicable,
in a manner
consistent with this Protocol.

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Article 5

Objectives of integrated coastal zone management

The objectives of integrated coastal zone management are to:

(e) cross-sectorally organised institutional coordination of the
various administrative services and regional and local auth­
orities competent in coastal zones shall be required;

(a)

through the rational planning of activities,

facilitate,
the
sustainable development of coastal zones by ensuring that
the environment and landscapes are taken into account in
harmony with economic, social and cultural development;

(f)

land

formulation of

the
programmes
conomic activities, as well as other
policies, shall be required;

covering urban development

use

strategies, plans

and
and socioe­
sectoral

relevant

(b) preserve coastal zones for the benefit of current and future

generations;

(c) ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, particularly

with regard to water use;

(d) ensure preservation of the integrity of coastal ecosystems,

landscapes and geomorphology;

(g) the multiplicity and diversity of activities in coastal zones
shall be taken into account, and priority shall be given,
where necessary, to public services and activities requiring,
in terms of use and location, the immediate proximity of
the sea;

(h) the allocation of uses throughout the entire coastal zone
should be balanced, and unnecessary concentration and
urban sprawl should be avoided;

(e) prevent and/or reduce the effects of natural hazards and in
particular of climate change, which can be induced by
natural or human activities;

(i) preliminary assessments shall be made of the risks associ­
ated with the various human activities and infrastructure so
as to prevent and reduce their negative impact on coastal
zones;

(f) achieve coherence between public and private initiatives and
between all decisions by the public authorities, at
the
national, regional and local levels, which affect the use of
the coastal zone.

Article 6

General principles of integrated coastal zone management

In implementing this Protocol, the Parties shall be guided by the
following principles of integrated coastal zone management:

(a)

the biological wealth and the natural dynamics and func­
tioning of the intertidal area and the complementary and
interdependent nature of the marine part and the land part
forming a single entity shall be taken particularly into
account;

(b) all elements relating to hydrological, geomorphological,
climatic, ecological, socioeconomic and cultural systems
shall be taken into account in an integrated manner, so as
not to exceed the carrying capacity of the coastal zone and
to prevent the negative effects of natural disasters and of
development;

(c)

ecosystems

the
and
management shall be applied so as to ensure the sustainable
development of coastal zones;

approach

planning

coastal

to

(j) damage to the coastal environment shall be prevented and,
where it occurs, appropriate restoration shall be effected.

Article 7

Coordination

For the purposes of integrated coastal zone management,

1.
the Parties shall:

(a) ensure institutional coordination, where necessary through
to avoid
comprehensive

appropriate bodies or mechanisms,
sectoral
approaches;

approaches

in order

facilitate

and

(b) organise appropriate coordination between the various auth­
orities competent for both the marine and the land parts of
coastal zones in the different administrative services, at the
national, regional and local levels;

(c) organise close coordination between national authorities
and regional and local bodies in the field of coastal stra­
tegies, plans and programmes and in relation to the various
authorisations for activities that may be achieved through
joint
decision-making
procedures.

consultative

bodies

joint

or

(d) appropriate governance allowing adequate and timely parti­
cipation in a transparent decision-making process by local
populations and stakeholders in civil society concerned with
coastal zones shall be ensured;

2.
Competent national, regional and local coastal zone auth­
orities shall, insofar as practicable, work together to strengthen
the coherence and effectiveness of the coastal strategies, plans
and programmes established.

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ELEMENTS OF INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT

PART II

Article 8

Protection and sustainable use of the coastal zone

1.
In conformity with the objectives and principles set out in
Articles 5 and 6 of this Protocol, the Parties shall endeavour to
ensure the sustainable use and management of coastal zones in
order to preserve the coastal natural habitats, landscapes, natural
resources and ecosystems, in compliance with international and
regional legal instruments.

2.

For this purpose, the Parties:

(a) shall establish in coastal zones, as from the highest winter
waterline, a zone where construction is not allowed. Taking
inter alia, the areas directly and negatively
into account,
affected by climate change and natural risks,
this zone
may not be less than 100 meters in width, subject to the
provisions of subparagraph (b) below. Stricter national
measures determining this width shall continue to apply;

(b) may adapt, in a manner consistent with the objectives and
principles of this Protocol, the provisions mentioned above:

1. for projects of public interest,

2.

in areas having particular geographical or other local
constraints, especially related to population density or
social needs, where individual housing, urbanisation or
legal
development
instruments;

for by national

are provided

(e) restricting or, where necessary, prohibiting the movement
and parking of land vehicles, as well as the movement and
anchoring of marine vessels, in fragile natural areas on land
or at sea, including beaches and dunes.

Article 9

Economic activities

In conformity with the objectives and principles set forth
1.
in Articles 5 and 6 of this Protocol, and taking into account the
relevant provisions of
the Barcelona Convention and its
Protocols, the Parties shall:

(a) accord specific attention to economic activities that require

immediate proximity to the sea;

(b) ensure that the various economic activities minimise the use
of natural resources and take into account the needs of
future generations;

(c) ensure respect for integrated water resources management

and environmentally sound waste management;

(d) ensure that the coastal and maritime economy is adapted to
the fragile nature of coastal zones and that resources of the
sea are protected from pollution;

(e) define indicators of the development of economic activities
to ensure sustainable use of coastal zones and reduce
pressures that exceed their carrying capacity;

(f) promote codes of good practice among public authorities,
economic actors and non-governmental organisations.

In addition, with regard to the following economic

2.
activities, the Parties agree:

(c) shall notify to the Organisation their national
instruments providing for the above adaptations.

legal

(a) Agriculture and industry

The Parties shall also endeavour to ensure that

their
3.
national
instruments include criteria for sustainable use
of the coastal zone. Such criteria, taking into account specific
local conditions, shall include, inter alia, the following:

legal

to guarantee a high level of protection of the environment
in the location and operation of agricultural and industrial
activities so as to preserve coastal ecosystems and land­
scapes and prevent pollution of the sea, water, air and soil;

(b) Fishing

(a)

identifying and delimiting, outside protected areas, open
areas in which urban development and other activities are
restricted or, where necessary, prohibited;

(i) to take into account the need to protect fishing areas in

development projects;

(b) limiting the linear extension of urban development and the
creation of new transport infrastructure along the coast;

(ii) to ensure that

fishing practices are compatible with

sustainable use of natural marine resources;

(c) ensuring that environmental concerns are integrated into
the public

the management and use of

the rules for
maritime domain;

(c) Aquaculture

(i) to take into account the need to protect aquaculture and

shellfish areas in development projects;

(d) providing for freedom of access by the public to the sea and

(ii) to regulate aquaculture by controlling the use of inputs

along the shore;

and waste treatment;

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(d) Tourism, sporting and recreational activities

In addition to the creation of protected areas and with a
view to preventing the disappearance of wetlands and
estuaries, the Parties shall:

(i) to encourage sustainable coastal tourism that preserves
coastal ecosystems, natural resources, cultural heritage
and landscapes;

(a)

(ii) to promote specific forms of coastal tourism, including
cultural, rural and ecotourism, while respecting the
traditions of local populations;

(iii) to regulate or, where necessary, prohibit the practice of
including

various sporting and recreational activities,
recreational fishing and shellfish extraction;

(e) Utilisation of specific natural resources

(i) to subject to prior authorisation the excavation and
including the use of seawater

extraction of minerals,
in desalination plants and stone exploitation;

(ii) to regulate the extraction of sand,

including on the
seabed and river sediments or prohibit it where it is
the equilibrium of coastal
likely to adversely affect
ecosystems;

(iii) to monitor coastal aquifers and dynamic areas of
interface between fresh and salt water,
contact or
which may be adversely affected by the extraction of
underground water or by discharges into the natural
environment;

in national coastal strategies and
take into account
coastal plans and programmes and when issuing author­
isations,
social
function of wetlands and estuaries;

environmental,

economic

and

the

(b) take the necessary measures to regulate or, if necessary,
prohibit activities that may have adverse effects on
wetlands and estuaries;

(c) undertake,

to the extent possible,

the restoration of
degraded coastal wetlands with a view to reactivating
their positive role in coastal environmental processes.

2. Marine habitats

The Parties, recognising the need to protect marine areas
hosting habitats and species of high conservation value, irre­
spective of their classification as protected areas, shall:

(a) adopt measures to ensure the protection and conser­
vation, through legislation, planning and management
of marine and coastal areas,
those
hosting habitats and species of high conservation value;

in particular of

(b) undertake to promote regional and international cooper­
ation for the implementation of common programmes
on the protection of marine habitats.

(f)

Infrastructure, energy facilities, ports and maritime works
and structures

3. Coastal forests and woods

to subject such infrastructure, facilities, works and structures
to authorisation so that their negative impact on coastal
landscapes and geomorphology is minimised
ecosystems,
or, where
compensated by non-financial
appropriate,
measures;

The Parties shall adopt measures intended to preserve or
in particular,
forests and woods located,
develop coastal
outside specially protected areas.

4. Dunes

(g) Maritime activities

The Parties undertake to preserve and, where possible, reha­
bilitate in a sustainable manner dunes and bars.

to conduct maritime activities in such a manner as to ensure
the preservation of coastal ecosystems in conformity with
the rules, standards and procedures of the relevant inter­
national conventions.

Article 10

Specific coastal ecosystems

The Parties shall take measures to protect the characteristics of
certain specific coastal ecosystems, as follows:

1. Wetlands and estuaries

Article 11

Coastal landscapes

The Parties, recognising the specific aesthetic, natural and
1.
cultural value of coastal landscapes, irrespective of their classi­
fication as protected areas, shall adopt measures to ensure the
protection of coastal
landscapes through legislation, planning
and management.

2.
The Parties undertake to promote regional and inter­
national cooperation in the field of landscape protection, and
in particular, the implementation, where appropriate, of joint
actions for transboundary coastal landscapes.

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Article 12

Islands

inter alia, consultative bodies,
Such participation shall involve,
inquiries or public hearings, and may extend to partnerships.

The Parties undertake to accord special protection to islands,
including small islands, and for this purpose to:

(a) promote environmentally friendly activities in such areas
and take special measures to ensure the participation of
the inhabitants in the protection of coastal ecosystems
based on their local customs and knowledge;

(b) take into account the specific characteristics of the island
environment and the necessity to ensure interaction among
islands in national coastal strategies, plans and programmes
and management instruments, particularly in the fields of
transport, tourism, fishing, waste and water.

Article 13

Cultural heritage

The Parties shall adopt,

individually or collectively, all
1.
appropriate measures to preserve and protect the cultural,
in
particular archaeological and historical, heritage of coastal
zones, including the underwater cultural heritage, in conformity
with the applicable national and international instruments.

2.
The Parties shall ensure that the preservation in situ of the
cultural heritage of coastal zones is considered as the first
option before any intervention directed at this heritage.

3.
The Parties shall ensure in particular that elements of the
underwater cultural heritage of coastal zones removed from the
marine environment are conserved and managed in a manner
safeguarding their long-term preservation and are not traded,
sold, bought or bartered as commercial goods.

Article 14

Participation

1. With a view to ensuring efficient governance throughout
the process of the integrated management of coastal zones, the
Parties shall take the necessary measures to ensure the appro­
priate involvement in the phases of the formulation and im­
plementation of coastal and marine strategies, plans and
programmes or projects, as well as the issuing of the various
authorisations, of the various stakeholders, including:

— the territorial communities and public entities concerned,

— economic operators,

— non-governmental organisations,

— social actors,

— the public concerned.

2. With a view to ensuring such participation, the Parties
shall provide information in an adequate, timely and effective
manner.

3. Mediation or conciliation procedures and a right of
administrative or legal recourse should be available to any stake­
holder challenging decisions, acts or omissions, subject to the
participation provisions established by the Parties with respect
to plans, programmes or projects concerning the coastal zone.

Article 15

Awareness-raising, training, education and research

The Parties undertake to carry out, at

1.
the national,
regional or local level, awareness-raising activities on integrated
coastal
educational
programmes, training and public education on this subject.

zone management

develop

and

to

international

2.
The Parties shall organise, directly, multilaterally or bilat­
erally, or with the assistance of the Organisation, the Centre or
educational
the
programmes,
training and public education on integrated
management of coastal zones with a view to ensuring their
sustainable development.

organisations

concerned,

3.
The Parties shall provide for interdisciplinary scientific
research on integrated coastal zone management and on the
interaction between activities and their
impacts on coastal
zones. To this end, they should establish or support specialised
research centres. The purpose of this research is, in particular, to
further knowledge of integrated coastal zone management, to
contribute to public information and to facilitate public and
private decision-making.

PART III

INSTRUMENTS FOR INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE
MANAGEMENT

Article 16

Monitoring and observation mechanisms and networks

1.
The Parties shall use and strengthen existing appropriate
mechanisms for monitoring and observation, or create new
ones if necessary. They shall also prepare and regularly update
national inventories of coastal zones which should cover, to the
extent possible, information on resources and activities, as well
as on institutions, legislation and planning that may influence
coastal zones.

2.
In order to promote exchange of scientific experience,
data and good practices, the Parties shall participate, at the
appropriate administrative and scientific level,
in a Mediter­
ranean coastal zone network, in cooperation with the Organis­
ation.

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3. With a view to facilitating the regular observation of the
state and evolution of coastal zones, the Parties shall set out an
agreed reference format and process to collect appropriate data
in national inventories.

4.
The Parties shall take all necessary means to ensure public
access to the information derived from monitoring and obser­
vation mechanisms and networks.

Article 19

Environmental assessment

1.
Taking into account the fragility of coastal zones, the
Parties shall ensure that the process and related studies of envi­
ronmental
impact assessment for public and private projects
likely to have significant environmental effects on the coastal
zones, and in particular on their ecosystems, take into consider­
ation the specific sensitivity of the environment and the inter-
relationships between the marine and terrestrial parts of the
coastal zone.

Article 17

Mediterranean strategy for integrated coastal zone
management

In accordance with the same criteria,

the Parties shall
2.
formulate, as appropriate, a strategic environmental assessment
of plans and programmes affecting the coastal zone.

and

development

the promotion of
The Parties undertake to cooperate for
sustainable
integrated management of
coastal zones, taking into account the Mediterranean Strategy
for Sustainable Development and complementing it where
necessary. To this end,
shall define, with the
the Parties
assistance of the Centre, a common regional framework for
integrated coastal zone management in the Mediterranean to
be implemented by means of appropriate regional action
plans and other operational
instruments, as well as through
their national strategies.

Article 18

National coastal strategies, plans and programmes

Each Party shall further strengthen or formulate a national
1.
strategy for integrated coastal zone management and coastal
implementation plans and programmes consistent with the
common regional framework and in conformity with the inte­
grated management objectives and principles of this Protocol
and shall
the coordination
mechanism in place for this strategy.

inform the Organisation about

the reasons,

2.
The national strategy, based on an analysis of the existing
situation, shall set objectives, determine priorities with an indi­
identify coastal ecosystems needing
cation of
management, as well as all
relevant actors and processes,
enumerate the measures to be taken and their cost as well as
the institutional
instruments and legal and financial means
available, and set an implementation schedule.

the

3.
Coastal plans and programmes, which may be self-
standing or integrated in other plans and programmes, shall
strategy
specify
and
orientations
level, determining,
implement it at an appropriate territorial
inter alia, and where appropriate, the carrying capacities and
conditions for the allocation and use of the respective marine
and land parts of coastal zones.

the national

of

The Parties shall define appropriate indicators in order to
4.
evaluate
zone
of
management strategies, plans and programmes, as well as the
progress of implementation of the Protocol.

effectiveness

integrated

coastal

the

The environmental assessments should take into consider­
3.
ation the cumulative impacts on the coastal zones, paying due
attention, inter alia, to their carrying capacities.

Article 20

Land policy

1.
For the purpose of promoting integrated coastal zone
management, reducing economic pressures, maintaining open
areas and allowing public access to the sea and along the
shore, Parties shall adopt appropriate land policy instruments
and measures, including the process of planning.

To this end, and in order

2.
to ensure the sustainable
management of public and private land of the coastal zones,
inter alia, adopt mechanisms for the acquisition,
Parties may,
land to the public domain
cession, donation or transfer of
and institute easements on properties.

Article 21

Economic, financial and fiscal instruments

For the implementation of national coastal strategies and coastal
plans and programmes, Parties may take appropriate measures
to adopt relevant economic, financial and/or fiscal instruments
intended to support local, regional and national initiatives for
the integrated management of coastal zones.

PART IV

RISKS AFFECTING THE COASTAL ZONE

Article 22

Natural hazards

integrated
Within the framework of national strategies for
the Parties shall develop policies
coastal zone management,
for the prevention of natural hazards. To this end, they shall
undertake vulnerability and hazard assessments of coastal zones
and take prevention, mitigation and adaptation measures to
address the effects of natural disasters, in particular of climate
change.

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Article 23

Coastal erosion

to cooperate in the training of scientific, technical and admin­
istrative personnel
integrated coastal zone
management, particularly with a view to:

in the field of

1.
In conformity with the objectives and principles set out in
Articles 5 and 6 of this Protocol, the Parties, with a view to
preventing and mitigating the negative impact of coastal erosion
more effectively, undertake to adopt the necessary measures to
maintain or restore the natural capacity of the coast to adapt to
changes, including those caused by the rise in sea levels.

2.
The Parties, when considering new activities and works
located in the coastal zone including marine structures and
coastal defence works, shall take particular account of their
negative effects on coastal erosion and the direct and indirect
costs that may result.
In respect of existing activities and
structures,
the Parties should adopt measures to minimise
their effects on coastal erosion.

3.
The Parties shall endeavour to anticipate the impacts of
coastal erosion through the integrated management of activities,
including adoption of special measures for coastal sediments
and coastal works.

4.
The Parties undertake to share scientific data that may
improve knowledge on the state, development and impacts of
coastal erosion.

Article 24

Response to natural disasters

1.
The Parties undertake to promote international cooper­
ation to respond to natural disasters, and to take all necessary
measures to address in a timely manner their effects.

2.
The Parties undertake to coordinate use of the equipment
for detection, warning and communication at their disposal,
making use of existing mechanisms and initiatives, to ensure
the transmission as rapidly as possible of urgent information
concerning major natural disasters. The Parties shall notify the
Organisation which national authorities are competent to issue
and receive such information in the context of relevant inter­
national mechanisms.

3.
The Parties undertake to promote mutual cooperation and
cooperation among national, regional and local authorities,
non-governmental organisations and other competent organis­
ations for the provision on an urgent basis of humanitarian
assistance in response to natural disasters affecting the coastal
zones of the Mediterranean Sea.

PART V

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Article 25

Training and research

(a)

identifying and strengthening capacities;

(b) developing scientific and technical research;

(c) promoting centres specialised in integrated coastal zone

management;

(d) promoting training programmes for local professionals.

2.
The Parties undertake, directly or with the assistance of
the Organisation or the competent international organisations,
to promote scientific and technical research into integrated
coastal zone management, particularly through the exchange
of scientific and technical information and the coordination of
their research programmes on themes of common interest.

Article 26

Scientific and technical assistance

the

For the purposes of integrated coastal zone management, the
Parties undertake, directly or with the assistance of the Organ­
isation or
to
cooperate for the provision of scientific and technical assistance,
including access to environmentally sound technologies and
to
transfer, and other possible forms of assistance,
their
Parties requiring such assistance.

international organisations

competent

Article 27

Exchange of information and activities of common interest

1.
The Parties undertake, directly or with the assistance of
the Organisation or the competent international organisations,
to cooperate in the exchange of information on the use of the
best environmental practices.

2. With the support of the Organisation, the Parties shall in
particular:

(a) define coastal management indicators, taking into account
existing ones, and cooperate in the use of such indicators;

(b) establish and maintain up-to-date assessments of the use

and management of coastal zones;

1.
The Parties undertake, directly or with the assistance of
the Organisation or the competent international organisations,

(c) carry out activities of common interest, such as demon­
stration projects of integrated coastal zone management.

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Article 28

Transboundary cooperation

receive the support of the Centre, to which it may entrust the
following functions:

The Parties shall endeavour, directly or with the assistance of
the Organisation or the competent international organisations,
bilaterally or multilaterally, to coordinate, where appropriate,
their national coastal strategies, plans and programmes related
to contiguous coastal zones. Relevant domestic administrative
bodies shall be associated with such coordination.

Article 29

Transboundary environmental assessment

1. Within the framework of this Protocol, the Parties shall,
before authorising or approving plans, programmes and projects
that are likely to have a significant adverse effect on the coastal
zones of other Parties, cooperate by means of notification,
exchange of information and consultation in assessing the envi­
impacts of such plans, programmes and projects,
ronmental
taking
and
Article 4(3)(d) of the Convention.

into account Article 19 of

Protocol

this

2.
To this end, the Parties undertake to cooperate in the
formulation and adoption of appropriate guidelines for the
determination of procedures for notification, exchange of infor­
mation and consultation at all stages of the process.

3.
The Parties may, where appropriate, enter into bilateral or
multilateral agreements for the effective implementation of this
Article.

PART VI

INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

Article 30

Focal Points

Each Party shall designate a Focal Point to serve as liaison with
the Centre on the technical and scientific aspects of the im­
plementation of this Protocol and to disseminate information
at the national, regional and local level. The Focal Points shall
meet periodically to carry out the functions deriving from this
Protocol.

(a)

to assist the Parties to define a common regional framework
for integrated coastal zone management
in the Mediter­
ranean pursuant to Article 17;

(b) to prepare a regular report on the state and development of
integrated coastal zone management in the Mediterranean
Sea with a view to facilitating implementation of
the
Protocol;

(c)

to exchange information and carry out activities of common
interest pursuant to Article 27;

(d) upon request, to assist the Parties:

— to participate in a Mediterranean coastal zone network

pursuant to Article 16,

— to prepare and implement their national strategies for
to

zone management pursuant

integrated coastal
Article 18,

— to cooperate in training activities and in scientific and
technical research programmes pursuant to Article 25,

— to coordinate, when appropriate, the management of
transboundary coastal zones pursuant to Article 28;

(e)

to organise the meetings of the Focal Points pursuant to
Article 30;

(f)

to carry out any other function assigned to it by the Parties.

For

the purposes of

2.
the
Parties, the Organisation and the Centre may jointly establish
cooperation with non-governmental organisations the activities
of which are related to the Protocol.

implementing this Protocol,

Article 31

Reports

Article 33

Meetings of the Parties

to the ordinary meetings of
reports on the implementation of

the
The Parties shall submit
Contracting Parties,
this
Protocol, in such form and at such intervals as these Meetings
may determine, including the measures taken, their effectiveness
and the problems encountered in their implementation.

The ordinary meetings of the Parties to this Protocol shall
1.
the
be held in conjunction with the ordinary meetings of
Contracting Parties
to
to the Convention held pursuant
Article 18 of the Convention. The Parties may also hold extra­
ordinary meetings in conformity with that Article.

Article 32

Institutional coordination

The functions of

2.
Protocol shall be:

the meetings of

the Parties to this

1.
implementation of

The Organisation shall be responsible for coordinating the
it shall

this Protocol. For this purpose,

(a)

to keep under review the implementation of this Protocol;

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(b) to ensure that this Protocol is implemented in coordination

and synergy with the other Protocols;

(c)

to oversee the work of the Organisation and of the Centre
and
relating to the
providing policy guidance for their activities;

implementation of

this Protocol

(d) to consider the efficiency of the measures adopted for inte­
grated coastal zone management and the need for other
measures,
annexes or
in the
amendments to this Protocol;

in particular

form of

(e)

to make recommendations to the Parties on the measures to
be adopted for the implementation of this Protocol;

(f)

to examine the proposals made by the meetings of Focal
Points pursuant to Article 30 of this Protocol;

(g) to consider reports transmitted by the Parties and making
appropriate recommendations pursuant to Article 26 of the
Convention;

(h) to examine any other
through the Centre;

relevant

information submitted

(i)

to examine any other matter relevant to this Protocol, as
appropriate.

PART VII

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 34

Relationship with the Convention

The provisions of the Convention relating to any Protocol

1.
shall apply with respect to this Protocol.

The rules of procedure and the financial rules adopted
the Convention shall apply with
to this Protocol, unless the Parties to this Protocol

to Article 24 of

2.
pursuant
respect
agree otherwise.

The Parties undertake to adopt appropriate measures,
2.
consistent with international
to ensure that no one
law,
engages in any activity contrary to the principles and objectives
of this Protocol.

Article 36

Signature

This Protocol shall be open for signature at Madrid, Spain, from
21 January 2008 to 20 January 2009 by any Contracting Party
to the Convention.

Article 37

Ratification, acceptance or approval

to ratification, acceptance or
This Protocol shall be subject
Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval
approval.
shall be deposited with the Government of Spain, which will
assume the functions of Depositary.

Article 38

Accession

As from 21 January 2009 this Protocol shall be open for
accession by any Party to the Convention.

Article 39

Entry into force

This Protocol shall enter into force on the 30th day following
the deposit of at least six instruments of ratification, acceptance,
approval or accession.

Article 40

Authentic texts

The original of this Protocol, of which the Arabic, English,
French and Spanish texts are equally authentic,
shall be
deposited with the Depositary.

Article 35

Relations with third parties

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised
thereto, have signed this Protocol.

The Parties shall invite, where appropriate, States that are
1.
not Parties to this Protocol and international organisations to
cooperate in the implementation of this Protocol.

DONE AT MADRID, SPAIN, this twenty-first day of January two
thousand and eight.